October 11, 2013

(Draft)

ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR

NO. ______

Series of 2013

SUBJECT:Supplemental Guidelines in the Implementation of DA Administrative Order 15 s. 2006 re: PROHIBITING THE “FLOODING” OF FOOD ANIMALS IN ANIMAL FACILITIES AND ABATTOIR and DA Administrative Order 18 s.2008 re: RULES AND REGULATIONS ON HUMANE HANDLING IN THE SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS FOR FOOD

Pursuant to Republic Act 8485 “Animal Welfare Act of 1998”, Republic Act 7394 “Consumer Act of the Philippines” and Republic Act 10536 “Amendment to Republic Act 9296 or The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines”, the following guidelines in the implementation of Administrative Order 15 s.2006 (Prohibiting The “Flooding” Of Food Animals In Animal Facilities And Abattoir) and Administrative Order 18 s.2008 (Rules and Regulations on Humane Handling in the Slaughter of Animals for Food) is hereby provided:

  1. Definition of Terms

As used in this guideline, the following terms, words and phrases shall be construed to mean:

  1. Confiscation – means the taking into custody of livestock and carcasses, edible or inedible parts from said carcasses by the controlling authority for its proper disposal for having been the subject of violation of the rules and regulations. (defined from AO 28 s.2005).
  1. Flooding – the inhumane act of forcing excessive amount of water orally into the animal so as to increase its bulk or weight, thereby rendering the animal immobile.
  1. Food Animal Welfare Officers (FAWO) – a duly designated or appointed officer by the BAI, NMIS or the LGU tasked to perform functions in the implementation of the guidelines, rules and regulations related to animal welfare of food animals. (defined from AO 18 s. 2008)
  1. Tattoo slapper – a tattooing device used for identification on live pigs shortly before dispatch for slaughter resulting in a permanent mark on the carcass.
  1. Traceability – the ability to track back meat and meat products to the source of animal production to identify the backward process it has undergone from manufacturing, basic processing and slaughtering, transportation of live animals, back to the farm with all its farm inputs at source.
  1. Scope
  1. The scope of implementation covers the receiving of live food animals in the slaughterhouses until the time of slaughter.
  2. It involves handling and slaughtering practices and programs of food animals and provision of equipment and facilities to protect and promote animal welfare.
  3. It covers the establishment and identification of ownership and traceability of food animals.
  4. It applies to, but is not limited, to all slaughterhouse operators, owners of food animals, owners of transport vehicles for live food animals, livestock haulers (viajeros), livestock handlers, meat dealers, butchers, and NMIS/LGU meat inspectors.
  1. Responsibilities of Slaughterhouse Operators, Owners of Live Food Animals, Owners of Transport Vehicles for Live Food Animals, Livestock Haulers (Viajeros), Livestock Handlers, Meat Dealers, Butchers, and NMIS/LGU Meat Inspectors and Food Animal Welfare Officers
  1. Slaughterhouse Operators
  1. They shall be responsible for the humane handling of food animals after receipt into the slaughterhouse.
  2. They shall ensure that handling and slaughtering of food animals are done expeditiously after the animals have been adequately rested and as carefully as possible in a manner that does not cause trauma, overheating, behavioral stress, physical harm or unnecessary discomfort.
  3. They shall ensure that slaughterhouse structural requirements are in compliance with humane handling and slaughtering.
  4. They shall immediately institute corrective actions and preventive measures to identified non-conformances on humane handling and slaughtering procedures.
  1. Owners of Live Food Animals, Owners of Transport Vehicles for Live Food Animals, Livestock Haulers (viajeros), Livestock Handlers, Meat Dealers and Butchers
  1. They shall ensure that transport, handling and slaughter of food animals are done with minimal stress and as carefully as possible in a manner that does not cause trauma, overheating, behavioral stress, physical harm or unnecessary discomfort.
  2. Livestock haulers (viajeros) shall ensure that transport vehicles shall be designed and maintained so that requirements for humane handling during transport and unloading are met.
  3. They shall ensure that delivered slaughter animals have the required transport documents such as but not limited to certificate of ownership/transfer certificate, veterinary health certificate, barangay clearance, shipping permit and such other documents that may be required in the slaughterhouse. If within a reasonable time, the owner failed to present the required documents, the nearest Philippines National Police (PNP) precinct shall be alerted for proper action thereof.
  1. NMIS/LGU Meat Inspection Personnel
  1. They shall enforce of the guidelines and other related animal welfare regulations in the handling and slaughter of food animals.
  2. They shall conduct daily examinations and inspections on the compliance to methods by which the food animals are transported, handled and slaughtered using the Daily Monitoring of Food Animal Welfare Implementation (NMIS FAW Form 1).
  3. They shall issue a Notice of Violation (NMIS FAW Form 2) to the slaughterhouse operators and concerned person/s once inhumane handling and slaughtering practices are observed.
  4. They shall monitor and verify the corrective actions instituted by the management.
  5. They shall likewise inform the Regional Food Animal Welfare Officer (RFAWO) of the violation/s and transmittal evidence gathered related to the violation/s.
  1. Regional Food Animal Welfare Officer (RFAWO)
  1. They shall monitor and oversee the implementation and enforcement of these guidelines and other related animal welfare regulations in the handling and slaughter of food animals.
  2. They shall act as chairperson of the investigating committee that will hear reports of violations on animal welfare regulations and submit recommendations to the Executive Director thru the RTD. In no case shall the investigation process and the submission of findings exceed ten (10) working days.
  3. They shall organize an Investigation Committee composed of three (3) members from the Accreditation, Regulatory and Enforcement Division (ARED), Plant Operation Inspection Division (POID), and other division.
  4. In case of non-conformance/s and violations, he/she shall issue summon or show cause order signed by the issuing regulatory officer and noted by the RTD to the slaughterhouse operator and concerned person/s and shall order to submit a notarized explanation as to why no case shall be filed against him/her and undertaking to comply with the laws and regulations on animal welfare.
  5. They shall lead the verification of the corrective actions instituted by the slaughterhouse management and the concerned person/s.
  6. They shall prepare the release order, warning and/or undertaking whichever is applicable to be signed by the RTD copy furnish POID CO thru the Executive Director.
  1. Protocol For Identification Of Ownership Of Pigs In Slaughterhouses And Traceability Of Pork Carcasses

