Regulation by Local Government Units.
SEC. 10. Regulation by Local Government Units. — The locals government units, pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known at the Local Government Code and Executive Order No. 137, shall regulate the construction, management and operation of slaughterhouses, meat inspection, meat transport and post-abattoir control, monitor and evaluate and collect fees and charges in accordance with the national policies, procedures, guidelines, rules and regulations and quality and safety standards as promulgated by the Secretary.
Implementation by the Local Government Units.
SEC. 11. Implementation by the Local Government Units. — The local government units shall have full and complete authority over the activities mentioned in the immediately preceding section as well as the authority to evaluate and implement duly prescribed national meat standards within their respective territorial jurisdiction.
In order to improve slaughter facilities and strengthen local meat inspection services, the share of the local government units with regard to ante- and post-mortem fees collection pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Code and Executive Order No. 137 shall be retained.
For the same purposes, an amount equivalent to twenty percent (20%) of amounts collected from fees, fines and other charges by the NMIS mentioned in Sections 46 and 56 hereof in the enforcement and implementation of national meat standards shall, except for a reasonable fee for services rendered, automatically inure to local government units which shall retain said amount at source.
Incentive for Local Government Units.
SEC. 12. Incentive for Local Government Units. — The Local government units shall endeavor to improve existing meat facilities to comply with national standards. The national government shall allocate funds as incentive equivalent to the funds available from local government units, for this purpose.
CHAPTER IVSCOPE OF MEAT INSPECTION
Scope of Application.
SEC. 13. Scope of Application. — This Code shall apply to all meat establishments where food animal are slaughtered, prepared, processed, handled, packed or stored or sold. All slaughterhouses and poultry dressing plants shall ensure adequate protection and welfare of food animals while awaiting slaughter in order to avoid mishandling or the infliction of unnecessary pain or distress during the slaughtering process.
Authorized Officers to Conduct Meat Inspection.
SEC. 14. Authorized Officers to Conduct Meat Inspection. — Only meat control officers, deputized meat control officers, meat inspectors and deputized meat inspectors duly appointed and designated by the NMIS or local government units are authorized to conduct meat inspection work. All persons employed in meat inspection work shall undergo training conducted by NMIS.
Power to Enforce Hygienic Requirements.
SEC. 15. Power to Enforce Hygienic Requirements. — The NMIS shall have the responsibility to ensure and to enforce, that meat establishments are operated in accordance with hygienic requirements.
Humane Slaughter, Hygienic and Inspection Requirements.
SEC. 16. Humane Slaughter, Hygienic and Inspection Requirements. — The management or operator of the meat establishments shall follow the instructions of the NMIS as related to humane slaughter of animals, hygienic, and inspection requirements; and shall provide such information and assistance, as may be reasonably requested by the NMIS or the local government unit.
CHAPTER VANTE-MORTEM INSPECTION
Requirement of an Ante-Mortem Inspection.
SEC. 17. Requirement of an Ante-Mortem Inspection. — An ante-mortem inspection shall be made of food animals by authorized inspectors before it shall be allowed for slaughter in any city, municipal or licensed private abattoirs in which the meat or meat products thereof are to be sold.
Outright Condemnation.
SEC. 18. Outright Condemnation. — Any animal manifesting during ante-mortem inspection any disease or condition shall warrant outright condemnation shall be marked “CONDEMNED," isolated immediately and disposed of under the supervision of an inspector.
Humane Handling and Slaughtering.
SEC. 19. Humane Handling and Slaughtering. — For the purpose of preventing the inhumane slaughtering of food animals under Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act, inspectors shall conduct an examination and inspection of the method by which food animals are slaughtered and handled in meat establishments inspected under this Act.
Refusal to Allow Inspection.
SEC. 20. Refusal to Allow Inspection. — The Secretary may refuse to allow inspection to a new slaughtering meat establishment or may cause inspection to be temporarily suspended in any establishment if the Secretary finds that food animals have been slaughtered or handled by any method not considered humane under the Animal Welfare Act, until the establishment furnished satisfactory assurance that all slaughtering and handling shall be in accordance with such as method.
B. POST-MORTEM INSPECTION
Post-Mortem Examination.
SEC. 21. Post-Mortem Examination. — The inspectors shall conduct a post-mortem examination and inspection of the carcasses and parts thereof of all food animals prepared at any establishment as articles of commerce which are capable of use as human food.
Proper Marking of Carcasses.
