This Friday, May 5, the newspaper 2Días reported on the visit of a Philippine delegation for a technical mission, after which they hope to export beef, pork, and poultry to the Asian country. We share the transcript below:
This week, the official health audit by the Asian country's National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) began, a key step that could mark the definitive opening of that destination to beef, pork, and poultry exports.
The technical mission will run until May 14 and includes a comprehensive evaluation of the quality, safety, and traceability standards of the Paraguayan production system. This effort is led by the National Animal Quality and Health Service (Senacsa), a key institution in opening and maintaining international markets for domestic meat.
The Philippines, a Southeast Asian nation with more than 120 million inhabitants, relies heavily on imports to meet its growing demand for animal protein. If this authorization is approved, it would represent a strategic opportunity for the Paraguayan agribusiness, especially for meatpacking industries that operate under international standards.
DELEGATION
The Philippine delegation, composed of four auditors and led by Chief of Mission Role Lee Nanding Cataluña, visited export-related meat packing plants, domestic slaughterhouses, central laboratories, and entry and exit points for meat products. The initial inspections were carried out at establishments No. 1, Neuland Meat Packing Plant, and No. 14, La Victoria Meat Packing Plant, both located in the city of Villa Hayes, Presidente Hayes Department.
"During this audit, they will evaluate the food safety control system and conduct inspection visits to the Senacsa central laboratory and entry/exit points," the health institution reported in an official statement. The technical visits allow for on-site inspections of the infrastructure and compliance with the health requirements demanded by the Philippine market.
Participating in the process are technical authorities from Senacsa, including the Director of Slaughterhouses and Meatpacking Plants, Dr. Natalia Díaz de Vivar; the Head of the International Affairs Unit, Dr. Gloria Campuzano; the Director of International Relations, Dr. Claudia Silvera; the Coordinator of Slaughterhouses and Export Meatpacking Plants, Dr. Jesica Duarte; and the Head of the Food Safety Management Department, Dr. Rodrigo Martínez.
HIGH POTENTIAL
According to data from Senacsa, the Philippines imports more than 1,4 million tons of meat per year. "It is one of the main meat importers in Asia. It is seven times larger than the Taiwanese market. It buys six times more poultry and twice as much beef as Taiwan," explained José Carlos Martin, president of the health agency. This positions the Philippines as a high-value commercial destination for Paraguay, both due to its size and its growing demand for animal protein.
Furthermore, the Asian country's interest is not limited to the meat trade. Filipino businessman Jet Ambalada recently held meetings with Paraguayan authorities to explore strategic alliances in the agroindustrial sector, reinforcing the South American country's appeal as a food investment destination.
OPEN MARKETS
Paraguay already has access to more than 60 international markets, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Chile, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, and Uruguay. Economically, the meat sector generates more than US$2.000 billion annually in foreign currency, consolidating its position as one of the main drivers of the national economy.
Opening the Philippine market would further diversify export destinations and boost the local production chain. It would also drive new investments in technology, refrigeration infrastructure, and cold storage logistics—essential elements for supplying a market with high food safety standards.
Source: 5 days