The local authorities ordered the return of pork meat shipment to its origin, after its shipper failed to present its Meat Inspection Certificate.
The shipment arrived in a container van of SMFI owned by SM, at GMV Cold Storage Inc. compound located in Brgy. San Pedro, said Julius U. Ancheta, meat inspector of the City Veterinary Office.
Atty. Arnel Pedrosa, City Administrator, said on Monday that even before the issuance of the Executive Order from the City Mayor banning the entry of pork meat from African Swine Fever-affected areas, the City Veterinary Office headed by Dr. Indira A. Santiago already acted on the suspicious shipment last week, which found to be undocumented.
The shipment was not supported by the required meat inspection certificate.
In his letter to their Department Head in the City Veterinary Office, Ancheta said that they immediately conducted the inspection of the shipment but its shipper cannot present its supporting documents.
“As part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), documents were presented and upon doing the necessary inspection, it was noted that there included 14 prime halves pork carcasses. Upon verification of the documents presented, it was found out that the said item doesn’t have the required meat inspection certificate,” Ancheta said.
He recommended that the shipment be sent back to the point of origin, apparently Metro Manila.
“Under the given circumstances, the shipper was not able to present pertinent documents for shipment and clearly violated DA AO No. 06 series of 2012 Rules and Regulations on Hygienic Handling of Chilled, Frozen and Thawed Meat in Meat Markets, Section 4,4.2 –All frozen meat intended for retail sale shall be accompanied by a meat inspection certificate from the meat establishment,” Ancheta further said.
As of this writing, Palawan Daily News is still trying to get the side of the SM. – with reports of Michael Escote.
Discussion about this post