Regulate meat importation

 

There is no question that the meat processing industry in this country has grown by leaps and bounds relative to the country’s population whose growth remains unbridled.

Needless to say that meat processing has become a very important sector of the Philippine economy.

But, does this mean to say that government will allow entry of imported meat with impunity?

Questions, therefore, have to be asked.

Is there scarcity of local meat materials, especially pork? Are we turning out pork meat products more than the local hog raisers can supply?

There is reason perhaps to import beef and carabeef (carabao meat) because of our limited sources, but, is the importation of pork cuts/materials justifiable?

Or has this something to do with the appreciation of the peso which makes meat raw materials cheaper and where the meat producers and manufacturers are just taking advantage of – and for  selfish  reason!

It sure is justifiable to import pork fat to augment your local supply of fat especially if you are producing tons of hotdogs, longanizas and chorizos daily, because fat is an important raw material for the production of the mentioned products.

Likewise, it is reasonable and understandable to import pork bellies, when local suppliers couldn’t adequately supply you with your requirement for the much desired, tasty bacon. Rather than buy it at a cut-throat price, importation of the material is resorted to.

The influx, therefore, of imported meat that we are experiencing today, which even reaches in the nook and corners of the wet market in the country is due more to the present unstable peso-dollar rate.

Definitely, the government is obligated to protect the local hog raisers and suppliers and not allow some unscrupulous importers from cornering all the profit there is to gain.

But, in the same manner, meat processors should be monitored to ensure that their pricing of processed meat products are according to their raw material prices.

Totally banning the importation of meat materials is uncalled for. But, regulating its entry to the country to be sold as fresh meat or used as raw material for processed meat will be beneficial for the consuming public in general.