NMIS lays down meat safety guidelines to importers, traders

With demand for meat products expected to shoot up during the holidays, the government has set safety guidelines for meat importers and traders to follow. During a meeting on Thursday, National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) executive director Jane Bacayo urged traders and importers to follow the guidelines, which will take effect Dec. 12. "Although imported meat is allowed to be sold in wet markets, vendors should observe the standards pertaining to maintaining its safety and quality. Frozen meat that are not handled properly poses a risk to the health of consumers," Bacayo said at the meeting, according to a news article posted on the government portal. The guidelines, signed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala last week, will take effect on December 12. The NMIS guidelines prescribe that frozen meat when sold in wet markets have to be kept in a controlled environment that prevents it from thawing. Also, vendors should avoid placing the meat directly in contact with dirty surfaces, and the meat should also retain its original packaging. “We owe it to the public. We should always consider their welfare in everything that we do especially when crafting guidelines that ensure the safety and quality of meat and meat products," Bacayo said. Meanwhile, Bacayo advised consumers to look for the Meat and Meat Product Inspection Certificate when buying meat. This document certifies that the meat they buy is free from any risks that might be hazardous to one’s health. Radio dzBB reported early Friday several markets, including Libertad Public Market in Pasay City, have intensified their watch against double-dead or tainted meat. Bacayo cited complaints by some vendors in Metro Manila and nearby provinces about the increasing presence of frozen meat in wet markets, as well as questions on their safety. Meanwhile, in a report on late-night news program Saksi, the NMIS advised consumers to be extra careful so they won’t end up buying double-dead meat.
Following reports that hot meat and dying hogs had been seized in Bulacan province, the NMIS said it will monitor slaughterhouses and meat shops. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV