15 December 2016 — The Philippine government recently concluded an inspection and audit mission of meat production facilities and laboratories across Canada to verify the safety of Canadian meat products entering the Philippine market.

A composite team from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of the Department of Agriculture visited various veal, cattle, poultry, and hog production sites and laboratories in Québec, Ontario and Alberta provinces in Canada from November 12 to 24 pursuant to the 2016 Audit of Canada’s Meat Inspection System.

The inspection team was comprised of Dr. Castor Leo Ejercito and Mr. Balgamel Crooc from the BAI, as well as Dr. Ma. Elaine Joy Villareal, Dr. Delia Mayo, Ms. Theresa Wenceslao and Ms. Marites Lorilla from the NMIS.

The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa together with the Agriculture Office in Washington, DC, and the Philippine Consulates General in Calgary and Toronto facilitated the conduct of, and lent support to the inspection mission. Minister and Consul General Eric Tamayo was among those who accompanied the eastern team in their inspection of facilities in Québec.

The meat processing plants that the group checked are those that are actively exporting to the Philippines or that have plans of exporting to the country in the near future. The audit is a regular prerequisite for all sources of meat products coming into the Philippines to ensure food safety and adherence to hygienic food handling standards for the benefit of the Filipino consumer.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia noted the importance of strengthening agricultural linkages between the Philippines and Canada. The Philippines ranks in the Top 20 export market for Canadian Agri-food and seafood. Over C$368 million worth of agri-food and seafood products from Canada entered the Philippines in 2015.

Meat and edible meat offal is the second largest food export (next to cereals) of Canada into the Philippines. Meanwhile, food products worth C$215 million from the Philippines came into Canada for the same year. Fats and oils, as well as edible fruits and nuts are the top Philippine products coming into the Canadian market.

Trade in agricultural products comprises 28% of the total trade between the Philippines and Canada which grew to C$2.1 Billion in 2015. END