City vet seizes 174 kilos of ‘botcha’ chicken
THE Dagupan City Veterinary Office seized 174 kilos of chicken and 38 kilos of pork at the Centro Mart Market in Dagupan at dawn on February 17.
coordination with the National Meat and Inspection Service (NMIC).
City Veterinarian Dr. Michael Maramba said the uncertified chicken meat were discovered in routine inspection of the market by his staff while these were about to be delivered by one supplier to different vendors.
The seized cargo of chicken were found without the required marks and documents from a slaughterhouse which is a violation to NMIS Administrative Order No. 5. Improper handling was also noted.
It appeared that the owner of the dressed chicken, bought these as live then dressed them on his own before bringing them to the market for sale, which is a violation of NMIS AO 5.
The van driver, however, was not detained and charged after the seizure of the chicken meat. The owner of the 38 kilos of pork was slapped with violation of meat handling and violation of a city ordinance since the later presented a permit and paid the corresponding fines.
Maramba said the seized chicken were disinfected and will be disposed of properly in a disposal place for animal carcasses.
It was not the first operation the City Veterinary Office seized the “botcha” meat, said Maramba but it was the biggest seizure ever scored by the city so far this year.
He called on consumers to buy meat covered by inspection certificates whose marks are indicated in the meat itself for their own protection. (Leonardo Micua)
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