In its effort to promote transparent reporting and timely discussion of poultry and livestock prices and inventories, the National Banner Program Committee on Poultry, Livestock and Corn (NBPC on PLC) temporarily assumes the function of the proposed Price and Volume Watch Committee on Livestock and Poultry (PVWCLP).
The proposed PVWCLP intends to gather accurate industry information, such as prices of poultry, livestock and corn commodities, as well as demand and supply trends. It will be composed of representatives from concerned Department of Agriculture agencies and key industry players.
During its November 4, 2022 Special Meeting, the NBPC on PLC ratified this initiative by passing a resolution that recommends the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) to facilitate NBPC on PLC meetings relative to the price and volume monitoring of livestock and poultry commodities.
The resolution will be in effect until such time that the Special Order, proposing the creation of the PVWCLP, is approved and issued.
Initiatives to ensure overall food safety were also discussed in the special meeting.
The Committee recommended the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the Food and Nutrition Research Institute and the Food and Drug Administration, to conduct a study for developing additional Food Safety Standards.
The call intends to provide guidelines on the use of extenders and the proper labelling of processed food products sold at the domestic market, in line with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10611 or the Food Safety Act.
The Committee also shared insights on the proposed plan for the establishment of the country’s first Cold Examination Facility in Agriculture (CEFA) at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The CEFA aims to prevent the entry of transboundary animal and plant pests and diseases as well as curb smuggling right at the entry ports.
On this note, the body agreed that the Bureau of Animal Industry shall provide the yearly comparison of the import data of livestock and poultry meat and breeder stocks in the next meeting. This will include volume forecast and life cycle model. | JCL
