December 31, 2003

Philippines Meat Industry Not Affected By US Mad Cow Disease

The Philippines' meat processing industry will not be much affected by the discovery of mad cow disease in the United States, Francisco Buencamino, executive director of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors (PAMPI) said on Monday.

Buencamino pointed out that unlike major buyers of US beef such as Japan, the Philippines imports an insignificant volume of its beef requirements from the United States.

"The country imports only eight percent of its beef requirements from the US or about 40,000 metric tons yearly. Of that volume, meat processors account for only 4,000 metric tons (MT)," noted Buencamino.

Moreover, the purchase of meat processors is limited to choice cuts. The same is true with food retailers, hotels and restaurants which get their supply mostly from Australia.

According to Buencamino, PAMPI members like San Miguel Foods and Swift Foods Inc. rely primarily on carabeef from India for their processing requirements.

"The situation in the US is not going to have a major effect on the meat processors," said Buencamino.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has stopped issuing veterinary quarantine certificates (VQCs) since Dec. 23 that would allow imported beef to enter the country.