Singapore, Malaysia may buy poultry products from RP

The country is eyeing Singapore and bird flu-stricken Malaysia as potential markets for chicken and poultry products.

"With the resurgence of avian influenza in most Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines is being eyed as the nearest and most logical source of bird flu-free meat," said Jose Molina, director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

The Philippines is the only remaining Southeast Asian country that is free from bird flu. Malaysia, which was spared when the epidemic hit poultry farms across Asia earlier this year, has also been recently stricken with avian flu as confirmed by the World Health Organization this month.

Thus, Malaysia is also looking for foreign suppliers to supply its chicken and chicken meat requirements. Its next door neighbor, Singapore, which used to buy chicken from Malaysia, has stopped buying from the latter after the outbreak was confirmed.

Major chicken exporters like Thailand and China were hard hit by the bird flu epidemic, along with Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan and Korea.

Agriculture attache to Japan Joseph Sison said the country’s chicken exports to Japan could reach 100,000 metric tons (MT) by the end of the year as Japanese trading houses have expanded their orders of chicken cut-up products.

One of the major buyers is Marubeni Corp. which initially placed an order of 36,000 MT. The suppliers include San Miguel Foods Inc., Swifts Food Inc. and Tyson-Agro Ventures.

Molina said that in order for the Philippines to take advantage of the growing demand for locally-produced chicken and chicken meat products, BAI will devolve farm surveillance of exporting firms to the local government units’ veterinarians who can immediately check any occurrence of the bird flu virus and other diseases.

He said it will still be the BAI that will issue export permits.

"The certification on the wholesomeness of chicken sold to foreign buyers will be done jointly by the BAI and the National Meat Inspection Commission as required by most buyers," said Molina in a recent meeting with the Philippine Association of Broiler Integrators.

The joint certification will attest to the Philippines being free from avian flu for a period of more than 90 days from the issuance of the certificate, that there has been no occurrence of Newcastle disease, fowl cholera and other infectious diseases of poultry meat.

The Philippines is being extra cautious to ensure the country remains free of the bird flu virus.