The confiscated illegal frozen meat and poultry products were immediately buried in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, at the provincial port this Wednesday.
Nearly 500 kilos were seized by the combined forces of the Department of Agriculture- National Veterinary Quarantine Services (NVQS) and the Provincial Veterinary Office.
According to authorities, the meats were caught aboard a van without corresponding documents.
This is a violation of Republic Act No. 10536 or “Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.” Republic Act No. 10611 or the “Food Safety Act” was also violated.
In addition, the van also does not have a franchise, so that the transport operator could face a P100,000 fine or imprisonment.
According to Provincial Veterinarian IV Dr. Alfredo Manglicmot, they restrict the transport of frozen meat to prevent the spread of diseases such as African swine fever.
The Oriental Mindoro local government is operating strictly against illegal activities.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Veterinary Office is grateful to the Calapan City LGU for assisting them in burying the confiscated illegal frozen meat products.
500 kilos of illegal frozen meat products seized in Oriental Mindoro
The Philippine Tariff Commission is studying an agricultural group’s request to increase the tariff on imported pork.
The Agricultural Industry Association (Sinag) has asked the commission to raise the tariff to 40 percent for in-quota or your minimum access volume entries to be charged by the lower tariff this year.
About 44 percent of the request is for out-quota or those that exceed the minimum access volume.
It even agreed that the Senate and the Department of Finance would make the tariff only 15 to 20 percent for the in-quota and 20 to 25 percent for the out-quota.
“Hindi talaga kailangan na binabaan ‘yong taripa na nirekomenda sa NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) and [economic] team,” said Sinag Chairman Rosendo So.
President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order 128 on April 7, where the 30 percent import tariff within the import quota or minimum access volume (MAV) will be one year reduced to 5 percent, while the 40 percent tax beyond the MAV will be only 15 percent.
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