The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to issue a revised minimum access volume (MAV) policy on imported pork before the year-end. The new rules aim to correct loopholes in the nearly three-decade-old system allegedly exploited by large traders.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr said the agency already completed consultations with industry stakeholders. He is set to review the final version this week, and expects to release the new rules by early December.
He explained that the revisions to the MAV rules are necessary because they are already outdated.
Outdated system and market concentration
The MAV system, written in 1996, allows agricultural imports at lower tariff rates under World Trade Organization commitments. Pork imports within the MAV have a 15% tariff, while those outside the quota face 25%.
In April 2025, Mr Laurel reported that of 130 quota holders, 47 account for 80% of the total MAV allocation of 54,210 tons. Within this group, 22 traders cornered 70% of the volume, giving them strong influence over imported pork prices. Many quotas are often reused, inflating total import volume.
New allocation rules
Under the revised policy, both big and small traders will receive equal quotas to spur competition and encourage fairer retail pricing.
Of the total MAV volume, 30% (16,200 tons) will be allocated to traders and importers. A large share of the quota will go to processors, helping stabilize prices of processed meat products. A portion will be reserved for the government’s Kadiwa program, giving it a tool to intervene and curb sudden spikes in pork prices.
Applications for the 2026 MAV, initially opened this month, were temporarily stopped pending the new rules. Quotas under the revised system will be announced before December 31.
MAV-plus and tariff adjustments
The DA remains open to expanding the quota under a MAV-plus scheme, potentially raising the volume to 150,000 tons if needed.
However, Mr Tiu Laurel stressed that expansion is not timely, citing the declining farm prices of live hogs caused by rising imports.
Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed that from January to September 2025, pork imports topped 632,991 tons of pork, up 22% year-on-year.
To help local producers, the DA plans to recommend restoring the pork import tariff to 40% from the current 25%. Until changes are approved, MAV rates remain at current levels.