SAFELY frozen meat and seafood seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) or abandoned by importers may still be put to good use by distributing them during relief operations, said the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA).
The initiative aims to enhance food security and ensure efficient use of resources, benefiting both the relief operations and the overall food supply chain.
MITA President Emeritus Jess Cham and Fisheries and Aquaculture Board Chairman Chingling Tanco pointed out the potential benefits of salvaging confiscated frozen meat and seafood, provided these are tested and certified fit for human consumption.
“Since meat and seafood that are properly frozen and stored do not pose health concerns, such products can be a reserve stock of protein to be utilized in emergency situations,” the two groups said.
MITA recommended that seized or abandoned products be removed from ports within two months to avoid congestion and reduce electricity, storage and penalty costs.
To streamline the process, the groups suggested the Department of Agriculture and BOC draft a memorandum of understanding to formalize the procedures for retrieving and distributing the products.
In a related development, MITA lauded Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for his recommendation to release confiscated mackerel to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to aid in relief operations.
Tiu Laurel on Monday said he had formally requested the BOC to release 580 metric tons of seized frozen mackerel after confiscation for lack of an import permit. He said laboratory tests confirmed the frozen fish is fit for human consumption, with no signs of spoilage or contamination.
The shipment, which arrived at the Manila International Container Port in early October, consisted of 21 container vans with frozen mackerel valued at P178.5 million.
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