SEC. 22. Proper Marking of Carcasses. — The carcasses and parts thereof of all such animals found not to be adulterated shall be marked, stamped, tagged or labeled as “Inspected and Passed.” Said inspectors shall label, mark, stamp or tag as “Inspected and Condemned” all carcasses and parts found to be adultered. All carcasses and parts thereof marked “Inspected and Condemned” shall be destroyed for food purposes by the said establishment in the presence of an inspector.
Re-Inspection.
SEC. 23. Re-Inspection. — The inspectors shall re-inspect carcasses and parts thereof when necessary to determine whether the meat has become adulterated after the first inspection. If found to be adulterated on subsequent examination and inspection, the establishment shall destroy for food purposes all carcasses and parts thereof in the presence of an inspector.
Extent of Application.
SEC. 24. Extent of Application. — The foregoing provisions shall apply to all carcasses or parts or carcasses of food animals or the meat and meat products thereof which may be brought into any meat processing, meat canning, packing or similar establishment and such examination and inspection shall be done before the said carcasses or parts thereof shall be allowed to be treated, processed or prepared.
Entry of Maternal into the Meat Establishments.
SEC. 25. Entry of Maternal into the Meat Establishments. — The Secretary may limit the entry of carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat and meat products and other materials into any meat establishment at which inspection under this Act is maintained, under such conditions as may be prescribed to assure that allowing the entry of such articles into such inspected establishments will be consistent with the purposed of this Act.
Access to Meat Establishments.
SEC. 26. Access to Meat Establishments. — The inspectors shall conduct an examination and inspection of all meat and meat products prepared for commerce in any slaughtering, meat canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishment, and for that purpose, shall have access at all times, day or night, whether the establishment is in operation or not, to every part of said establishment.
Marking of Inspected Products.
SEC. 27. Marking of Inspected Products. — The inspectors shall mark, stamp, tag, or label as “Inspected and Passed” or “Inspected and Condemned” all such products found to be unadulterated or adulterated as the case may be. Condemned meat products shall be destroyed for food purposes: Provided, That subject to the rules and regulations under this Act, the provisions hereof in regard to preservatives, shall not apply to meat products for export to any foreign country and which are prepared or packed according to the specifications or directions of the foreign purchaser, when no substance is used in the preparation or packing thereof in conflict with the laws of the foreign country to which said article is to be exported.
Veterinary Quarantine Clearance.
SEC. 28. Veterinary Quarantine Clearance. — No veterinary quarantine clearance issued by the National Veterinary Quarantine Service shall be given to any vessel having on board any meat and meat products for export to and sale in a foreign country from any port in the Philippines until the owner or shipper thereof shall obtain from the NMIS a certificate that the said food animal is free from dangerous and communicable diseases at the time of inspection, and that the meat therefrom is safe and wholesome. The Secretary may waive the requirements of such certificate in favor of the country to which said meat and meat products are to be exported.
Official Certificates of the Condition of the Animals.
SEC. 29. Official Certificates of the Condition of the Animals. — The veterinary inspectors provided for herein shall be authorized to give official certificates of the condition of food animals, their carcasses and products as herein described, and one (1) copy of every certificate granted under the provisions of this Act shall be filed with the NMIS, another copy shall be given to the owner or shipper, and when the meat and meat products are sent abroad, a third copy shall be attached to the veterinary quarantine clearance.
Sale and Transport of Property Labeled Carcasses.
SEC. 30. Sale and Transport of Property Labeled Carcasses. — No person, firm or corporation shall sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation, in commerce, any carcasses of food animals, or the meat or meat products thereof, unless they are plainly and conspicuously marked or labeled or otherwise identified as required by regulations prescribed by the Secretary to show the kind of animals from which they were derived.
Absence of Ante-Mortem Inspection.
SEC. 31. Absence of Ante-Mortem Inspection. — The inspectors shall seize, confiscate, condemn or dispose of carcasses of parts thereof of food animals that are sold, transported, distributed, offered or received for distribution in commerce that have not passed through ante-mortem inspection. Carcasses or parts thereof are considered “hot meat” and if found to be fit for human use during examination shall be disposed of as provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act.
CHAPTER VIINSPECTION OF IMPORTED MEAT AND MEAT FOOD PRODUCT
Examination and Laboratory Analysis.
