July 25, 2011

Philippines expected to export pork to Malaysia in August

The Philippines may start exporting pork to Malaysia in August, marking the country's first overseas shipment of this product.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Davinio P. Catbagan told reporters that the department expects shipments of pork cuts from about 1,000 hogs a week to Malaysia to start early August.

The hogs will be slaughtered in the Philippines, with the cuts exported to Malaysia.

He identified the Philippine exporter as meat processor Rombe Philippines, Inc., but declined to name the Malaysian importer.

He said the Malaysian firm wanted some changes to Rombe's plant in Pulilan, Bulacan before shipments were to start.

Catbagan said that if the shipment proceeds, the Philippines could look for more overseas markets for local pork, such as Dubai.

Commenting in May on ongoing talks then between the two companies, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala had cited the need in Malaysia, a predominantly Islamic country, for pork in tourism establishments there.

In May, the country received certification from the World Organization for Animal Health that it is completely free of foot-and-mouth disease, without need for vaccination.

In December 2009, what was to be the country's first pork export to Singapore was voluntarily suspended by a company in Matutum, South Cotabato after the detection of Ebola Reston in a farm in Luzon.