THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Negros Occidental in collaboration with broiler industry stakeholders in the province is stepping up measures to ensure that chicken meat products sold among local markets are safe for consumption.

The concern on food safety, particularly chicken meat, was discussed in a meeting initiated by PVO and the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) – Western Visayas in Bacolod City on Thursday, June 27.

It was attended by members of the Association of Broiler Integrators of Negros Occidental (Abino) and poultry dressing plant owners and operators in the province.

PVO and NMIS reported that about 25,000 heads of broiler chicken sold in the market per day have not passed the required meat inspection and certification.

Thus, it is uncertain if the products are safe and fit for human consumption as these are slaughtered clandestinely.

PVO said this can be attributed to the significant increase in chicken production in the province.

The volume is higher than the capacities of existing dressing plants, it added.

During the meeting, dressing plant operators committed to accommodate at least 7,000 heads of chicken per day from integrators and growers starting next month.

They also assured that the two chicken dressing facilities in Bago City and E.B. Magalona, which are now under construction, will be operational by last quarter of the year.

These two dressing plants are good enough to cater to the present “overspill” of broiler chicken in the province.

For its part, PVO Meat Inspection Division together with NMIS Field Office personnel and local government units will continue to monitor and implement appropriate actions.

This is to ensure that chicken meat in the province will be produced hygienically and compliant to food safety standards.