THE SUPPLY of poultry remains ample despite a temporary ban on chicken meat imports from Brazil, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
In a virtual briefing Tuesday, BAI Director Ronnie D. Domingo said Brazilian chicken imports typically account for 15% of all imports.
Nevertheless, Mr. Domingo told consumers not to worry about a possible shortage because the Philippines is still importing poultry products from other countries.
“We have enough poultry products to last until the end of the year,” Mr. Domingo said.
On Aug. 14, the Department of Agriculture (DA) temporarily banned imports of poultry meat from Brazil.
In a memorandum order, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar suspended the accreditation of Brazilian meat companies exporting poultry meat to the Philippines.
The order also halted the processing, evaluation, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) for such products.
Mr. Dar cited a China finding that a chicken meat sample from Brazil tested positive for the virus.
The order also noted the rising number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths in Brazil, which included workers at meat packing facilities.
“The health status of the workers in meat establishments is a primary consideration in the accreditation of foreign meat establishments in compliance with the ‘Good Manufacturing Practices’ certification,” Mr. Da said in his order.
Mr. Domingo said that a technical working group has been created to study the government’s next move regarding Brazilian meat imports.
Mr. Domingo added that the technical working group will conduct a risk analysis and submit a recommendation to Mr. Dar.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no scientific evidence of COVID-19 transmission through food. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
