The Department of Agriculture approves 34 Indian firms to export buffalo meat to the Philippines

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved 34 Indian companies to supply frozen buffalo meat (carabeef) to the Philippines, the agency said Wednesday. Six of the accredited Indian meat exporters were initially approved in 2019 and renewed their accreditation status. The new accreditation will be valid for three years until December 12, 2027. In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move aims to broaden the sourcing options for Philippine food processors and potentially reduce costs on products like corned beef. "We do not intend to increase imports. What we want is to encourage more foreign companies to compete for our market, which will ultimately drive down the cost of imported agricultural products, benefiting consumers," Laurel said. The DA - National Meat Inspection Service confirmed that all 34 companies that sought accreditation met international food safety standards, including the good manufacturing practices and hazard analysis, and ...