Singapore okays RP pork exports

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Singapore has finally approved the country’s bid to export pork by accrediting a local firm, National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) officials yesterday said.

Jane C. Bacayo, NMIS executive director, said Matutum Meat Packing Corp. had been given the green light to ship frozen pork meat by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

A check with AVA’s website showed that as of last April 28, the list of countries approved to export beef, mutton, pork and poultry to Singapore included the Philippines with one pork exporter.

Matutum Meat, based in Polomolok in South Cotabato province, was one of two Mindanao firms earlier identified by the Department of Agriculture to pioneer the country’s foray into the pork export market. The other one is the Davao City-based Nenita’s Quality Foods Corp., which ceased to operate last year.

Ma. Elizabeth D. Callanta, NMIS export coordinator, said the private sector would embark on a trade mission to Singapore to discuss arrangements with meat dealers there.

"We hope that we can start exporting pork meat parts to Singapore next month with Matutum Meat taking the lead," she said.

Ms. Callanta said Nenita’s application to export pork meat products to Singapore had not yet been approved as there were corrective actions that needed to be done.

"Also, there are changes in the management of Nenita’s. But we have not withdrawn its bid for accreditation," she said.

Recent reports have said that a cooperative of local pork producers were currently leasing Nenita’s’ meat processing facilities in Davao City’s Marapangi district.

Singaporean food and veterinary experts inspected the facilities of Matutum Meat last January but did not issue a clearance due to concerns over antibiotic residues in the meat. They also told the firm to comply with requirements such as tire disinfectant for vehicles and the chlorination of the water used to wash the meat.

Matutum Meat, a sister firm of Cebu-based Sunpride Foods, Inc. which produces Holiday and Sunpride canned goods, has invested around P200 million for its Polomolok facility.

Mindanao was chosen by the government to spearhead the country’s pork exports since it is certified as free from foot-and-mouth disease.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap originally targeted foreign pork shipments to start in July 2007.