Philippines DTI & DA Dispute Over Chicken Import

PHILIPPINES - Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) are again on collision course, this time over chicken imports because of perceived shortfall in the Christmas holidays.
calendar icon 25 November 2003
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Philippines DTI & DA Dispute Over Chicken Import - PHILIPPINES - Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) are again on collision course, this time over chicken imports because of perceived shortfall in the Christmas holidays.

Trade Secretary Manuel Roxas II told reporters after speaking before the general membership meeting of the Makati Business Club (MBC) that there is a policy conflict between DTI and D.A. over the decision to import one million kilos of chicken in the first week of next month.

"The DTI is conceived that there is a shortage of chicken and this is where the policy conflict arises since D.A. is standing by its decision that there is no need to import chicken," Roxas stressed.

Because of the difference in their recommendations, Roxas said President Arroyo would have a final say on the matter.

"I think Malacañang has to decide because of the conflicting recommendations made by the two agencies," he added.

After convening the National Price Coordinating Council last week, the DTI together with local broiler integrators reached a consensus to import one million kilos of chicken to avert any shortage that would further lead to the escalation of the prices of the said poultry product during Christmas.

Roxas said the Philippine Association of Broiler Integrators (Pabi) agreed to import one million kilos of chicken that is equivalent to 3% of the national demand. Local broiler integrators would import the chicken based on their market share. These include food and beverage giant San Miguel, Purefoods Corp., Swift Foods of the Concepcion family, Tysons and Universal Robina of taipan John Gokongwei.

The DTI summoned members of both Pabi and the United Broiler Raisers Association together with feed millers, importers, and retailers to justify the 12% increase in the prices of chicken to P95 per kilo early this month from P85 per kilo.

For his part, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo pointed out that calls for the country to import chicken to augment local supply is not necessary, as world prices of chicken would end up higher than domestic prices.

Source: eFeedLink - 25th November 2003

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