Meat importers slam hog raisers

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala

Meat importers and processors on Monday accused local swine growers—who have threatened another pork holiday—of blackmailing Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

In a statement, the Alliance of Food Processors (AFP) said the swine sector “has dangled as blackmail” the idea of a pork holiday before Alcala to compel him to move against meat importers.

The AFP said the hog raisers themselves were to blame for the decline in their sales.

According to the swine producers, unfair competition from cheaper smuggled pork has cost them as much as P3.2 billion a month. This has totaled P12.8 billion from January to April 2012.

Undersized, sick pigs

The meat processors dismissed allegations of rampant pork smuggling. They said the hog raisers’ declining sales may stem from the short supply of quality meat in the market.

“Pigs now sold in the market are almost all undersized and, as explained by some dealers, this short supply will worsen because of an outbreak of pig diarrhea in Pampanga, Bulacan and Batangas,” the AFP said.

“Even without a holiday, there will be a reduced supply of pigs for slaughter according to the dealers. Is it possible the hog raisers are masking their short supply situation with this campaign against importation?” the meat processors said.

The food manufacturers—that include the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc., Meat Importers and Traders Association Inc. and the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines—also said the local swine industry had not made improvements to their products and facilities.

Unable to supply

They noted they had tried in the past to buy their pork requirements from local suppliers. “Unfortunately, none could supply” to the importers’ technical specifications and price range, the AFP said.

“They do not have plants that comply with our quantity and quality standards. Thus processors are constrained to import from foreign meat sellers accredited by the Bureau of Animal Industry and National Meat Inspection Service,” the meat processors said.

The feud between the two sectors has led to the relief of two Department of Agriculture officials in charge of meat importation and handling.

Last week, BAI Director Efren Nuestro and lawyer Jane Bacayo of the NMIS were relieved of their official duties.