DA OKs meat export permits for 13 Chilean companies

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has accredited 13 companies from Chile to export meat to the Philippines.

According to the DA, the Chilean companies were granted a three-year accreditation to export meat (beef, pork, and chicken), offal, animal fats, and other by-products to "further diversify the country’s food sources amid persistent supply bottlenecks and livestock diseases."

“As much as we strive to produce more food locally, we also need to ensure steady and reliable sources overseas. Recent natural calamities and recurring animal diseases remind us of the importance of securing alternative food supply channels to protect consumers and stabilize prices,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said.

He said that Chile had complied with the standards of the World Organization for Animal Health, and the companies had passed Philippine quarantine and meat inspection requirements.

Chile joins the Philippines’ network of global meat suppliers, which includes the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Spain. —VBL, GMA Integrated News