The Philippines will proceed with the importation of as much as 300,000 metric tons of corn at lower tariffs as the country prepares for the surge in demand for livestock feeds.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the Department of Finance has approved the importation of about 300,000 MT of yellow corn from the United States to support the country’s livestock industry.
The Philippines’ demand for livestock feeds, which are largely made of corn, is seen to increase as the government moved to tighten security against the deadly pork disease African Swine Fever.
The Food and Drug Administration has ordered the recall and seizure of processed meat products from countries affected by ASF, which is on top of the existing importation ban the Department of Agriculture has placed in these countries.
These orders mean the Philippines won’t temporarily allow the entry and the consumption of pork products, processed or canned, coming from China, Vietnam, Zambia, South Africa, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Mongolia, Moldova, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine.
As a result, local meat producers must step up and fill the demand with locally produced livestock meat.
“The DA expects a dramatic growth of the hog and poultry sector this year,” Piñol said. “The importation of corn will ultimately increase the production of livestock animal and meat.”
No cases of ASF had been detected in the Philippines so far. But all the entry points in the Philippines have tightened security versus the potential entry of the virus. (Madeleine Miraflor)
