The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said non-tariff measures (NTMs) in the livestock and poultry subsectors may be driving up costs and constraining meat supply when beset by implementation issues.
In a sector brief, the competition watchdog examined how NTMs, while intended to ensure food safety and product quality, can become restrictive in practice due to institutional and procedural gaps.
– Advertisement –
These include stringent and repetitive requirements and delays in processing, which create uncertainty for importers and affect their ability to maintain a steady supply.
The PCC said that Filipinos remain among the world’s fastest-growing consumers of meat, keeping the livestock and poultry industries central to the agriculture sector and prompting regulators to impose safeguards on imports.
However, the brief warned that when poorly implemented, NTMs can effectively function as non-tariff barriers that impede trade, limit market entry and increase costs across the supply chain.
To address these concerns, the PCC recommended closer coordination among regulatory agencies to streamline procedures and align domestic rules with international best practices, easing compliance for the private sector.
The sector brief forms part of the PCC’s market studies, which provide baseline industry analysis and identify possible policy and enforcement interventions.
– Advertisement –
