May 19, 2008

 

Philippines confident on bagging FMD-free certification

 

 

The Philippines' largest hog farmer organization is convinced that the country will be declared as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free soon by the Office International des Epizooties (World Organization for Animal Health, or OIE).

 

On the sidelines of an anti-smuggling agreement signing between the Department of Agriculture and farmer groups last week, National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. president Albert R.T. Lim, Jr. said "the country has not experienced any outbreak for [more than] a year now," which makes the country "clear of FMD."

 

On May 23, 2006, the OIE declared the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as Palawan and Masbate, as FMD-free zones, leaving Luzon as the remaining main island that has not been certified.

 

OIE was scheduled to discuss the case of the Philippines last March and come out with its decision within this month.

 

On January 4 this year, the Agriculture department filed to OIE an application for FMD-free certification, noting the absence of FMD outbreaks since the start of 2006.

 

OIE rules state that a country seeking FMD-free certification must have had no cases of the disease for at least 24 months before the time of application.

 

Lim said the OIE's certification to the Philippines is significant as it will open up overseas opportunities for hog raisers nationwide.

 

Lim cited China, Japan, and Hong Kong as possible markets for local pork products.

 

Just last month, Singapore approved pork imports from the Philippines, but only from Matutum Meat Packing Corp. in South Cotabato.

  

Lim said once Luzon is declared FMD-free, exporters might also export from this region.

 

Meanwhile, Lim said local farm gate prices of pork have gone down by P4 per kilogram-P5/kg.

 

He said with farm gate prices now P103/kg-P105/kg, pork should now retail at P160/kg from the current P170/kg-P180/kg.

 

Lim said the problem lies within the retailers as they have not lowered the prices as sales are slow and the federation cannot impose to reduce prices because there is no price control law.