Philippine to put pork export accreditation on hold

Philippines has temporarily set aside its plans to tap Asian markets for its pork exports as pending tests by an international team now in the country to study the Ebola Reston virus in local hogs are still ongoing, said the head of National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) last week.

NMIS executive director, Jane C. Bacayo said the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the Livestock Development Council, and the NMIS have put on hold plans to apply for pork export accreditation from South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.

Bacayo said they have to prioritise because they are not sure on the effects of the virus on hogs.

He also said they are still communicating with foreign governments to learn more about their safety protocols.

National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. president, Albert R.T. Lim said that foreigners are not buying from them until they get a final statement of the international organisations.

Lim added that getting the accreditation will depend on the outcome of the studies and recommendations of the international experts.

The agencies had earlier planned to submit documents on local sanitary and biosecurity programmes to South Korea in the last part of 2008, as well as to Japan and Hong Kong early this year.