The Department of Agriculture (DA) has warned against the sale of
frozen meat in the wet market as this can put human health at risk due
to the absence of refrigeration facilities and a lack of know-how of
vendors on handling frozen meat.
DA Undersecretary Deogracias Victor B. Savellano said DA is
collaborating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) so as to
weed off public wet markets of health-hazardous frozen products.
DA also advised consumers to look for the seal of the National Meat
Inspection Service (NMIS) to ensure food safety.
“Delikado ito sa kalusugan ng tao. Hanapin ang papeles ng NMIS at
katayan ng mga LGU (local government units). Walang problema ang
imported na karne. Huwag lang ibenta na sariwa sa palengke.”
(This is dangerous to health. Look for the NMIS food safety seal
and LGU’s slaughterhouse documents. Imported frozen meat is not the
problem, but their handling as fresh food in wet markets.)
DA Administrative Order 6-2012 prohibits frozen meat from being
sold in the wet market. Frozen meat should only be confined to
hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets that have refrigeration
facilities and handling expertise.
Savellano said DA is also examining the price difference of poultry
being sold in the market compared to farmgate prices. While poultry’s
price sold in the wet market has been increasing, the farmgate price
has actually been decreasing.
“Ang mga nag-aalaga ng manok ay dumadaing sa mababang presyo na
kuha sa kanila ng mga biyahero (Poultry farmers have been complaining
about the low price at which traders buy their produce),” he said.
The DA believes the excessive dumping of frozen meat in the wet
market may be the cause of decreasing farmgate prices of poultry, to
the detriment of farmers.
Also, Savellano fears poultry farmers have been cutting maturity
days for harvesting poultry—down to 27 or 28 days instead of 30 days.
This is as they try to meet poultry demand in time for the Christmas
holidays.
However, instead of increasing their income from increased
production, they may be suffering from low farmgate prices due to
excessive frozen meat in the wet market.
Savellano said DA’s objective is three-pronged, not just raise
supply. But it is to raise production, bring down prices for
consumers, and raise farmers’ income.
DA’s strategy to meet these objectives is to increase feed
production to lower prices, reported Heaven Torres of DA Livestock.
“Nagpapatanim na kami ng malalaking plantasyon ng mais para
mapababa ang gastos ng mga nag aalaga at siya ding dapat ikababa sa
merkado para sa lahat ng Pilipino. Ang dapat na mababang presyo sa
farm ay dapat maramdaman ng mga mamimili sa palengke.”.
(DA is now expanding the planting of corn so as to bring down feed
costs of poultry farmers. This should lead to a lower price of
chicken for Filipino consumers. Filipinos should be able to feel the
low price of chicken).
DA has also asked Malacanang to grant it the authority to manage
and administer African swine fever and avian flu vaccine.
As soon as it is granted this jurisdiction (with which it has
conflicts with the Food and Drug Administration), it can then hasten
the processing of access of vaccines to the industries. This is
critical in preventing the fast spread of the diseases.