THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday directed local government units (LGUs) to “strictly” adhere to its guidelines that would lift the ban on processed meat products as long as international conditions are met.
The DILG said LGUs should not cause the “unwanted disruption of trade and commerce across the country” by allowing the distribution and sale of processed meat products, particularly pork-based items, in all provinces in accordance with pertinent conditions.
The DILG issued the statement after its memorandum circular (MC) covering the sale and distribution of processed meat products took effect on Wednesday.
“Since the government has been acting aggressively and effectively to address the ASF [African swine fever] outbreak, we are urging all LGUs to lift the ban on processed meat products containing pork for as long as the products meet certain conditions imposed by the Department of Agriculture,” Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año said.
In the MC signed by Año addressed to governors, city and municipal mayors and punong barangays, all LGUs were told to “strictly adhere” to the guidelines on movement, distribution and sale of processed meat products amid the ongoing ASF outbreaks in Luzon.
The DILG said the MC seeks to “protect the consumers,as well as the stakeholders in the meat industry from any disruption in the flow of trade and commerce across the country.”
It added, “The experts from the Department of Agriculture have already advised us that if the conditions are met, processed meat is safe.”
Conditions outlined
The DILG said the MC stipulated that processed meat products that do not contain pork as raw materials should be “allowed unrestricted movement and distribution in all provinces.” These products include corned beef, beef hot dogs, chicken nuggets, chicken hot dogs, and similar items, the DILG added.
“Upon demand by LGU quarantine officials, the Certificate of Product Registration of processed meat products issued by the Food and Drug Administration to the manufacturers may be shown to LGUs. This should suffice to allow movement and distribution to all provinces,” Año said.
The DILG said pork-based processed meat products, either partially or fully, should be allowed to be distributed and sold in all provinces subject to conditions imposed by the DA.
Under the guidelines, the DILG said these pork-based products should be “heat-treated or fully cooked according to internationally accepted standards adopted by the Philippine Association of Meat Processors.”
“Canned meat products should be cooked at 116 degrees Celsius for at least 60 minutes, while hot dogs, hams, and bacon should be processed/smoked/cooked to a core temperature of at least 72 degrees centigrade for over one hour,” DILG said, quoting experts.
“Smoked/cooked pork sausages, on the other hand, should be cooked to a core temperature of at least 72 degrees centigrade for at least 40 minutes,” it added.
Meat processors should also present a certification from the country of origin that their imported raw materials are from non-ASF infected country, DILG said. This should be supported by any acceptable document, such as Veterinary Health Certificate of the exporting country, and the Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary (SPS) Import Permit issued by the Department of Agriculture (DA), it added.
If the pork material is locally sourced, then a National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) document authorizing the movement or use for production of processed meats should be presented by meat processors to LGU authorities.
“For processed meat products such as tocino, fresh longganisa, and tapa that use pork as material but do not undergo heat treatment or full cooking, an NMIS certification is necessary for locally sourced pork,” DILG said.
“For imported meat materials, permits and certifications to ensure that the source countries are free from ASF and are from DA-approved sources are essential,” it added.
Reduced business losses
In a letter submitted to Año, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) thanked the DILG chief for ordering the lifting of the ban imposed by over 56 provinces on processed meat products.
The exclusion of processed meat products from the ASF-related provincial bans on pork and pork products would cut the meat processors’ estimated losses due to the restriction, Pampi said.
“We note, Sir, that while the lifting of the restriction will help reduce our business losses, the much greater benefit will be for our people who are assured of continued supply of affordable and protein-filled nutritious products,” Pampi’s October 16 letter said.
The group earlier said it may incur P50 billion to P60 billion in losses due to import bans imposed by provincial and local governments. The ASF is a fatal disease to hogs with a mortality of up to 100 percent, with no known vaccine yet, and no cure. However, the ASF poses no threat to human health.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes