January 16, 2007
 

Philippines allows US beef offal imports

The Philippine Department of Agriculture would allow the importation of livers, hearts and cheek meat from US cattle, according to a report released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In 2005, US beef exports to the Philippines were valued at US$4.3 million and this figure is expected to increase substantially with the recent lifting of the ban on livers, hearts and cheek meat. The Philippines imported about US$106 million worth of beef and beef products throughout 2005, mostly carabeef (buffalo meat) from India and Brazil, which is used for further processing into hotdogs, sausages and corned beef. According to the USDA report, beef livers and hearts can be substituted for carabeef in the production of hotdogs, sausages, and other processed beef products.

Prior to the lifting of the ban on beef livers, hearts and cheek meat, only boneless beef derived from cattle less than 30 months of age and processed meat products containing beef, beef offal and beef tallow from the US were allowed into the Philippines.