Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez recommended Monday lifting the import ban on Brazil poultry meat, citing the ban could result in shortage and price increase.
Lopez said during the Laging Handa virtual briefing that he agreed with the local meat processors in requesting the Department of Agriculture (DA) to lift the import ban.
“We support ‘yung position na ‘yun, kasi kung ‘yung basehan ng pag-ban ng importation ng mga chicken mula Brazil ay wala hong scientific basis na ito ay may dalang COVID at makakahawa,” Lopez said.
“Kaya ho kami’y may sulat kay Secretary Dar para ho sana i-lift na uli ‘yung ban na ‘yun dahil kung hindi ay mathre-threaten po ‘yung ating food supply, lalo na ‘yung daling dito sa meat processors na isa hong malaking food category na binibili ho ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
The association of meat processors in the country earlier appealed not to include the ingredients used in the production of processed meat in the import ban of chicken products from Brazil.
The mechanically deboned chicken (MDM) from Brazil was included in the import ban implemented by the Department of Agriculture.
MDM is one of the primary raw materials used in the manufacture of canned goods such as meatloaf and other processed meat.
DTI chief recommends lifting import ban on Brazil poultry meat
According to the Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc., there is already a shortage in the inventory of canned supplies in supermarkets and warehouses.
“Para maiwasan ang shortage na maaring harapin natin sa isang buwan, kasi ang supply ng kanilang major raw material nanggagaling sa Brazil ay posibleng maubos na in less than one month,” Lopez said.
“Imagine natin ‘pag kulang ‘yung supply na ‘yan, hindi sila makaka-produce, wala silang nung required ingredient para ma-produce ‘yung produkto. Para maiwasan ito, kailangang walang mapigil dito sa supply chain sa mga requirements na raw material,” he added.
It will be recalled that the DA imposed a ban on poultry items from Brazil after China found COVID-19 on some samples of poultry from the said country.
According to PAMPI, Brazil is the country’s second-largest supplier of poultry parts, so if the ban is continued, expect a shortage of processed meat products such as meatloaf, hotdogs, and other poultry products.