The DA-BAFS convened a coordination meeting with representatives from the DA–National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), DA–Policy Research Service (PRS), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations (OASPR) to discuss the proposed Philippine National Standard (PNS) on Mechanically Separated Meat (MSM)/Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM).

During the meeting, the participating agencies agreed to proceed with the conduct of secondary research and development of the PNS while recognizing MSM and MDM as distinct products, each with a separate definition to ensure clarity and consistency in theimplementation of the standard.

In view of the shared regulatory responsibilities under the Food Safety Act (FSA) of 2013 (Republic Act No. 10611), the agencies likewise agreed that the development of the proposed PNS will be undertaken in close coordination with the Department of Health-Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA). This collaborative approach aims to ensure that the standard is scientifically sound, harmonized with existing food safety regulations, and responsive to the needs of regulators, industry, and consumers.

The coordination meeting marks an important milestone in the standards development process, laying the groundwork for continued collaboration among partner agencies in developing a science-based and harmonized national standard.