October 30, 2019

Philippines meat association calls for suspension of buying local pork to combat ASF
 

Members of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) have been told by the organisation not to buy local pork as raw materials for now in order to control the spread of African swine fever in the country.

PAMPI spokesman Rex Agarrado said that the move would be "safer" for the meat processors "until they are able to assure government authorities and the consuming public that local pork is ASF-free."

According to Agarrado, many meat processors have already ceased buying local pork.

"We urge authorities to randomly test for ASF (in) pork not just here in Luzon but even in the Visayas and Mindanao areas to restore consumer confidence," Agarrado said.

The group will stop all purchases of pork materials from local producers until enforceable policy on movement, distribution and sale of processed pork products are implemented.

PAMPI's call for action was however opposed by the National Federation of Hog Farmers (NFHF) which pointed out that local pork is safe. NFHF said that local hogs will not be sent to slaughterhouses if they are found to be infected with ASF. 

"This is just adding injuries to all of us because we, as local producers, assure that pork is safe to eat," NFHF president Chester Tan told reporters on the sidelines of the National Food Security Summit on October 29.

Hog raisers also slammed PAMPI, as the group of processors actually source 95% of their raw materials from abroad, with only 5% being local.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said it is callous of PAMPI to blame the very victims of ASF as thousands of backyard raisers have already lost their livelihood, with farmgate prices falling by 40% and demand by 30%.

Furthermore, SINAG chairman Rosendo So placed the blame of the Philippines' ASF outbreak on pork imports brought in by PAMPI members.

"Why don't they (PAMPI) police their own ranks, instead of blaming maliciously the hapless backyard raisers? The threat to stop buying from local hog raisers is pure bluff and is nothing but an empty threat. They have never bought from us in the first place," he added.

SINAG also reiterated its call to stop the importation of pork until the Quarantine First Policy - strip inspection at the port of first entry - is established.

"More than 80% of local processors are not members of PAMPI and we continue to rely on their patriotism and support to the local hog industry," So said.

SINAG also revealed that farms are conducting voluntary ASF-testing and are issued certificates from the authorities that their hogs are ASF-free.

- Philstar.com