Abono hits gov’t on imported meat policy
“KANO ANG BOSS KO?”
ROSALES—Local hog farmers have expressed their dismay over President Benigno Aquino III whom they described as being “subservient to the dictates of the United States” over policies for the local meat industry.
“Kung dati ay sinabi ni Presidente Aquino na ‘Kayo ang Boss ko,’ ngayon naman ay ‘Kano ang Boss ko!,” said Engr. Rosendo So, head of partylist Abono, which represents the agricultural sector.
The United States has long been lobbying for the removal or at least suspension of the implementation of Administrative Order (AO) No. 22 series of 2010 which contains the Rules and Regulations in the Handling of Frozen and Chilled Meat Products in the Markets.
AO 22 mandates the refrigeration, traceability, labeling and packaging requirements for frozen, chilled and thawed meat and poultry to safeguard the health of Filipino consumers.
Aquino has issued AO 5 and AO 6, both series 2012, to replace AO 22.
But So said the new AOs contain conditions favorable only to the American meat suppliers.
AO 5 lists the Rules and Regulations on the Handling of Newly Slaughtered Meat in Meat Markets while AO 6 covers Rules and Regulations on Hygienic Handling of Chilled, Frozen and Thawed Meat in Meat Markets.
So said AO 5 is disadvantageous to local hog farmers, citing section 6 stipulating a mandatory eight hours shelf life for newly slaughtered meat in the local meat markets.
On the other hand, AO 6 is advantageous to imported pork because it removed the requirement for pre-wrapping and thawing of frozen meat prior to sale, allowed imported meat to be cut and portioned outside of the container and put a stop to its confiscation.
“The continued importation of meat gives undue competition to local hog farmers and poultry growers causing a negative effect on the lives of families dependent on the meat industry,” So said.
Imported meat is offered at prices lower than the local fresh meat.
He added that local farmers who produce raw materials for feeds are also negatively affected by meat importation.
“Who would buy corn of farmers, copra, sugar cane and other feeds if there would be no more hog raisers?,” So asked.
He said that the meat industry is still reeling from the negative effects of dumping and misdeclaration of imported meat.
Misdeclaration, he explained, occurs when importers declare good meat as offal and thus the government is deprived of higher import duties.—Eva C. Visperas
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