US presses changes in Philippines’ meat import rules

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala

The United States government has pressed anew the Philippines to amend an administrative order regulating the entry of imported meat into the country which the US meat industry claimed was discriminatory, top officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala met with US Deputy Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis Wednesday to discuss Administrative Order No. 22, which took effect in December 2011.

Alcala described the discussion with the top US trade official as “pleasant yet direct.”

Both sides aired their opinions about the new rules, Alcala said. The US detailed their concerns, some of which the Philippines could not accept easily, he said. “We have interests to protect,” Alcala said.

Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano said the US government had insisted that thawed meat could be sold in Philippine wet markets. “Their concern is commercial, our concern is public safety,” he said. Kristine L. Alave