MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile admits 4.5% of hog production affected by dioxins

Only 4.5% of Chile's pork production has been affected by dioxins admitted Agriculture Minister Marigen Hornkohl, who underlined the good quality and sanitary conditions of all meat production in the country.

"This means 4.5% of hog production has been affected, while the other 95% is in excellent conditions and this is because farmers apply the right growing techniques and comply with all the necessary precautions in swine breeding", said Minister Hornkohl. Chilean pork exports to South Korea (on two occasions) and once to Japan have been recently suspended following the discovery of dioxin contents above the allowed levels. Consumer organizations in Chile have also campaigned to demand pork sold in the domestic market be tested following the same international market requisites. Ms Hornkohl revealed that the places "where the (dioxin) problem originated" have been detected and involves 18 farms specifically. "The hog industry is committed to control and work hand to hand to ensure that it's them who will solve the problem, with state of the art methods and mechanisms such as those applied in the leading farms of the country", added the Agriculture minister. "It's in the interest of the industry to rapidly overcome the situation". In related issues Ms Hornkohl said sowing estimates for this agriculture season are higher than a year ago, in spite of the higher prices for fertilizers, "an issue we have been analyzing with colleagues from Mercosur country members" The Chilean minister said Mercosur members have reached an agreement to jointly verify how the region can avoid "price abuses with fertilizers", although admitting there's a soaring demand in the world for fertilizers.