The local meat processing industry will temporarily stop purchasing local pork as raw materials from local producers until clear and enforceable policies on movement, distribution and sale of processed pork products are in place.

Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) spokesman Rex Agarrado said they asked its members to temporarily stop the purchases of local pork as raw materials to contain the spread of the African swine fever (ASF).

Agarrado said the decision came after ASF test results from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) was unduly disclosed by some hog raisers themselves.

We believe that it is safer for the meat processing industry not to buy local pork until they are able to assure government authorities and the consuming public that local pork is ASF-free,” Agarrado underscored.

PAMPI on Tuesday revealed that processed meat sales have gone down due to the ASF scare and warned of potential job losses due to reduced profits.

In a radio interview, Agarrado said that with 62 out of 84 provinces banning the sale of pork products from Luzon, sales went down by 30 to 40 percent while profits were nearly halved.

“We run the risk of also laying off our people,” Agarrado said, but refused to elaborate the details. He added that the P300-billion processed meat industry employs 150,000 people.

Apart from Luzon, PAMPI thus urged authorities to randomly test Visayas and Mindanao areas for ASF to restore consumer confidence.

Earlier, PAMPI said the local meat processing industry is projected to lose about P23 billion in the coming holiday season alone as the government has yet to finalize guidelines on the ban of processed meat in several areas in the country.

The meat processor said that since around 35 to 40 percent of processed meats contain pork components, the annualized value of the damage to the industry has now gone up from around P45B to about P55B.

PAMPI is the country’ largest group of meat processors, consisting of 88 member-companies, generating more than P300 billion in sales annually and employing 150,000 direct employees and another 200,000 employees in allied sectors.

In a separate statement, by Samahan ng Industriyang Agrikultura (SINAG) said the meat processors’ pronouncement to stop buying local pork was “unfortunate and callous.”

SINAG Chairman Rosendo So said the hog industry has lost P10 billion in the last two months since the first ASF outbreak was recorded.

“We reiterate our call to stop importation of pork until the “Quarantine First Policy” (strip inspection at the port of first entry) has been established,” So said.

In the midst of the ASF crisis, So said the hog industry is standing side by side with the pro-local industry processors, local government units and national legislators in combatting ASF to ensure that local pork are safe to eat.