NMIS holds 13th Meat Inspection Congress in Naga City

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Nov. 8 (PIA) -- A three-day confab of meat inspectors from Region 3 kicked off Wednesday at Villa Caceres Hotel here with attendees coming from the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Bataan, and Aurora.

Dr. Minda S. Manantan, NMIS executive director shared, “As a specialized regulatory agency of our government, we have to ensure that the meat being served were hygienically prepared and passed through the proper procedure of slaughtering for the interest and welfare of the consuming public. At the same time, we also would like to help our legitimate businessmen by improving and supporting our livestock industry.”

Manantan also added that a big chunk of the discussion will focus on the salient provisions of Administrative Order (AO) No.5 or the Rules and Regulations on Hygienic handling of newly slaughtered meat in the markers and AO No. 6 which contains the rules and regulations on hygienic handling of chilled, frozen and thawed meat in the meat markets.

Dr. Roberto Umali, head of the Plant Operation Inspection Section- NMIS Region 3 said it is important for consumers to be vigilant and watch for the telltale signs of a meat unfit for human consumption.

“Aside from the five senses, we should also employ the sixth sense, that is our common sense when buying meats in the market. We have to remember that illegally slaughtered meats did not pass through the proper inspection and there was no laboratory analysis which could assure their safety for human consumption,” Umali added.

To be sure, Umali advised consumers to always ask for the corresponding Certificate of Meat Inspection (COMI) issued by the NMIS or the local veterinary office in their respective areas and never patronize illegitimate meat vendors.

For imported meat, the Department of Agriculture has two agencies that handle the importation process of meat and other meat products: the NMIS for the accreditation of meat and meat products for human consumption and the Bureau of Animal Industry for the issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Certification and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Clearance for the protection of animal health.