Manila closes market with smuggled meat from China

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila City government closed a market in Sta. Cruz, Manila after the Veterinary Inspection Board seized 3,700 smuggled meat products from China.

In a closure order on Friday, Salgado Private Market was shut down for violating the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines and Food Safety Act of the Philippines.

After an inspection, the city government also discovered that the market operated without the necessary business permits.

There were also no occupational permits for 10 service personnel of the market, read the order.

The city government also found that the private market’s franchise was expired. The 25-year franchise was approved in 1991 but the market continued its operations even if its franchise ended in 2016.