End to illegal shipment of meat products sought

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Edward Alesna, who chairs the committee on market and slaughterhouse, has urged, through a resolution, the Regional Quarantine Department to strictly implement the “no meat inspection certificate” and “no transport clearance” policy to make sure meat products are safe for human consumption. 

Alesna said there are hog meat products such as roasted pigs (lechon) that are transported to Metro Manila from Talisay City, which contradicts the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9296, otherwise known as the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.

Alesna said the meat and meat products that are transported from one region to another region must come only from “Double A” or “Triple A” accredited slaughterhouses. 

Under Section 58 of RA 9296, any carcasses, part of carcasses or products of carcasses found to have been prepared, handled, packed, stored, transported or offered for sale for human consumption not in accordance with any provision of the act shall be confiscated and properly disposed of.

It is unlawful for any person to manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribute in commerce or import into the country any consumer product which is not in conformity with an applicable consumer product quality or safety standard.

Under the law, any person who violates such provision, shall upon conviction be subject to a fine not less than P1,000 but not more than P10,000 or imprisonment of not less than two months but not more than one year or both upon the discretion of the court. 

“The City of Talisay livestock and Poultry Center is the only LGU-owned slaughterhouse in the region that has passed the “Double A” accreditation and therefore the only slaughterhouse who can transport their product to anywhere in the country,” Alesna said. 

Alesna said the Regional Quarantine Office, through   Regional Quarantine Officer, Dr. Pablo Balite, can help the Local Government Unit put the illegal shipment of “lechon” to Metro Manila to an end.