Identification of live animals shall be done in two phases: (1) identification from farm to the slaughterhouse, and (2) identification of live animals for traceability of carcasses in the slaughterhouse.

  1. Identification During Purchase of Live Food Animals
  1. Live food animals to be transported from farm, stockyards, auction markets and other similar facilities to slaughterhouses shall be identified/marked using only appropriate livestock identifiers such as, but not limited to, livestock markers, tattoo slappers/pliers, leg straps or bands and other similar devices that will not cause harm or pain to the food animals and at the same time maintain such marks or identification upon receipt at the slaughterhouse.
  2. Materials and equipment to be used for the identification of livestock shall be provided by every slaughterhouse operators or owners of food animals or owners of transport vehicles for live food animals or livestock haulers (viajeros), livestock handlers or meat dealers.
  3. Markings using pointed or sharp objects such as but not limited to, blades or knives or any similar devices that inflict wounds are hereby prohibited and are penalized under R.A. 10536.
  1. Identification of Live Food Animals at the Slaughterhouse for Traceability of Carcasses
  1. Upon arrival at the slaughterhouse, equipment such as tattoo slapper/pliers or any similar tattooing device for carcass identification shall be used for identification and traceability of carcasses.

.

  1. The tattoo slapper/pliers or any similar tattooing device for carcass identification shall be provided by the slaughterhouse operators as a requirement for accreditation or registration of the slaughterhouse.
  2. Tattooing shall be performed by a trained animal handler to every pig upon receipt during unloading. A 5-digit coding system shall be followed wherein the:
  1. First three (3) digits shall correspond to the Accreditation Number of the Slaughterhouse, and,
  2. The last two (2) digits shall correspond to the specific code for each meat dealer.

