No to use of banned chemicals

The use of supposedly banned chemicals in the manufacture of animal-based food products must be put to a stop.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Jesus Paras gave this piece of advice to stakeholders in the livestock, poultry and aquaculture industries who gathered the other day to discuss a program that seeks to make sure that animal-based food products are safe for human consumption.

The program, called national veterinary drug residues control, was crafted on orders of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

“”Modern food production systems should be designed and managed to ensure that the exposure of food-producing animals to veterinary drugs does not pose a risk to human health,” Paras stressed.

Most of the banned chemicals are cancer-causing and they also destroy the environment, Paras said.

Paras also called for a ban on the slaughter of animals treated with veterinary drugs.

Food manufacturers, veterinarians, traders and distributors who violate the ban will be held responsible, Paras warned.

Government agencies such as the National Meat Inspection Service, Bureau of Animal Industry, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Bureau of Food and Drugs have been called in to help impose the ban.

Industry stakeholders were also asked to help finalize the guidelines.

Paras said the new order regulating the use of veterinary drugs are designed to strengthen the position of the Filipino farm-fishery industry’s position in both the local and foreign markets. –Manila Standard Today