The Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. expressed support to the government ban on meat products from Brazil, following reports of coronavirus contamination of poultry products in the South American country.
PAFMI president Nikki Garcia, in a letter to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, expressed gratitude to the government for immediately imposing the precautionary measure to protect Filipino consumers. “At these unpredictable times, it is with the greatest reason to protect and safeguard our country’s food safety and ensuring clean and healthy foods on our tables,” she said.
“This, as well, protects Filipino agricultural producers and stakeholders from a serious biosecurity risk. PAFMI, as an association dedicated to producing high quality feeds, mainly relies on locally farmed and raised poultry and livestock for sustained business operations. A threat to these sectors is likewise a threat to us in the feed milling industry. We therefore wholly support this action from the government and we humbly suggest that this precaution be maintained until the threats of the pandemic are subdued,” Garcia said.
“May we, therefore, ask the IATF, along with other relevant and concerned agencies, to continuously implement the ban and impose stricter protocols and measures to prohibit the entry of contaminated meat and poultry products in the country. As always, we commit to support and actively take part in the government’s further actions on this matter,” she said.