The Department of Agriculture (DA) is strengthening traceability systems in the trading of livestock and poultry to ensure compliance with government policies and curb potential price manipulation.
DA Secretary William Dar in a statement said the system will inter-connect the registration and accreditation process of local government units (LGUs) and agencies like Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
“The draft DA administrative order governing trader registration is currently being reviewed by the BAI to effect the needed changes to ensure that the system will bring about transparency and subsequently benefit the consuming public… This will address the information gap in the supply chain which is often being exploited by unscrupulous traders and wholesalers to manipulate both supply and prices of the commodities,” Dar said.
Dar said incomplete records of middlemen and traders have become a perennial problem in the livestock sector, making it difficult for government agencies to impose strict regulations on the movement of farm animals as well as meat to address supply fluctuation and price manipulation.
“Clamping down from both ends of the supply chain would help the DA narrow down and pinpoint the unscrupulous suppliers, traders or retailers of pork products,” he added.
Reildrin Morales, BAI director, said at present, the agency issues handler’s license to operate to livestock traders while the NMIS accredits and registers meat transport vehicles.
Morales said registration of traders will also complement the ongoing registration process for swine and poultry growers.
