Pork imports face 60-day freeze as local hog industry struggles

A 60-DAY suspension of selected pork imports is looming as the local hog industry confronts mounting losses, rising production costs and protests against competition from imported meat.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to stop issuing import permits for kasim (shoulder), pigue (butt) and liempo (belly) by mid-November in a bid to help revive the local hog industry.

The planned suspension comes as some local retailers impose a three-day pig holiday, halting live hog deliveries and meat sales to protest mounting industry losses, high production costs and what they consider unfair competition from imported pork products.

Tiu Laurel said the DA has pursued several measures to support local hog producers, including raising tariffs to as high as 40% and triggering safeguard duties.

He also raised concerns over a six-percent increase in pork imports even as domestic production continues to grow.(MyTVCebu)

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