Processors seek extended permits to import meat

Local meat processors have urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to again extend the validity of their import clearances to 90 days from 60, citing worsening global supply chain woes.

According to the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) the protracted Russia-Ukraine war has worsened supply chain and logistics problems here and abroad, offsetting the positive effect of the decline in active COVID-19 cases worldwide.

The group has thus issued an “urgent appeal” to Agriculture Secretary William Dar to extend the validity of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for imported meat to 90 days from the current 60 days.

To recall, the DA extended the validity period to 90 days in January this year as the COVID-19 pandemic hampered the delivery of meat products. But this was recently reverted to 60 days on grounds that the global COVID-19 situation has improved.

“The current global COVID situation has subsided in many parts of the world, resulting in an easing of the supply chain and logistical restrictions,” said the administrative order signed by Dar.

Pampi claimed, however, that this was not “exactly accurate.”

“Even with declining Covid cases, supply chain and logistics problems persist and getting worse every day,” they said.

Pampi added that even the 90-day window may “no longer adequate” to cover the entire process of importing meat to cover for the supply shortfall in the local market.