6M kgs expired, imported pork likely smuggled into PHL, says agri group

Tuesday, 12 August 2014 | 22:28

Nearly six million kilograms of expired, imported and possibly smuggled pork did not undergo the necessary quarantine inspection and food safety tests during the first six months of the year, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said Tuesday.

In a statement, SINAG said data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed only 116 million kilos of imported pork underwent quarantine inspection in the first six months of the year. But Bureau of Customs (BOC) data showed 121.6 million kilos of imported meat were released from January to June this year.

This leaves 5.6 million kilos of pork unaccounted for, the group said.

SINAG chair Rosendo So asked Agriculture Secretary Proseso Alcala and Customs Commissioner John Philip Sevilla to investigate the matter.

"Bakit nakakalabas sa BOC ng walang quarantine clearance at bakit walang quarantine officer to check on the imported meat?" said So.

He also criticized a group of meat importers that claimed it is okay to consume expired meat as long as the product is frozen. "These meat importers have no business in the food industry as they pose the greatest threat to our public health security."

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/374443/economy/agricultureandmining/6m-kgs-expired-imported-pork-likely-smuggled-into-phl-says-agri-group