With online selling and home deliveries now a trend, the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) is reminding consumers and traders on the importance of ensuring the safety of meat products.
NMIS Regional Technical Director Lilia Julian Fermin said when engaging in the selling of fresh meat, sellers have to comply with regulations to ensure that these a highly perishable product are hygienically handled or are not subjected to thermal abuse while in transit.
In line with its commitment to ensure consumer protection, Memorandum Circular 07-2020-017 setting the protocols on online meat selling was issued.
NMIS recommends that online sellers/traders of meat register with the Department of Trade and Industry and secure a business permit from the local government unit.
NMIS also encourages sellers to adhere to meat safety measures as enumerated in Republic Act 9296 or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines and its amending laws; RA 10536 and RA 10611, which strengthen the country’s food safety regulation system.
To ensure that the meat is safe and fit for human consumption, NMIS also calls on traders/sellers to source out their meat products from NMIS-licensed establishments or from local government-registered meat establishments (LRME).
When selling meat, its transport and handling must be in accordance with the guidelines set by the Department of Agriculture.
NMIS-certified meat can be traded outside the locality of the meat source while LRME-certified meat products can only be traded within its locality – city or municipality. – Carlito C. Dar
April 25, 2024
