September 4, 2020

Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) asked by industry groups to ban all poultry imports

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) decided to ban the entry of chicken imports from Brazil and put a temporary ban on all imported chicken in relation to COVID-19 prevention and control procedures.

The DA's Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) imposed a temporary ban on Brazilian poultry products after China found traces of the COVID-19 virus in chicken imports from Brazil. Brazil currently accounts for nearly 20% of the country's poultry meat imports.

The rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Brazil was cited by BAI. These cases included workers in meat processing facilities. BAI director Ronnie Domingo communicated the Philippines commitment to resolving the issue with Brazil MAPA chief veterinary officer Dr. Geraldo Marcos de Moraes.

Domingo said the ban on Brazilian chicken products was issued as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and health of Filipino consumers.

This decision by the DA to prohibit the entry of chicken imports from Brazil and their call for a temporary ban on all imported chicken was backed by several industry groups.

"It is imperative that we prioritise the health needs of the population where infections continue to increase and the fear of getting infected haunt them every day. We jointly support the action of the Department of Agriculture to temporarily ban the importation of chicken from Brazil," the industry groups said in a statement.

"Though we appreciate this move by the agriculture department as an effective preventive measure to ensure the safety of the Filipino people and the other nationals who reside in our country, we as an industry urge the government to have a more aggressive stand and move for the temporary banning of all imported chicken until the world is able to cross this pandemic," the groups said.

Among the signatories in the petition were the Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc., United Broilers Raiser Association, Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc., Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc., National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., Bounty Group of Companies, The Philippine Eggboard Association Inc., Philippine Veterinary Medical Association, Philippine Maize Federation Inc., Local Poultry Integrator, Philippine College of Swine Practitioners, White Angel Farm Barauen Leyte, Growers of Chicken Essentials and Broiler Poultry Group.

Other petitioners are Chicken Essentials Ph Inc., Pura Agri-Ventures and Development Corp., Morales Poultry Farm, Romarcom International Marketing Corp., Paritas Trading Corp., Asia Pacific Chartering Phil. Inc., Grainman Marine Transport Inc., Philippine Veterinary Drug Association, Philippine College of Poultry Practitioners, Araco Poultry and Livestock Corp., Jairah Poultry Farm Bacolod City, Chicken Oro Inc. Bacolod City and Association of Accredited BAI Registered Laboratories Inc.

The industry groups' statement was issued after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) asked the DA to lift the ban on mechanically deboned meat from Brazil in anticipation of possible price hikes and shortage of canned meat products in the country. "We support the position of meat processors. There is no scientific basis that MDM from Brazil are infected by the COVID-19 virus," Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday.

The DTI said with only less than a month inventory of the raw material, a disruption in the supply of basic canned meat products with manufacturers would eventually lead to higher retail prices.

The DA, however, said that the temporary ban on Brazilian poultry imports will stay until the Brazilian government presented documents that would attest to the health soundness of factory workers.

BAI said it is awaiting the report from Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply particularly on matters related to COVID-19 prevention and control procedures among Brazilian factory workers in chicken processing facilities.

Industry groups said the needed supply by the meat processors can be met by the local livestock and chicken industry to support the demands of the population. "All food stakeholders should unite and support fellow local companies by buying their local produce and thus feeding our countrymen an all-Filipino product from end to end," the groups said.

"Policies should always prioritise the public good… and from this time onwards, we have experientially witnessed the importance of public health and should continue to treasure this hard lesson," they said.

- Manila Standard PH