November 29, 2010
Philippines to study higher tariff on offal imports
The Philippine Department of Agriculture is exploring the possibility of increasing the 5 percent tariff on imported pork offal after Filipino hog raisers complained that the price of the commodity is now cheaper than local pork.
The department said is set to hold talks with stakeholders to discuss the options.
After a meeting with hog raisers and poultry growers in Quezon City this weekend, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Livestock Davinio Catbagan said increasing tariffs on pork offal cannot be done arbitrarily and has to undergo a process.
Catbagan however assured hog farmers that they are considering to increase the tariffs.
Once a decision has been reached, the DA will recommend a higher rate to the Tariff and Related Matters or TRM.
Pork offal tariff, except liver, was lowered to 5 percent from 7 percent after then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Executive Order 84 on March 15, 2002.
Members of the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. or NFHFI, headed by its president Albert Lim, told the Agriculture Department imported pig's lips, cheeks, head, and even liver are now selling at PHP170 (US$3.83)-PHP180 (US$4.06) per kilo, while domestic pork is selling between PHP190 (US$4.28)-PHP210 (US$4.73) a kilo in wet markets.
As of Nov. 18, shipments of pork offal under the terms of the minimum access volume totaled 48.45 million kilos, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry.
Total shipments of the commodity reached 29 million kilos for the whole of 2009, with the US and Canada as the Philippines' traditional sources of imported pork offal.
