The Department of Agriculture (DA) highlighted the need to improve food safety regulations to protect Filipinos from fraudulent market practices, and harmful and unhealthy food.
Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban, together with other DA officials, led the opening ceremony of the 50th National Meat Inspection Service (DA-NMIS) Anniversary and observance of the 29th Meat Consciousness Week on October 17, 2022.
In his keynote message, Usec. Panganiban highlighted the importance of the National Meat Inspection Service (DA-NMIS) in the agency’s ongoing efforts to provide the greatest possible level of food security for all Filipino consumers.
He also praised them in their efforts to expand and modernize its services amid the pandemic. He said that the President is especially pleased with the agency’s recent efforts to digitalize its services.
He added that the DA fully supports their recent efforts to improve the efficiency of their operations through the online NMIS Accreditation and Registration Information System, and their partnership with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), University of the Philippines – Los Baños, and the Bureau of Animal Industry to develop a digital traceability system for meat products.
Usec. Panganiban urged the DA-NMIS to keep making progress and making reforms in the food safety imperatives, and reiterated that the agency should focus on:
• Updating the food safety action plan to improve risk-based inspection of meat establishments;
• Improve the policy environment for food and nutrition security through the enforcement of more rational food policies, including those for the early detection of threats; and
• Encourage stronger political will at the local level, and urge local executives to prioritize food safety beyond the “business as usual” approach.
Highlighting the event is a weeklong Meat Fair which was participated by 17 meat processors and manufacturers. These are Federated Distributor Inc., King Sue Ham and Sausage Co., Inc., Sunpride Foods Inc., Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corp., MJB Processed Meat Inc., Maunlad Canning Corporation, Foodcrafters Inc., Northstar Meat Merchants Inc., Liberty, King James Food Manufacturing Inc., Fresh Options Meatshop, Bounty Fresh Food Inc., Century Pacific Food Inc., Universal Robina Corporation, MXMemoExpress, Roels Food Corporation, and Maharlika 88 Solutions Inc. and KADIWA of the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service. ### (Kristel Joyce Merle, DA-AFID)
