The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to suspend the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearances from mid-November through January, a measure intended to reduce the competition from foreign producers faced by hog farmers during the year-end peak demand months. The timing is significant beyond the farm sector: pork is a staple of the Filipino diet, and the suspension covers the Christmas and New Year holidays, when the meat features prominently in seasonal celebrations.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said he also supports restoring pork import tariffs to 30% for shipments within the minimum access volume (MAV) quota and to 40% for shipments exceeding the quota. He added that investigations have been initiated in preparation for possible safeguard measures against pork imports, with approval pending before the Tariff Commission, whose ruling is the next step in that process. Safeguard measures are trade remedies that allow a government to temporarily restrict imports to give a domestic industry room to adjust.

According to Mr. Laurel, hog farmers have been experiencing low farmgate prices as cheap imports compete with domestic supply. The DA said it will take the needs of meat processors into account and grant exemptions when necessary — a flexibility that will show how the agency weighs relief for raisers against the supply needs of the processing sector.

SPS clearances certify that imported animal and plant products meet the Philippines' food-safety and animal-health requirements, while the MAV refers to the in-quota volume the country commits to admit at reduced tariff rates under its World Trade Organization commitments.

The reduced tariff regime traces back to 2021, when the onset of African Swine Fever — a highly lethal disease for pigs that does not affect humans — raised concerns over the domestic pork supply. Then-President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued an executive order (EO) lowering tariffs to 15% for imports within the MAV quota and 25% for shipments above the quota. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. later issued another EO allowing the reduced rates to remain in effect until 2028, subject to periodic review — meaning the emergency-era rates have now persisted years beyond the outbreak that prompted them.

Mr. Laurel's commitments align with the position of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, which has called for a return to the 30-40% tariff structure and a 120-day suspension of additional imports.

Separately, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, Inc. and the Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines Party-list called for a halt to the sale of live pigs between Oct. 21 and 25. Both organizations also staged protests outside the DA headquarters.

— Maria Mikaela H. Tormon

Source: BusinessWorld — Pork import permits to be suspended starting mid-Nov.