PH in talks for supply of pork to Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines—Pork from the Philippines may soon find its way to the kitchens and tables of the predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala Tuesday said talks between the government and a Malaysian firm, which he declined to identify, have been underway for the latter to import about 1,000 head of hogs per week.

“The company, which has a Filipino partner, is now negotiating with us. We started negotiations last week,” Alcala said in a press briefing. Alcala said he hopes that the discussions would be finished in two months.

The pork from the Philippines would be supplied to restaurants and tourists who are non-Muslims in Malaysia, Alcala said.

He noted that the country is an attractive supplier of pork in Malaysia, which has a low local demand that is insufficient to spur its own swine sector.

Unlike some countries in Asia, the Philippines is not plagued by the foot-and-mouth disease, Alcala explained.

The Philippines is set to be declared free from the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) by the World Organization for Animal Health or Office International des Epizooties (OIE) this month.

This would be a big boost to the hog raisers and pork suppliers, the Agriculture Secretary said. Aside from Malaysia, Alcala had noted that Philippine pork products could make their way to South Korea, where there is a currently an FMD outbreak