Philippine food agency to import various pork cuts

The Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) is set to bid out 1,500 tonnes of various pork cuts and pork bellies on March 11.

FTI, a government-owned and controlled corporation attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), indicated that the importation is open to all interested hog raisers and producers and other private importers.

The pork imports, however, will be subject to a payment of a service fee equivalent to PHP15 per kilogramme.

Under the notice, qualified private importers under this project should be accredited by the National Meat Inspection Service to import meat and meat products or legitimate importers of hog raisers' associations in the Philippines.

The pork imports, according to FTI, should arrive not later than May 7 this year. Bidders of the project whose imports will arrive prior to May 7 will be entitled to a rebate of PHP5 per kilogramme.

FTI said it will follow the Systematic Distribution Procedure (SDP) by the MAV Secretariat under the DA using the economic quantity of 25 tonnes.

The preliminary conference for the pork imports will be held on March 3.