A total of eight agricultural groups have issued a joint statement asking the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to temporarily stop chicken and pork importations until the end of the year in order to help the local industry fight off the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the groups who were signatory to the statement include the Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc.; Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines; Philippine Maize Federation Inc.; Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc.; United Broilers and Raisers Association; National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc.; Philippine Eggboard Association Inc.; and Philippine Veterinary Medical Association.
“Allowing the importation of meat (to continue) and limiting local production in this critical juncture will cause a stoppage in the operations of some farms. Their production cannot be revived for another 12 to 18 months. One can just imagine the despicable damage this could bring to millions of Filipinos reliant on the sector. We trust that this is not what the government wants,” their statement read.
It added that the value chain that will be affected if meat imports continue to be allowed include feed millers, feed crop planters, dealers, merchants, transporters, workers and helpers.
Despite the said appeal, DA claimed that it observed decline in imported poultry meat and poultry products as BAI reported that the volume of poultry meat imports declined by 23 percent from 43,000 metric tons (MT) in January 2020 to 33,000 MT in May 2020.
It added that 70 percent of total imports were composed of mechanically deboned meat, fats, offals and rinds used by industrial processors that are not locally available.
“The imported poultry products are used by meat processing and manufacturing firms, and do not compete in the wet market, where our local producers bring their fresh products… It is the department’s commitment to raise the productivity of the country’s poultry sector. I have always emphasized our goal to increase local food production, poultry included. We will, in every step of the way, assist our local raisers in whatever way we can,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar, said in a statement.
He added that the DA is now doubling its efforts to improve cold storage services in the country to prevent excess meat being stored in un-accredited systems.
Likewise, BAI director Ronnie Domingo, has recommended for the formulation of a strategic and operational plan to reinvigorate the local poultry industry as the agency advocates for the development of a new delivery system under the new normal as it continues to consult industry stakeholders.
The official also expressed that they are committed to exercise the full extent of the law based on their mandates to correct proven irregularities on the safety of the products that enter the country but emphasized that they have no jurisdiction over the volume, format and type of meat to be imported.