DA: 60-day ban on pork imports starts November
The Philippine Department of Agriculture will implement a 60-day freeze on pork imports starting in November to support the local hog industry. This decision follows protests by local retailers against high production costs and competition from imported meat products.
Why it matters
This policy shift reflects the government's attempt to balance food security and consumer prices with the protection of local agricultural producers.
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture will impose a 60-day freeze on imported pork starting next month, according to Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
By mid-November, the DA chief said they are set to stop the issuance of import permits for kasim (shoulder), pigue (butt) and liempo (belly), in an effort to jumpstart the local hog industry.
The halt on importing pork products comes as some local retailers have imposed a three-day pig holiday, suspending live hog deliveries and meat sales to protest mounting industry losses, high production costs and unfair competition from imported pork products.
Tiu Laurel said they have made several efforts to increase tariffs up to 40 percent and trigger safeguard duties.
He also sounded an alarm over the six-percent increase in importation while production is also increasing.
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