020428 USDA Protests Philippine Meat Safety Requirement

Manila - In protest of a new safety requirement that the Philippines plans to implement on its meat imports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will take the issue to the World Trade Organization.

U.S. Agricultural Attache Michael Woolsey said aside from the U.S., other exporters of meat products to the Philippines namely Australia , Canada and Belgium are likely to make a similar move in the event the Philippines doesn't revoke the new measure.

"We will take this up before the WTO's SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) committee if the Philippines doesn't withdraw the new measure. I can almost guarantee that's going to happen so I hope they don't do it," Woolsey told a press conference.

Under WTO rules, the SPS committee will decide whether there is sufficient grounds for the U.S. to initiate formal proceedings against the Philippines , Woolsey said.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture issued in December last year Administrative Order 25 which requires the issuance of a safety compliance certificate and a chain of custody certification checklist on all meat imports entering the country.

AO 25 is yet to be implemented pending formulation of relevant rules and regulations.

Woolsey, however, said the new measure is "unnecessary" as the U.S. already implements an inspection system that guarantees the safety of its meat products.

Woolsey said the U.S. inspection system, which is being implemented on meat products for domestic consumption as well as for the export market, allows for traceability to the plant or warehouse of origin.

"The new requirement will only disrupt shipments, cost a lot more money when they (Philippine Department of Agriculture) themselves confirmed that they are not aware of any meat safety concerns," Woolsey said.

"AO 25 does not provide any additional safety assurance. All the information that they need is already in the wholesomeness certificate that we issue on our meat products," he added.

AO 25 is intended to ensure the safety and quality of imported livestock and poultry products entering the Philippines .

U.S. exports of poultry, beef and pork products to the Philippines totals about $30 million annually.

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