Meat processors appeal ban on Indian buffalo meat imports

Meat processors sounded the alarm over possible supply disruptions on raw materials if a hold order issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on the importation of buffalo meat from certain Indian states would not be reversed soon.

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) sought his intervention on an order recently issued by BAI-OIC Director Diosamia Sevilla concerning the evaluation of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) for imported buffalo meat (IBM) from certain areas in India.

Sevilla recently issued a memorandum holding in abeyance the review of all SPSICs for the importation of Indian buffalo meat originating from the states of Bihar, Maharashtra and Telangana.

According to Sevilla, the order was issued after an inspection team formed by the Department of Agriculture found out that the three Indian states have confirmed cases of the foot and mouth disease (FMD).

The temporary suspension of the review of SPSICs was meant to serve as a precautionary measure to protect the country’s domestic population against FMD.