Poorly-vendedimported meat confiscated

CEBU, Philippines - The city veterinary’s office has confiscated almost 225 kilos of poorly vended imported meat from three public markets yesterday morning.

A 10-man team of special inspectors from the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) seized 197.70 kilos of meat from four stalls at the Carbon Public Market, 14.5 kilos from a stall at the T. Padilla Public Market and another 12 kilos from the Taboan Public Market.

City veterinarian Alice Utlang said the confiscated meat amounts to P16,821.

Utlang said most of the meat stalls violated Administrative Order 22-2010 of the Department of Agriculture, which stipulates the rules and regulations in handling imported meat products. The stalls that were selling the meat did not have freezers required to store the meat properly.

Utlang said proper storage is necessary when selling imported meat products owing to its limited display time. Imported meat products need to be stored properly so they would not defreeze and become rancid.

“Angay gyud nga mag maintain og 10 centigrade for storage aron di ma da-ot ang imported meat” Utlang added.

She said all vendors of imported meat in the city were informed of the rules prior to the implementation of Administrative Order 22-2010 last December 15.

“Two weeks before the implementation, amo na gi-inform ang mga vendors da-an” Utalng said. The DVMF has formed a new group of inspectors specifically to enforce the provisions of the order.

Instead of getting irked with the new rule, Utlang urged vendors of imported meat products to simply comply with the requirements faithfully.

“Aron di sila ma alkansi, mu-follow nalang unta sila sa bala-od” she added.

If it is possible, she even advise vendors if they really want to sell imported meat, they should ask freezers from their supplier so that they can sell their products safely and confidently.

Vendors caught violating the order will be fined P5,000 and shall be required to pay additional rent equivalent to one month. They will also face the risk of charges.

The confiscated imported meat was given to animals at the Cebu City Zoo and the dog pound. — THE FREEMAN