Example: 263A1:263 = Accreditation Number of Slaughterhouse

A1 = Juan Dela Cruz (Meat Dealer)

  1. Tattooing can be done on the ears using the tattoo pliers and on the shoulders or rump using tattoo slapper.
  1. The slaughterhouse operator shall provide a specific code for every meat dealer and shall keep a list of the codes. The list of codes shall then be submitted to NMIS Regional Office who in turn, shall provide a duplicate copy to NMIS POID Central Office.
  1. The 5-digit code shall appear or be a part of the label or packaging material once carcass is fabricated into wholesale, retail or special meat cuts.
  1. Issuance of Notice of Violation and Verification of Corrective Actions Taken
  1. The NMIS/LGU Meat Inspectors shall record all inhumane handling and slaughtering practices observed during the day in the Daily Monitoring of Food Animal Welfare Implementation.
  2. If inhumane practice is observed, a Notice of Violation shall be issued to the slaughterhouse operator and the concerned person/s who committed the inhumane act, a copy is furnished to the RTD and RFAWO.
  3. A summon or show cause order signed by the issuing regulatory officer and noted by the RTD will be issued to the slaughterhouse operator and concerned person/s and will be ordered to submit a notarized explanation as to why no case shall be filed against him/her and undertaking to comply with the laws and regulations on animal welfare.
  4. Any commitment made by the slaughterhouse operator and/or the concerned person/s who performed the inhumane handling or slaughtering act to rectify non-conformances shall be verified by the investigating committee.

All corrective actions taken by the slaughterhouse operator and/or the concerned person/s who committed the inhumane act shall be documented.

  1. All corrective actions taken by the slaughterhouse operator and/or the concerned person/s who committed the inhumane act shall be documented.
  1. Disposition Of Animals With Signs Of “Flooding”

Animals with signs of “flooding” shall be confiscated as provided for under R.A. 10536.

  1. Disposition Of Animals With Markings Using Sharp or Pointed Objects

Pigs with markings using sharp or pointed instruments such as but not limited to blade, cutter, knife or other similar devices for the purpose of identification shall be confiscated as provided for under R.A. 10536.

  1. Reporting and Submission of Reports

The NMIS/LGU Meat Inspection personnel shall submit a weekly summary report of the Daily Monitoring of Food Animal Welfare Implementation (NMIS FAW Form 1) including the Notice of Violation and Corrective Action Request Report to the NMIS Regional Food Animal Welfare Officer (FAWO) or Plant Operation Inspection Section (POIS) Head for assessment and/or action.

A monthly report on the activities and actions taken relative to the implementation of DA AO 15 s2006 and DA AO 18 s.2008 (Rules and Regulations on Humane Handling in the Slaughter of Animals for Food) shall be submitted by the NMIS Regional Technical Director to the NMIS Executive Director copy furnish POID CO for assessment and evaluation.

  1. Implementing Agencies
  1. The Local Governments Unit (LGU) having the authority to implement duly prescribed national policies or guidelines within their respective territorial jurisdiction shall implement and monitor the compliance to these guidelines during farm loading into live truck haulers, transportation, unloading to any animal facility and the keeping of food animals while awaiting slaughter in Class AA, A slaughterhouses and Locally Registered Meat Establishment (LRMEA).
  2. The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) being the sole national controlling authority on all matters pertaining to meat and meat product inspection shall assist and supervise the LGUs in the implementation of these guidelines in the said slaughterhouses and implement in Class AAA slaughterhouses.
  3. Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) shall be responsible for the supervision and regulation of transport of animals in any form of public or private transportation facility in order to provide maximum comfort while in transit and minimize incidence of sickness and death and prevent any cruelty being inflicted upon animals.
  1. Penalties

Any person, corporation, or entity who violates any provisions of DA Administrative Order 18 s.2008 and these Guidelines shall be subject to sanctions prescribed in Republic Act 8485, “Animal Welfare Act of 1998”, an imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years or a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court.

In addition to confiscation, as an administrative fine of Fifty-thousand pesos (P50,000.00) for the first offense, a fine of Seventy-five thousand pesos (P75,000.00) for the second offense, and a fine of One-hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) plus prohibition from conducting business for two (2) years for the third and succeeding offense as provided under of R.A. 10536, “Amendment to Republic Act 9296 otherwise known as The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines”.

  1. EFFECTIVITY

This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation whichever comes first.

Recommending Approval:

DR. RUBINA O. CRESENCIODR. MINDA S. MANATAN

Acting Director IVExecutive Director

Bureau of Animal IndustryNational Meat Inspection Service

APPROVED:

PROCESO J. ALCALA

Secretary