Filipino meat industry wants pork, chicken imports to stop
The Philippines may be a lost market for pork and chicken exporters if the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Animal Industry is to respond the request made by eight agricultural and related organizations, who are asking for a halt in imports until the end of the year, reported The Manilla Times newspaper.
“Allowing the importation of meat 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. Helping our local meat producers and raisers, including feed millers and even feed crop planters, dealers, merchants, transporters, workers and helpers, is needed in mitigating the debilitating impact of Covid-19 on the agricultural economy," warns the joint statement.
The document is signed by the leaders of 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.
According to the statement, the Filipino market is already flooded by meat imports, enough to threaten the local industry. In response, the Secretary of Agriculture, William Dar mentioned the government is only allowing imports of deboned poultry products that cannot be produced by Filipino farmers.
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