DA tracing resellers of smuggled spoiled meat in Bulacan

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is tracing the possible resellers of expired smuggled meat recently seized by the agency and the Bureau of Customs in a warehouse in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

“‘Yung traceability, 'yun ang isa sa dapat nating tutukan. From point of entry, saan pumunta ang meat, 'yung cold storage, sino ang nag-pull out sa cold storage, saan nakarating... Lahat ng lumahok sa value chain, pwede silang maparusahan,” DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said in an interview on Dobol B sa GTV.

(The traceability is among those we should focus on. From the point of entry, where the meat went, the cold storage, who pulled it out from the cold storage, and where it goes… All who participated in the value chain could be charged.)

“Kapag binili tapos ni-resell [ang expired meat], pwede silang makasuhan...,” she said.

(If they bought and then resold the expired meat, they could be sued.)

Citing the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, the DA official said the importer, owner of the cold storage facility, and resellers of the seized smuggled meat could face six to 12 years in jail.

On Tuesday, the DA and BOC seized tons of expired meat estimated to be worth around P35 million in a warehouse in Meycauayan. 

Authorities are conducting a full inventory of the seized meat and investigating where the repacked items are being sold.

“It has to be emphasized sa mga tumatangkilik sa mga smuggled na commodity, that is not safe. Food safety is compromised,” Evangelista said. —Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News