March 18, 2014

Philippines approves import of Japanese beef

The Philippine government has finally approved the importation of Japanese beef after a decade of discussions about animal health conditions.

According to the Japanese Embassy in Manila, local government agencies in the Philippines and the Animal Quarantine Service of Japan (AQS) will soon start issuing the corresponding certificates.

However, this will only be possible after Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) inform the local governments and AQS.

Likewise, the two parties agreed that beef to be imported should exclude those that are of Specified Risk Material (SRM), and meat slaughtered using certain techniques such as pithing or stunning with a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity.

In addition, only meat that are slaughtered and cut in establishments accredited will be allowed to export to the Philippines.

The agreement did not put any restrictions for the age in months of the cattle to be slaughtered then exported to the Philippines.

The meat establishments that were given accreditation to process Japanese beef for the Philippines include Hida Meat Centre and Hida Meat Agricultural cooperatives, Shiga Meat Centre, Miyachiku Corp. Ltd., Tsuno Plant, Minami Kyushu Chikusan Kogyo Corp. Ltd, Akune Meat Distribution Centre Co., Ltd and Starzen Meat Processor Co., Ltd.