Philippine body wants to test Indian plants, suspects meat contamination

According to reports, members of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors have publicly said that buffalo meat (carabeef) imported from India could be contaminated, as FMD is chronic in India.

Philippines was declared FMD-free in May 2011, according to the association, which said that there were doubts over the accreditation process carried out by Philippines' agriculture department and its agencies on four Indian companies.

These companies include Abbott Cold Storage, Al Quresh, Al Hamd Agro Food Products, and M K Overseas Pvt. Ltd. Indian carabeef exporters have only recently entered the Philippines export market.

According to PAMPI, though none of these companies were fully compliant with the requirements, these were accredited in January 2011.

This was in contrast to last year, when only three exporters from India had been allowed to supply carabeef to the Philippines, after the DA and the members of PAMPI subjected their plants to rigid inspections.