The Philippines, through the Department of Agriculture (DA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the People’s Republic of China on food safety cooperation.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar welcomed the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) delegation headed by Minister Xiao Yaqing on November 18, 2019 at the Office of the Secretary.

The MOU signing was witnessed by Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs Ernesto  Gonzales, Assistant Secretary Hansel Didulo, and Chief of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Policy Division Amparo Ampil.

“We understand that in building this partnership, we can share knowledge and cooperation in regards with food safety,” Dar said.

Under the MOU, the two countries will have exchange of information and experience in areas including laws and regulations, standards, policies, procedures and technologies to address specific food safety issues, including but not limited to regulatory law enforcement, sampling and monitoring, risk management, emergency response and food recalls.

The MOU also aims to strengthen and enlarge bilateral cooperation in the areas of food production and processing policy, regulation and processes including responding to food safety incidents and food distribution supervision.

Dar informed the delegation on the new DA development with regard to food safety issues.

“We will now implement first border protection facility in our ports to help government monitor goods going inside the country,” he said.

The facilities, according to Dar, will be set-up in the ports of Manila, Bataan, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao starting next year. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)