Arroyo orders tighter watch on meat imports

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered on Friday a tighter watch on meat, dairy and poultry imports as businesses' preparations for Christmas go into high gear. Radio dzBB reported Friday that President Arroyo ordered the Agriculture Department to make sure the meat, dairy and poultry products that enter the country are safe, inexpensive and nutritious. She addressed her order to the Livestock Development Council, Bureau of Animal Industry, National Meat Inspection Service, Philippine Carabao Center and National Dairy Authority. The NMIS was kept busy earlier this year following meat-smuggling incidents from Central Luzon, after several cases of hog cholera hit Bulacan and nearby provinces. Meanwhile, the NMIS said its records showed a major drop in the volume of meat smuggled into the country this year. It said it recorded 273.71 metric tons of meat smuggled into the country in 2006, but the figure went down to 50.45 metric tons this year. - GMANews.TV