P200K worth of smuggled meat seized from Manila grocery stores

MANILA — Authorities confiscated over 650 kilograms of smuggled frozen meat products during joint operations at two Chinese grocery stores in Binondo and Sta. Ana, Manila on Monday night, October 12.

The operation was carried out by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) Central Office NCR, and the Department of Agriculture Inspectorate and Enforcement (DAIE).

Dr. Fernando Lontoc, NMIS OIC Executive Director, said the operation stemmed from an online monitoring effort by the NBI.

“Nag-respond tayo sa kasama natin na NBI. Nakakita sila sa online na meron ganitong pagbebenta. So, two weeks ago, nag-surveillance sila at nag-positive nga. So, nakipag-coordinate sila sa atin at agad natin ikinasa kanina yung joint operation ng NMIS Central Office NCR at ng NBI,” Lontoc said.

Inspectors seized a total of 657 kilograms of unauthorized meat products valued at an estimated P201,915.

Officials recovered 632 kilograms from the grocery store in Sta. Ana and 25 kilograms from the store in Binondo.

The confiscated items included pork, pigeon, black chicken, yellow chicken, Peking duck, beef, lamb, and goose.

Lontoc explained that product packaging confirmed the items originated from China, which is not accredited by the Philippine government to export meat to the local market.

“Lumalabas na smuggled ito from China, base sa mga label na nakita natin doon sa produkto, malinaw ito ay nanggaling sa China, na kung saan ito ay hindi accredited ng Philippine government para mag-export dito sa Pilipinas,” Lontoc stated.

“Marami nito ay Peking duck, may black chicken at yellow chicken at meron pang ibang mga kasama na undocumented din,” he said.

Lontoc emphasized the potential risks unaccredited meat poses to public health and the local livestock industry.

He noted that accreditation requires strict compliance with food safety standards and disease monitoring in exporting countries.

“Isa sa mga requirement para ma-accredit ay tinitingnan muna natin kung yung mga planta ay nakaka-comply sa standard. At kung wala rin itong mga possible na, tinitingnan din yung disease situation ng bansa. So para makapag-qualify ka, makapag-export dito sa Pilipinas, kinakailangan na compliance ang meat establishment at free sila sa disease,” Lontoc stressed.

“So, kung hindi mga accredited ang ating mga paggagalingan, hindi tayo nakakasigurado na ito ay malinis ang source at possible din na pagmulan ito ng sakit ng mga hayop natin dito sa Pilipinas,” he warned.

Lontoc also said that the owners of the grocery stores will face charges for violating the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.

All seized meat products will be turned over to NMIS-recognized rendering facilities for proper destruction to prevent them from entering the food supply.

“So ito naman ay i-dispose natin sa mga recognized nating rendering plant para masigurado natin na ni isang kilo walang mababawas sa pag-dispose natin dito at hindi na rin ma-convert ito into a human food,” Lontoc concluded.