MANILA, Philippines - Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala is set to meet with a US military official to discuss the US military's meat imports into the Philippines.

This, after the Agriculture department stopped a number of container vans from the US containing meat products.

The shipment was brought in by US troops who will join the Balikatan exercises in Subic.

The Agriculture chief said the products in the container vans have yet to pass quarantine tests.

Hog and poultry raisers now fear that the imported meat may be contaminated and in turn, affect local products.

The American soldiers, however, insist they are exempted from meat quarantine tests under the Visiting Forces Agreement. - Mornings @ ANC, January 3, 2013