The Department of Agriculture (DA) said that the Philippines will be compliant with Japan’s request for alternative measures to allow shipments of papayas and mangoes despite the temporary absence of Japanese inspectors due to the COVID-19 scare.
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) said that since the dispatch of Japanese inspectors to the Philippines is currently impossible, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) must submit the results of its inspection of treatment facilities and packing areas before the start of operation of the current season.
Likewise, the Japanese agency asked for a copy of treatment recording sheet and phytosanitary certificate for verification before each treated consignment is exported to Japan apart from doubling the sampling rate of consignments at their import inspections.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary, Noel Reyes, noted that the Philippines will be compliant for the said requests citing that Japan has been strict in the safety and quality of the goods that it imports.
“Yes, we are prepared… Likewise, our food exporters especially the PhilFoodEx (Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization) are already aware of how Japan is stringent in its quality control measures,” he explained.
The official also mentioned that the BPI is very active in its role to assure that food shipments are safe from any contamination.
MAFF said that the current measures will be in place until situation is confirmed to have improved and dispatching of Japanese inspectors to the Philippines has become possible.
