The Department of Agriculture’s National Meat Inspection Service and Inspection and Enforcement unit, and the National Bureau of Investigation have confiscated l 11.5 metric tons of undocumented imported meat products in Pasay City valued at about P5.19 million. The operation followed NBI surveillance and verification by NMIS officials. Seized items included Peking duck, whole pigeon, lamb, yellow chicken, black chicken and other frozen meat products. The action came after NMIS confirmed that LCCI Food Condiments Trading and Sitphin Sari-Sari Store lacked NMIS accreditation and were not registered with the local government as meat cold-storage facilities or depots. With search warrants secured from the Pasay City Regional Trial Court, NBI operatives made the arrests while NMIS staff provided technical support throughout inspection, identification, documentation and inventory work. Two Chinese nationals, Wu Dun Han and Cai Huarong, were taken into custody and presented to the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office for inquest proceedings.
The case centers on alleged violations of Section 48(c) of Republic Act No. 9296, or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, as amended by RA 10536, which prohibits selling, transporting or distributing meat that has not gone through mandatory inspection. Section 58 of the same law establishes the authority to seize products handled or offered for sale in breach of these rules. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the operation reflects the government’s commitment to keeping uninspected meat out of local markets. “Our responsibility does not end with monitoring. When meat products are undocumented or have not undergone the required inspection, we must act within the law to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of the meat supply chain,” Tiu Laurel said. The DA also clarified that this single operation does not indicate widespread illegal meat trading, noting instead that it shows how consistent monitoring and inter-agency teamwork effectively address confirmed violations. All confiscated items have been moved to NMIS-accredited Supima Cold Storage in Meycauayan, where they are being held pending final court disposition; any product found unfit for consumption will be disposed of properly under official guidelines. NMIS is reminding the public to purchase meat only from authorized sellers and to look for proper inspection marks, clear labeling and complete documentation when buying meat products.