SEC. 32. Examination and Laboratory Analysis. — The NMIS shall conduct examination and when necessary, laboratory analysis of imported meat and meat products after the products are approved for release by the National Veterinary Quarantine Service at the ports of entry.
Confiscation of Meat and Meat Products.
SEC. 33. Confiscation of Meat and Meat Products. — The inspectors shall seize, recall, confiscate, condemn or dispose by destruction or re-export at the expense of the importer, any imported carcass, meat or meat products of food animals that has been prepared, sold, transported or otherwise distributed or offered or received for distribution in commerce, and found to be filthy, contaminated, adulterated or misbranded during inspection and laboratory analysis.
Accreditation of Foreign Meat Establishments.
SEC. 34. Accreditation of Foreign Meat Establishments. — Meat exporters to the Philippines shall secure accreditation of foreign meat establishment at source from the Department of Agriculture before being allowed to ship meat and meat products into the country. An audit or inspection shall be done of exporters of meat and meat products in terms of their compliance with Philippine and internationally recognized standards.
Compliance Prior to Shipment.
SEC. 35. Compliance Prior to Shipment. — Meat exporters to the Philippines must comply with all other Philippine import requirements prior to the shipment of meat and meat products into the country.
Import Requirements.
SEC. 36. Import Requirements. — Imported meat and meat products shall be refused entry if they do not meet Philippine import requirements. The refused entry items shall be re-exported to the country of origin or destroyed at the expense of the importer or owner in order to protect public health and the local animal population.
CHAPTER VIILABELING REQUIREMENTS
Labeling of Meat and Meat Products.
SEC. 37. Labeling of Meat and Meat Products. — Any meat or meat products prepared for commerce which has been inspected and marked "Inspected and Passed" shall be placed or packed in any can, pot, tin, canvas, other receptacle or covering in any establishment where inspection under the provision of this Act is maintained. The person, firm or corporation preparing said product shall cause a label to be attached to the said can, pot, tin, canvas, or other receptacle or covering, under the supervision of an inspector, which label shall state that the contents thereof have been “Inspected and Passed” under the provisions of this Act.
Sealed Meat and Meat Products.
SEC. 38. Sealed Meat and Meat Products. — No examination and inspection of meat and meat products deposited or enclosed in cans, tins, pots, canvas, or other receptacle or covering in any establishment where inspection under the provisions of this Act is maintained shall be deemed to be complete until such meat or meat products have been sealed or enclosed in said can, tin, pot, canvas, or other receptacle or covering under the supervision of an inspector.
District and Legible Labels.
SEC. 39. District and Legible Labels. — All carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat and meat products inspected at any establishment and found to be not adulterated shall at the time they leave the establishment bear in distinctly legible form, directly thereon on their containers, the information. required under the provisions of this Act.
Standards for Labeling.
SEC. 40. Standards for Labeling. — The Secretary may prescribe: (1) the styles and sizes or type to be used with respect to material required to be incorporated in labeling to avoid false or misleading labeling, (2) definitions and standards of identity or composition for articles and standards of fill or container for such articles consistent with any such standards required by receiving countries.
False or Misleading Marks and Labels.
SEC. 41. False or Misleading Marks and Labels. — No article shall be sold or offered for sale by any person, firm or corporation, in commerce, under any name for other marking or labeling which is false or misleading, or in any container of a misleading form or size. Established trade names and other marking and labeling and containers which are not false or misleading and which are approved by the Secretary are permitted.
Withholding False or Misleading Marks and Labels.
SEC. 42. Withholding False or Misleading Marks and Labels. — If the Secretary has reason to believe that any marking or labeling or the size or form of any container in use or proposed for use with respect to any article is false or misleading in any particular, he may direct that such use be withheld unless the marking, labeling or container is modified in such manner as he may prescribe so that it will not be false or misleading.
CHAPTER VIIISANITATION
Sanitation Inspection.
SEC. 43. Sanitation Inspection. — The Secretary shall require a sanitation inspection to be conducted by experts/inspectors of all meat establishments to gather information concerning the prevailing sanitary conditions and from such, shall prescribe the rules and regulations under which meat establishments shall be operated and maintained. Meat and meat products from establishments operated under sanitary conditions that render them adulterated shall not be labeled or marked as “Inspected and Passed.”
CHAPTER IXPRODUCT QUALITY AND SAFETY
Standards and Guidelines.
SEC. 44. Standards and Guidelines. — The Secretary, by way of regulation, shall adopt internationally recognized standards, recommendations, set of procedures or guidelines to further ensure the quality and safety of meat and meat products.
