DA defers new rules on importation of meat products

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has postponed the implementation of more rigid rules and regulations on the importation of milk and meat products.

Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. said the DA had to put off the implementation of Memorandum Order 7 while the department reviews the comments and observations made by various foreign stakeholders, including importers and local meat processors.

Under MO 7 which was supposed to take effect this year, only companies whose products are accredited by auditing firms endorsed by the DA and the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Program (HACCP) will be allowed entry into the Philippines.

Exporters are required to comply with HACCP standards and the new rules and regulations are on top of those already provided for in previous orders concerning the importation of milk, milk products and meat products.

The DA said earlier that an independent certifying body will be selected 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 onside inspection and that concerned plants are required to provide full cooperation and assistance, including providing records to inspectors.

The memo warned that exporters of products that fail to comply with the requirement will be banned from shipping their merchandise to the Philippines.

The stricter rules the DA wanted to implement resulted from recent cases of contaminated milk and meat products that have found their way into the Philippine market.

Last year, the DA blocked the importation of milk powder from the Arinco plant in Vdabaek, Denmark after tests showed milk coming from the plant was contaminated with components of lubricating oil and microscopic flakes.