Several industry groups backed the Department of Agriculture’s decision to prohibit the entry of chicken imports from Brazil and called for a temporary ban on all imported chicken.
“It is imperative that we prioritize the health needs of the population where infections continue to increase and the fear of getting infected haunt them every day. We jointly support the action of the Department of Agriculture to temporarily ban the importation of chicken from Brazil,” the industry groups said in a statement.
“Though we appreciate this move by the Agriculture department as an effective preventive measure to ensure the safety of the Filipino people and the other nationals who reside in our country, we as an industry urge the government to have a more aggressive stand and move for the temporary banning of all imported chicken until the world is able to cross this pandemic,” the groups said.
Among the signatories in the petition were the Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc., United Broilers Raiser Association, Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc., Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc., National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., Bounty Group of Companies, The Philippine Eggboard Association Inc., Philippine Veterinary Medical Association, Philippine Maize Federation Inc., Local Poultry Integrator, Philippine College of Swine Practitioners, White Angel Farm Barauen Leyte, Growers of Chicken Essentials and Broiler Poultry Group.
Other petitioners are Chicken Essentials Ph Inc., Pura Agri-Ventures and Development Corp., Morales Poultry Farm, Romarcom International Marketing Corp., Paritas Trading Corp., Asia Pacific Chartering Phil. Inc., Grainman Marine Transport Inc., Philippine Veterinary Drug Association, Philippine College of Poultry Practitioners, Araco Poultry and Livestock Corp., Jairah Poultry Farm Bacolod City, Chicken Oro Inc. Bacolod City and Association of Accredited BAI Registered Laboratories Inc.
The industry groups issued the statement after the Department of Trade and Industry asked the DA to lift the ban on mechanically deboned meat from Brazil in anticipation of possible price hikes and shortage of canned meat products in the country. “We support the position of meat processors. There is no scientific basis that MDM from Brazil are infected by the COVID-19 virus,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday.
The DTI said with only less than a month inventory of the raw material, a disruption in the supply of basic canned meat products with manufacturers would eventually lead to higher retail prices.
The DA said, however, that the temporary ban on Brazilian poultry imports should stay until the Brazilian government presented documents that would attest to the health soundness of factory workers.
The DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry said it was awaiting the report from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply particularly on matters related to COVID-19 prevention and control procedures among Brazilian factory workers in chicken processing facilities.
The BAI cited the rising number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Brazil that included workers in meat processing facilities. BAI director Ronnie Domingo communicated the Philippines commitment to resolving the issue with Brazil MAPA chief veterinary officer Dr. Geraldo Marcos de Moraes.
Domingo said the ban on Brazilian chicken products was issued as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and health of Filipino consumers. “The Philippines greatly values its long-standing harmonious relations with Brazil. We look forward to your prompt response,” Domingo said.
BAI imposed a temporary ban on Brazilian poultry products after China found traces of COVID-19 virus in chicken imports from Brazil. Brazil currently accounts for nearly 20 percent of the country’s poultry meat imports.
Industry groups said the local livestock and chicken industry could support the supply needed by the meat processors in order for them to supply the demands of the population. “All food stakeholders should unite and support fellow local companies by buying their local produce and thus feeding our countrymen an all Filipino product from end to end,” the groups said.
“Policies should always prioritize the public good, and in this case and from this time onwards, we have experientially witnessed the importance of public health and should continue to treasure this hard lesson,” they said.
Meanwhile, corn producers also warned about a downward spiral of corn prices from the already depressed P12 per kilo because of the influx of imports.
Corn farmers challenged government to address the perennial poverty among corn farmers by intervening in putting up corn storage facilities.
The Philippine Maize Federation Inc. and the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. said the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry allowed feed wheat import arrival during this current corn harvest.
Feed millers’ recent importation of reported 81,200 metric tons of feed wheat reportedly brought price further down to P12 a kilo.
“Imports of feed wheat account for only 1 to 2 percent of corn production. But still, their effect on pushing down local corn price is significant. It becomes worse as the NFA [National Food Authority] no longer supports corn price as it now has a different mandate due to the RTL [Rice Trade Liberalization,” said PMFI president Roger Navarro.
