The government is reviewing the most-favored nation (MFN) tariff rates on meat and edible offal of livestock.
The Tariff Commission (TC) in a notice said it is set to conduct a public hearing on January 25 on the tariff rates of fresh, chilled or frozen meat of bovine animals, swine, sheep, goats, horses, assess, mules and hinnies as well as fresh, chilled and frozen edible offal of bovine animals, swine, sheep, goats, horses, assess, mules and hinnies.
The commission said the hearing is being conducted following the directive of Senate committee on agriculture chair Cynthia Villar for the National Economic and Development Authority to study the existing tariff structure of said meat items.
Under the 2022 tariff book, MFN rate on frozen, fresh and chilled meat of bovine animals is 10 percent.
MFN rates on fresh, chilled and frozen meat of swine is 15 percent for in-quota and 25 percent for out-quota.
MFN rate on meat of sheep, horses, asses, mules and hinnies is 5 percent while in quota rate for meat of goat is 30 percent and out-quota, 35 percent.
For fresh, chilled and frozen edible offal and tongues of bovine animals, MFN rate is 7 percent while on liver it is 5 percent. All other remaining parts are also slapped 7 percent duty.
For fresh, chilled and frozen edible offal of swine, MFN rate ist 7 percent with liver at 5 percent. All other parts are levied 10 percent.
The commission calls all interested parties to submit their presentations until today January 24 to present evidence in support of their positions relative to the existing MFN tariff structure of said items. -Jed Macapagal