CHAPTER XPRODUCT INFORMATION AND CONSUMER AWARENESS
Information Campaign.
SEC. 45. Information Campaign. — The NMIS shall have the responsibility to provide information and assistance to the consuming public on the proper handling and preparation, storing, processing, preservation of meat and meat products and may seek the assistance of the industry and the private sector in attaining its objectives.
CHAPTER XISERVICE FEES AND CHARGES
Fees.
SEC. 46. Fees. — The Secretary, by way of regulation, and after public hearing, shall prescribe and charge such reasonable fees for services rendered: Amounts collected from fees, fines and other charges by the NMIS shall be deposited with the National Treasury and shall accrue to the General Fund.
Meat Inspection Service Development Trust Fund.
SEC. 47. Meat Inspection Service Development Trust Fund. — There shall be an independent and separate trust fund established under this Act, to be administered by the Meat Inspection Board. An amount not less than fifty percent (50%) for the first five (5) years, accrued from the fees, fines and charges shall be used for the purpose of the Meat Inspection Service Development Trust Fund. The fund shall be used for the continued upgrading of laboratory equipment and facilities to conform with international standards, training facilities, capability development of condemned animal during ante-mortem inspection, accreditation of foreign meat plants and other forms of assistance and support to the livestock sector. The trust fund may also accept grants and donations from national and foreign entities and individuals interested in the meat inspection development.
CHAPTER XIIPROHIBITED ACTS
Prohibited Acts.
SEC. 48. Prohibited Acts. — No person, firm or corporation shall:
a) slaughter any food animal or prepare meat or meat product in any meat establishment except in compliance with the requirements of this Act;
b) slaughter or handle in connection with slaughter, any food animal in a manner not considered humane;
c) sell, transport, offer or receive for sale or transportation in commerce carcasses or parts thereof, meat or meat product required to be inspected under this Act unless they have been so inspected and passed;
d) do any act while they are being transported in commerce or held for sale, which is intended to cause or has the effect of causing such articles to be adulterated or misbranded.
Printing of Official Marks.
SEC. 49. Printing of Official Marks. — No brand manufacturer, printer or other person, firm or corporation shall cast, print, lithograph, or otherwise make any device containing any official mark or simulation thereof, or any label bearing any such mark or simulation, or any form of official certificate or simulation thereof, except as authorized by the Secretary.
Forging Official Marks.
SEC. 50. Forging Official Marks. — No person, firm, or corporation shall (1) forge any official device, mark, or certificate; (2) use any official device, mark or certificate or simulation thereof, or alter, detach deface, or destroy any official device, mark, or certificate; (3) contrary to the regulations prescribed by the Secretary, fail to use, or to detach, deface, or destroy any official device, mark or certificate; (4) knowingly possess any official device or any counterfeit, simulated, forged or improperly altered official certificate or any device or label or any carcass of any animal, or part or product thereof, bearing any counterfeit, simulated forged, or improperly altered official mark; (5) knowingly make any false statement in any certificate; or (6) knowingly represent that any article has been inspected and passed under this Act when, in fact, it has not been so inspected and passed.
Absence of Ante-Mortem Inspection.
SEC. 51. Absence of Ante-Mortem Inspection. — It shall be unlawful for any person, either for himself or in behalf of another person, firm or corporation or partnership to slaughter food animals which have not been submitted for ante-mortem inspection or to store, transport or sell carcasses, organs or parts thereof which have not been previously inspected and passed or have been found upon inspection to be unfit for human consumption.
Interference in the Conduct of Inspection.
SEC. 52. Interference in the Conduct of Inspection. — It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to resist, harass, intimidate, assault, impede or interfere with any inspector during the performance of his duties as prescribed under this Act.
Unlawful Trading.
SEC. 53. Unlawful Trading. — It shall be unlawful for any person employed by the NMIS or person employed by the local government unit for the purpose of meat inspection work, to engage directly or indirectly in the business of buying, selling and trading or otherwise negotiating purchases or sales of meat and meat products for his own account or as an employee of another person, firm or corporation.
Unlawful Shipment.
SEC. 54. Unlawful Shipment. — It shall be unlawful for any shipping line or airline to accept shipment of meat and meat products for export into our country without an accompanying veterinary quarantine clearance issued by the Philippine Department of and International Veterinary Certificate issued by the national controlling authority of the exporting country.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
