Philippines' National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) in central Mindanao disclosed that Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority approved a pork processor in the region to export meat parts to the city state.
Jose Ariel Billones, regional meat inspection director, said Singapore relayed clearance to the South Cotabato (GenSan City) based Matutum Meat Packing Corp. to start the shipment of fresh frozen cut pork meat products.
Billones clarified that there is no particular date yet as to when the actual export would start.
Albert Lim Jr., president of the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc., said Singapore has only approved one plant so far, but it marks a huge step for the Philippine pork industry.
On February 18, Billones announced that the Singaporean veterinary team did not give clearance to Matutum Meat following that its site inspection last January 28, due to concerns on antibiotic residues found on pork meat.
The issue has been addressed by tracing the origin of pigs through the assignment by Matutum Meat of codes to piggery owners, Billones said.
Matutum Meat, a sister company of Cebu-based Sunpride Foods, Inc. which produces Holiday corned beef and Sunpride canned goods, has invested around PHP200 million (US$4.9 million) for its state-of-the-art processing plant in Polomolok town.
Matutum Meat is one of two companies which the Department of Agriculture tapped to pioneer the country's foray in the foreign pork market. The other one is the Davao-based Nenita Quality Foods Corp.
Singaporean experts are reportedly set to visit the facility of Nenita's in June.
