April 25, 2008

Singapore finally gives nod to Philippine pork exports

After approving the accreditation of the Matutum Meat Packing Plant Corp. in Mindanao, Singapore has finally given the much awaited green light to the Philippines to export pork.

Jane Bacayo, officer in charge for the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) said the accreditation of Matutum Meat Packing Plant was granted on April 14 after satisfying all the requirements of the Singaporean authorities.

Earlier, the NMIS noted that among the additional requirements of Singapore include the setting up of wheel baths for trucks and the chlorination of water used to wash pork. NMIS, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), was also allowed to certify the plant's compliance with the additional requirements.

Bacayo said Singapore did not specify a minimum volume but it will import a subsequent amount of pork depending on the supply of hogs that Mindanao swine farmers could guarantee.

Singaporean authorities chose to source pork products from Mindanao as it is declared free from the dreaded foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE).

The OIE had also declared Visayas as FMD-free. The Philippine government is currently asking the OIE to certify Luzon as FMD-free.

The DA had been that this development would have other countries import pork from the Philippines. Singapore's food-safety standard, DA officials noted, is considered as one of the most stringent in the world.

The NMIS official, however, said shipping out pork products to Singapore will most probably start in June as the agency is awaiting the delivery of an equipment that will screen pork products for drug residues.

The equipment, Bacayo said, will increase the confidence of Singaporean authorities in the pork products that the Philippines ships out.