THE Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc. (PAMPI) has asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) to review its order banning imports of buffalo meat from India.
In a letter addressed to Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., it said shipments have already been contracted for use in January and February production.
According to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), cases of foot and mouth disease (FMD) were found in the Indian states of Bihar, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
The issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) clearances of buffalo meat were subsequently halted for products from the three states.
“The SPS ban will leave us with virtually no raw material inventory to process into canned goods by then,” PAMPI added.
The group said that the ban could lead to the loss of India as a source for buffalo meat.
“The SPS ban on the three states will set a disastrous precedent as it will result in our industry losing India as the only source of buffalo meat raw material,” it added.
The BAI had earlier confirmed the FMD cases after conducting an inspection mission to the Indian states.
“We would like to request your office to conduct a circumspect and more thorough review of the matter so that the interest of our industry as well as the nation’s food security is not compromised,” PAMPI said.
“Pending the outcome of such review, we respectfully suggest that the status quo ante be maintained,” it added.
The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) had asked the DA to immediately suspend imports of buffalo meat from areas in India affected by FMD.
The FFF said that banning the imports would protect the livestock industry from the spread of the disease. — Adrian H. Halili
