Duterte increases minimum access volume for pork imports

In addition to declaring a nationwide state of calamity due to the effects of African swine fever on the local hog industry, President Rodrigo Duterte has raised anew the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork imports.

Executive Order (EO) 133, which was issued by the President on May 10 but was only released on May 11, hikes the MAV for imported pork meat to 404,210 metric tons from 54,210 metric tons.

“It is imperative [on us] to immediately address the current supply gap in pork meat to provide consumers with adequate and affordable food and to lower the inflation rate,” EO 133 read.

In April, President Duterte signed EO 128, which reduces the tariff rates on imported pork to 5% to 20% from 30% to 40% for a year amid the negative effects of ASF on pork supply.

Since then, Agriculture Secretary William Dar has recommended that the tariff rates in EO 128 be adjusted to 10% in-quota and 20% for out-quota for the first three months; and 15% in-quota and 25% for out-quota for the remaining nine months. — BM, GMA News