May 26, 2020

Philippines allows entry of Spanish beef imports

The Philippines has given the go signal for the entry of Spanish beef imports after three years of negotiations, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

The Southeast Asian country at present also imports beef from the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan.

Spanish beef is known for its firmness, while other beef variants are known for their tenderness and high fat content, as per report. Spain is the fourth-biggest beef producer in the EU and the 14th-largest exporter in the world.

The report noted, however, that Filipinos' preference for beef is low. "We're not a beef-eating country because it's expensive. Most Filipinos cannot afford it. It's a premium segment of the market," said Rosendo So, chairman of the Organisation of the Agricultural Industry Industriya ng Agrikultura chair said.

According to Bureau of Animal Industry director Ronnie Domingo, Filipinos' consumption of beef and veal combined is expected at only 3.15 kilogrammes per capita, as against 13.71 kg per capita for chicken and 14.91 kg for pork.