Traders oppose plan to ban pork imports from some countries

MANILA, Philippines - Pork importers are opposing the proposal of hog raisers to restrict the import of porcine meat from countries with recorded cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), saying insufficient supply of raw materials would push up prices of meat products in the country.

In a letter dated March 5 to Rep. Agapito Guanlao, the chair of the House Committee on Food Security, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) said the importation of pork from countries where PED was reported should not be restricted as the virus cannot be transmitted in frozen pork.

“We find it difficult to appreciate, if not embarrassing, to consider a proposed ban on pork meat from countries that are experiencing an outbreak of this corona virus (PED) when the Philippines itself is presently affected with PED. We find it even more challenging to understand the proposal to ban importation of pork meat which does not host and cannot, therefore, transmit the virus in frozen pork,” PAMPI said.

Pork importers argued that local hog raisers cannot supply the needs of meat processors, causing insufficient supply of raw materials that may push up the prices of finished products.

“Already, we are observing the reduction of piglets in the market and observing the incredible rise in prices of live weight pigs at an average price of P122 per kilogram, suggestive of upcoming shortages of pork supply,” warned PAMPI.

“Filipino consumers depend very heavily on pork and pork products and pushing food prices to unaffordable levels would create an unimaginable stress on our nutrition and purchasing capacity,” PAMPI added.

PAMPI said that in the past, the Philippine livestock industry had  been exposed to PED, with the most recent cases reported in 2006 during which suckling pigs were affected.

“There was then no clamor for banning pork importation as a way of preventing the spread of PED. Why propose an import ban now?” PAMPI said.

The group noted that since 2005, PED outbreaks due to “Korean” strains have been a major feature of the pig farming industries of East Asia, particularly in the Philippines, which had several imports of Korean pigs during the period.

PAMPI, however, said PED is not transmissible to humans and thus poses no danger to human health.  The virus is most serious in neonatal piglets where morbidity and mortality could be 80- to 100-percent.

“PED is not an ‘OIE listed’ disease and is not internationally reportable, so no quarantines or movement restrictions are in place either internationally or interstate. International trade and commerce for pork cannot be involved in the restrictions in addressing PED,” said the group.