TO arrest the influx of cheap imported rice, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it set to impose stringent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and inspection measures of rice imports. We will continue to elevate our measures before we issue the SPS IC,” Dar said. The stricter measures on the issuance of SPS IC will cover heavy metal content, pesticide residue level, extraneous and filth contaminants, as well as microbiological parameters. Dar also said the DA was hopeful that rice-exporting countries Thailand and Vietnam will cooperate with the Philippines’ move to lessen rice importation with the implementation of Rice Tariffication Law signed last February. As early as September this year, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura has urged the DA to immediately suspend the issuance of importation permits to protect local rice farmers from the surge on imported rice.

Source: Manila Times November 13, 2019 17:56 UTC