THE Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) said that pork prices could go up.

This is after changes were made by the Department of Agriculture with regards to quotas and the minimum access volume.

A letter was written by MITA, where they expressed its concerns over these changes.

They narrated that the decision to limit the meat traders' share to 40 percent of the MAV, while processors get 60 percent.

The DA said that the MAV pertains to the quantity of an agricultural product allowed entry into the Philippines at the in-quota tariff rate, or the lower rate of custom duty applied to the product.

"'Yung mga maliliit na quota owners halos wala nang quota," said MITA president emeritus Jess Cham. 

"Siyempre pag kulang ang stock, siyempre tataas ang presyo. So unang una, kukulangin ang stock. Pangalawa, ang stock na mawawala 'yung mga mas mura na puhunan. So lahat ng parating mas mataas ang puhunan,” Cham added.

Likewise, the group said that the DA should revert to previous guidelines and called for a consultation before implementing any changes.

But the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said that they believe there is no reason for pork prices to go up.