Over P201K worth of smuggled meat from China seized in Manila

More than P201,000 worth of smuggled meat from China were seized in two grocery stores in Manila.

According to James Agustin’s report in “Balitanghali” on Tuesday, the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) said the seized meats were being sold online.

“Base sa mga label na nakita natin sa produkto, malinaw na nanggaling sa China. Kung saan hindi ito accredited ng Philippine government para mag-export dito sa Pilipinas,” said NMIS executive director OIC Fernando Lontoc.

(Based on the labels we saw on the products, it is clear that they came from China—which is not accredited by the Philippine government to export here to the Philippines.)

Among the seized products are peking duck, yellow and black chickens, goose, lamb, beef, and pork.

The recovered items have a total weight of 657 kilograms.

“Kung hindi accredited ang ating mga panggagalingan, hindi tayo nakakasigurado na ito ay malinis ang source. Possible din na pagsimulan ito ng sakit ng mga hayop natin dito sa Pilipinas,” said Lontoc.

(If our sources are not accredited, we cannot be sure that the origin is clean and safe. It could also potentially cause diseases among our animals here in the Philippines.)

The NMIS said that the grocery store owners will face charges for violation of the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines. They have yet to comment on the matter.

The seized meats, on the other hand, will be brought to a rendering plant for proper disposal. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/ VAL, GMA News