ABPA Vice President and Technical Director Rui Vargas made the appeal after the Philippine mission that would inspect some meat establishments in Brasilia last week was postponed due to the discovery of avian influenza (AI) in some towns of Central Luzon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe audit of the Philippines is important because more than 30 listed Brazilian establishments export to them. And we had a document from the Philippines this year notifying us of our problems at five exporting establishments in a range of companies that we think are noble,\u201d Vargas told the BusinessMirror in an interview here.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are now awaiting and expecting that, by end of September, there should be a visit by the Philippine mission. It is still being confirmed,\u201d Vargas added.<\/p>\n
Vargas said they find the Philippine government\u2019s action in addressing the issue with Brazil and salmonella somewhat \u201cslow\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey told us they postponed because it has to be necessary to be quarantined because they came from avian influenza [AI] problem, and we have a restrictive rules here on AI. We do not allow entry for people who visited establishments with poultry in the last 15 days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not satisfied on the rate they are addressing this. I find it a little bit slow, but we accept it because it is reasonable,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The ABPA official noted that the Philippines\u2019s zero tolerance on salmonella policy is \u00a0\u201cunreasonable\u201d, as the bacteria could be easily killed through thorough cooking or processing of meat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should be zero tolerance in cooked. Here in Brazil, we have zero tolerance in cooked and in ready-to-eat, because these are dangerous,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have zero tolerance in raw.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite these remarks, Vargas added they would do their best to comply with the importation policies of their trading partners, even if they are too stringent in nature. Vargas said that countries such as South Korea, South Africa and some European countries also impose zero tolerance on raw meat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the country who is going to buy our products\u00a0can set up whatever policies they want to guarantee that their people are safe. If the Philippines feels that it\u2019s good to contain this kind of situation [through zero tolerance] then we will try to follow, to comply,\u201d he added. \u201cBut the Philippine government must understand that we have control here. We know exactly what we are doing in terms of controlling salmonella\u2014we will never send products that have salmonella problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vargas said they are confident that the Brazil-based meat-packing plants exporting to Manila will pass the inspection to be conducted by the Philippine government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will answer all the questions of the Philippine government. We are not afraid of this because we have a good system, and we just have to show them that we have a strong system of production,\u201d he added, \u201cbecause if we really have problems, then we ourselves will take precaution before things get much worse and could cause more problem with our production. In Brazil, we work with truth, transparency and prevention,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On August 7 the Department of Agriculture (DA) temporarily suspended the accreditation of all Brazilian meat establishments to export meat products to the Philippines, after some shipments from the Latin American country tested positive for salmonella.<\/p>\n
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Pi\u00f1ol issued Memorandum Order (MO) 32, dated\u00a0July 31, which authorized the temporary suspension of the accreditation of all Brazilian foreign meat establishments (FMEs).<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to Memorandum Circular 9-2008-5, Series of 2008, entitled \u2018Microbiological limits for assessment of microbiological quality fresh, chilled and frozen meat\u2019, microbiological limits for salmonella spp. must be absent in a 25-gram\u00a0 sample\u201d, Pi\u00f1ol said in MO 32, a copy of which was given to reporters on August 7.<\/p>\n
\u201cA total of 246 out of 492 container vans were sampled and subjected to laboratory analysis from\u00a0March 1 to June 30\u00a0wherein samples from 18 containers [7 percent] tested positive for salmonella spp.\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Pi\u00f1ol noted that under Republic Act 10611, or the Food Safety Act of 2013, the DA is responsible for the development and enforcement of food-safety standards and regulations for food in the primary production and postharvest stages of the food-supply chain.<\/p>\n
\u201c[The DA] shall monitor and ensure that the relevant requirements of the law are complied with by farmers, fishermen and food-business operations,\u201d MO 32 read.<\/p>\n
Pi\u00f1ol said the temporary suspension of the accreditation of all Brazilian FMEs will remain place, pending the results of an investigation to be conducted by the DA.<\/p>\n
The government has already suspended the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance for meat from Brazil and canceled the SPS import clearance of meat products that have not left Brazil.<\/p>\n
\u201cShipments of meat in transit upon the issuance of this order will be allowed to enter subject to 100-percent physical and laboratory examination inspection,\u201d MO 32 read.<\/p>\n
Based on the list available on the National Meat Inspection Service web site as of September 16, 2016, there are about 57 accredited Brazil-based FMEs allowed to export meat and meat products to the Philippines.<\/p>\n
However, the document showed that the validity of the accreditation of all 56 FMEs in Brazil are \u201cfor revalidation\u201d.<\/p>\n
Earlier Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Livestock Enrico P. Garzon Jr. said 10 DA personnel will be sent to Brazil to conduct the inspection in some 25 FMEs in Brazil. Garzon added the DA will lift the export ban on meat-packing plants that will be cleared by the inspectors.<\/p>\n
Meat Importers and Traders Association President Jesus C. Cham urged the government to expedite its investigation, as any delays in the process could result in higher meat prices.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo minimize the impact, we urge [the] DA to inspect the plants expeditiously, at the same time adhering to the standards of the international Codex Alimentarius Commission, of which the Philippines is a member,\u201d Cham told the BusinessMirror in an earlier interview.<\/p>\n
Data from ABPA showed that Brasilia\u2019s chicken-meat exports to Manila from January to July 2017 expanded by 35 percent to 32,339 MT, from the 23,954-MT recorded volume at the same time period last year.<\/p>\n
The ABPA is the biggest animal-protein chain association in Brazil comprised of 147 member-companies, among which are producers and exporters of poultry meat, pork, eggs, genetics and equipment, as well as state-level entities and other associations. The ABPA\u2019s estimated annual meat- exports revenue is pegged at $8 billion.<\/p>\n
Image Credits: Dado Galdieri\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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