The Department of Agriculture has granted accreditation to 14 foreign meat establishments in Paraguay, allowing them to export meat to the Philippines.
The DA announced Department Order No. 13, signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on August 20, but it was only made public on Wednesday, September 24.
The 14 FMEs can supply the Philippine market with beef, pork, and poultry (chicken) meat.
Based on the DA issuance, the government of Paraguay fulfilled the requirements provided in the World Organization for Animal Health’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code (TAHC) and relevant Philippine standards.
“The fourteen (14) FMEs that were audited by the DAIM (DA Inspection Team were found to be compliant with the Philippine quarantine and meat inspection system procedures,” the order stated.
The accreditation is valid for three years, effective August 11, 2025, until August 11, 2028, provided full compliance is maintained with the government’s existing regulations and conditions.
Before Paraguay’s FMEs obtained the export accreditation, the DA personnel from the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service assessed the country’s veterinary services and animal health as well as verified its food safety control.
Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed that meat imports reached 473.46 million kilograms from January to April 2025. Pork and chicken were the leading meat products purchased from abroad.
