DAVAO CITY — The office of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) on Monday, March 15, has reprimanded a meat dealer for mishandling carcass from the slaughter house to the market.
Acting on a Newsline.ph post on Facebook, Dr. Jason L. Olalia of the NMIS revealed that based on a photograph by Newsline, they were able to trace the meat dealer and the meat van operator who were summoned to answer some inquiries by the office regarding the photo.
The issue stemmed from a photograph taken by Newsline.ph early morning of February 23, 2021 which caught the meat van travelling from Calinan to Davao City población, where two helpers laid down over a carcass inside a van filled with slaughtered hogs on their way to the market.
The van did not have licensed plate.
Olalia said his office investigated the matter and he told Newsline.ph, “we have traced the identity of the operators already based on the printed accreditation on the sided of the vehicle which is 15-025″.
On Monday, March 15, Dr. Olalia informed Newsline “The operator already appeared before our director in response to the summon”.
During the conference, Dr. Olalia said the meat dealer explained that they normally get their carcass from Maa slaughterhouse operated by Bankerohan livestock multipurpose cooperative. Said facility has its own helpers to carry the carcass from the slaughter house to the meat van.
The operator reportedly explained before NMIS Director Dr. Orlando Marquez that, “On that day (February 23), they got their carcass from Calinan slaughter house and no helper was available prompting them to bring their own personnel for the purpose and same people boarded the meat van in returning”.
On this, Dr. Olalia said, Director Marquez cited that the operator violated Republic Act 9296 also known as the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines and the Food Safety Act which carries a minimum penalty of P50,000 for each count.
The meat van operator, Teofilo Arandia, according to Dr. Olalia “Admitted to his mistake and promised not to do it again”.
Olalia was also ordered to submit an affidavit about his commitment.
Under Section SEC. 30. It states “Sale and Transport of Properly Labeled Carcasses. – No person, firm or corporation shall sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation, in commerce, any carcasses of food animals, or the meat or meat products thereof, unless they are plainly and conspicuously marked or labeled or otherwise identified as required by regulations prescribed by the Secretary to show the kind of animals from which they were derived.
Under Section 34 of RA 9296 states “Safe and wholesome – refers to meat and meat products that has been passed as fit for human consumption using the criteria that it a) will not cause food borne infection or intoxication when properly handled and prepared with respect to the intended use, b) does not contain residue in excess of set limits, c) is free of obvious contamination, d) is free of defects that are generally as objectionable to consumers, e) has been produced under adequate hygiene control, and f) has not been treated with illegal substances as specified in this Act and in other related national legislation.
Section 43, Rule 43.1 States All meat establishments shall adopt Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) programs in the whole process of production, storage and distribution of their products.
Since it was Arandia’s first offense, Dr. Olalia said he was only reprimanded “But the operator will have a record dito sa amin, and yung driver pati helper will undergo a reorientation on food safety”. Newsline.ph
