May 10, 2021
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.
Published May 7, 2021, 4:10 PM
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will increase monitoring of pork imports coming into the country to prevent the entry of new African Swine Fever (ASF) variants that have started to cause problems in the hog sector of China, the world’s largest pork-producing country.
In a text exchange, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said there is a “need double our efforts for our monitoring and surveillance much more on smuggled pork and pork products”.
“We have strengthened our first border inspection and we will increase our monitoring and surveillance system,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar (MANILA BULLETIN)
May 5, 2021
Although the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin has not yet been proven effective against COVID-19 in animals, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will also evaluate whether it is effective in pigs against African swine fever (ASF).
Special Order No. 310 released by Agriculture Secretary William Dar on April 30 formed the inter-agency research team for the preliminary trial.
According to Agriculture Undersecretary William Medrano, ivermectin has been found in other countries to be effective as a drug against other viral animal diseases.
“There are scientific literatures already na ivermectin, aside from being an effective anti-parasitic, meron din siyang antiviral effects and anti-inflammatory… Ginamit na sa other countries ‘yung ivermectin sa other viral diseases ng livestock,” said Medrano.
Published May 5, 2021, 10:54 AM
Despite a 12-month tariff cut imposed on pork, a group of local meat importers began lobbying for a much longer period wherein the pork import tariff rate is kept at 15 percent from the original 40 percent until 2025.
A customer pays for pork at a roadside market stall in Mandaluyong City, Manila, the Philippines. (Bloomberg file)
In a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) President Jesus Cham said the compromise pork import tariff rate of 15 percent is “reasonable” but it should “be incorporated into the upcoming tariff schedule and remain in effect until end-2025.”
BusinessWorld
May 5, 2021 | 7:36 pm
REUTERS
THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) said the flow of agricultural produce to Metro Manila will continue even with hog raisers threatening to declare a so-called âfood holidayâ to protest inadequate government help in addressing the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak and plans to import more pork.
Agriculture Spokesman Noel O. Reyes said farmers and fisherfolk will continue to produce food and asked those planning to declare a food holiday to abandon the idea.
âWe should help each other during this time, especially with the pandemic. We are hoping that it will not push through,â Mr. Reyes said in a radio interview Wednesday.