DA tightens rules on importation of milk and meat products

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is imposing more rigid rules and regulations on the importation of milk and meat products in the wake of several documented cases of contaminated milk and meat products being shipped into the country. Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor signed recently a department memorandum order requiring an audit of all exporters to the Philippines of milk, meat and meat products.

Per DA orders, only those companies whose products are accredited by auditing firms prescribed by the DA will be allowed entry into the Philippine market.

Montemayor said exporters should comply with internationally recognized standards in Hazard Analysis and Critical Point (HACCP) program. This requirement is in addition to those already provided for in previous orders concerning the importation of milk and milk products.

DA officials said an independent certifying body will conduct the audit on a quarterly basis. The accreditation of the certifying body will be done through an international bidding with the cost of audit to be shouldered by the exporting plant.

The memo states that the auditing body will conduct on-site inspection and that "concerned plants are required to provide full cooperation and assistance including the provision of all relevant records to its concerned auditor/inspector to expedite the conduct of the audit."

The DA has formed a committee chaired by the executive director of the Livestock Development Council, with members from the National Meat Inspection Commission, the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Dairy Authority, that will formulate the guidelines for the system to be implemented.

The memo warns that exporters of these products that fail to comply with the requirements will be banned from bringing their merchandise to the Philippines.

"By January 2003, only those that passed the audit will be the sources of imported milk, meat and meat products. As such, this becomes an additional basis of the Bureau of Animal Industry in the issuance of the veterinary quarantine certificate," the DA said.

The stricter rules that the DA wants implemented is a result of recent cases of contaminated milk and meat products that found their way into the Philippine market.

Some months back, the DA blocked the importation of milk powder from the Arinco plant in Vidabaek, Denmark after tests showed milk coming from the plant was contaminated with components of lubricating oil and miscroscopic flakes.

The DA conditionally lifted the ban but required Abbott Laboratories Philippines which distributes the product under the brand name GainPlus to first submit a certificate from an independent certification agency, attesting that the product has been manufactured under hygienic conditions and is guaranteed fit for human consumption.