December 26, 2003

Philippines To Continue Importing US Beef

The Philippines government will not halt beef imports from the United States but necessary precautions will be undertaken, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo said Wednesday.

"We just want to reassure the consuming public that our meat here is safe," Lorenzo said.
 

Lorenzo said none of the beef in the Philippines came from the place where the infected animal was detected.

"We believe they (US authorities) are taking all the necessary procedures," Lorenzo said.

He said there was no need for a blanket ban on US beef but added that quarantine officials would likely restrict the importation of certain kinds of American beef products, particularly meat that had not been de-boned.

Agriculture Undersecretary Cesar Drilon said the Philippines would restrict importation of meat with bones as well as offal and internal organs. The mad cow disease is believed to be spread to humans through the consumption of brains and the spine of infected animals.

US Embassy counselor Ronald Post said US authorities had quarantined the area where the case of mad cow disease was detected, adding his government would be "totally transparent" in dealing with the disease.

Drilon said the Philippines imported about 2,800 tons of beef from the United States this year, amounting to only about 8% of total beef imports. Most of the country's imported beef comes from Brazil and Australia, he added.

But US authorities assured that the single Holstein cow that tested positive for mad cow disease was screened earlier this month and any diseased parts were removed before they could enter the food supply and infect humans.

"We remain confident in the safety of our food supply," US Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman told a hastily convened news conference.