Alcala lauds NMIS

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) have been implementing strict  standards for animal slaughter, mandatory good manufacturing practices, hazard analysis critical control point and humane handling of animals for slaughter, thereby allowing  the country  to export livestock products to several countries.

According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala,  besides exporting chicken yakitori and peking duck to Japan, the Philippines also exports halal beef to Brunei, fresh and frozen halal chicken to the United Arab Emirates, crocodile meat to Slovak Republic and frozen chicken to South Korea.

“Let us protect our gains.  We should also maximize our being foot and mouth disease free (FMD) without vaccination and avian flu free status,” Alcala said.

According to Alcala,   we should expand our export market and continue implementing strict standards for our meat which would be  compliant with the export destination requirements and global requirements.

The DA vowed to continue to strictly monitor local markets to ensure that the meat on every Filipinos’ table is safe.

The DA earlier recognized the important role the NMIS plays in ensuring the health and safety of meat products and also in safeguarding the trade of livestock products as the nation celebrated Meat Safety Consciousness Week.

Alcala said the NMIS would  continue to tirelessly perform its regulatory function and would not stop in treading the straight path mandated by President Aquino.