Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 5 ay
First Regular Session SL) J

H.No,__ 1557

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging” B, Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As people population increases, animal population follows suit, Not to mention
the different kinds of beastly brutes, constituted by wild, domesticated and domestic
animals. Since animals do not undergo formal education like humans, and
considering that they can be easy carriers of diseases and infections that can be
passed on to humans; the regulation of the animal industry is very necessary.
Regulatory functions, such as but not limited to conducting scientific investigations in
accord with implementation of statutes and regulations for the protection of the public
from infections, diseases and contaminated meat products should be considered as
utmost priorities

In congruence thereto, this bill seeks to strengthen the animal industry and
veterinary services in the Philippines by promoting and protecting animal health and
welfare, recognizing the importance of sanitary measures therefor, establishing a
modern and responsive national veterinary authority, encouraging the participation of
various veterinary service providers, and securing the development of the animal
industry in the attainment of greater safeguards and food security for the country's
animal and human populations; improving public health, environment and enhanced
global trade competitiveness to boot.

This Act shall apply to all programs, activities and undertakings of persons,
corporations, associations, organizations, small-hold farmers, entities, or government
agencies that directly or indirectly deals on animal health-related matters, animal
welfare, related training and research, use of veterinary drugs and genetic
improvement of livestock.


The objectives of this bill are to protect human and environmental health from
animal diseases, improved veterinary services, formulation of policies for the
promotion of animal health, institutionalizing inter-agency, multi-sectoral and local
government cooperation; animal food production safety, global livestock trade
competitiveness, dynamic livestock breeder and production farm, among others.

The National Livestock and Veterinary Services Authority (NLVSA), which is
the agency tasked to implement this bill up to the regional level would be placed
under the Department of Agriculture (DA), which will be chiefly responsible for
overseeing and promoting the health, welfare and productivity of the national animal
population. The DA as an administrative agency of the government is comprised by
experts in a specific field of specialization under its jurisdiction. Hence, the decision
to place the aforesaid establishment under the supervision of the said agency
certainly augurs well for the proposed bill

The NLVSA shall have regulatory authority on all facets of the animal industry;
providing technical assistance and supervision pursuant to the same. The agency
shall have visitorial powers through its duly authorized veterinary officers and shall
have the authority for “Declaration of Quarantine” and the power of “seizure and
confiscation", to name a few.

Moreover the Committee on Animal Welfare (CAW), created under Republic
‘Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the "Animal Welfare Act of 1998” shall be
renamed, henceforth known as the “National Advisory Committee for the Welfare of
Animals’, to be chaired by a representative from the private sector, subject to the
approval of the Secretary of the DA. This new-named office shall be responsible for
the formulation of rules and regulations for the strict implementation of the provisions
of this Act and R.A. No. 8485.

Rep. ESTRELLITA “GING” B.
4°" District, Nueva Ecijal


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1557

House Bill No.,

Introduced by Honorable Estrellita “Ging” B. Suansing

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY AND.
VETERINARY SERVICES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philipines in
Congress assembled:

Chapter |
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Animal Industry and Veterinary
Services Act of 2011."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to promote and
protect animal health and welfare, recognize the importance of efficient delivery of
sanitary measures, establish a modern and responsive national veterinary authority,
encourage the participation of various veterinary service providers, and secure the
development of the animal industry in the attainment of greater safeguards and food
security for the country’s animal and human populations, improved public health and
environment, and enhanced global trade competitiveness.

Section 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all programs, activities and
undertakings of persons, corporations, associations, organizations, small-hold
farmers, entities, or government agencies that, directly or indirectly, deals on the
following

1. Animal health related matters such as but not limited to:

(a) Animal and zoonotic disease diagnosis, treatment, prevention,
control and eradication;

(b) Early detection systems and compulsory reporting of important
animal diseases and zoonoses;

(c) inspection and monitoring of (i) animals, animal products and by-
products (ii) animal facilities, premises, equipment, means of


transportation and other inanimate things in contact with animals
and/or animal products (iii) animal feeds, feed ingredients,
supplements and additives, (iv) veterinary drugs, biologicals,
immunological products, cosmetics and devices;

2. Animal welfare;

3. Training and research on animal health and welfare, marketing and
extension services, and product development;

4, Rational and judicious use of veterinary drugs, biologicals and diagnostic
reagents in animals;

5. Management, genetic improvement and operations of beef cattle, poultry
and small ruminant farms of the government for conservation of native
domestic breeds.

Section 4. Objectives. - The State shall endeavor to achieve the following
objectives:

1. To protect human and environmental health from hazards caused by
animal diseases and zoonoses;

2. To establish a modern and responsive veterinary services;

3. To formulate, promote, enforce, implement rules, policies and
programs for the promotion of animal health, animal welfare and
environment-friendly animal production processes;

4. To institutionalize inter-agency, multi-sectoral and local government
cooperation on animal health and veterinary service programs;

5. To ensure animal food production safety and food security in support of
poverty alleviation;

6. To guarantee compliance and harmonization of sanitary and
phytosanitary (SPS) measures and other veterinary protocols with
international standards;

7. To promote an environment of global livestock trade competitiveness
8. To establish nucleus and multiplier livestock breeder and production
farms in support of the government's modemization programs. in
agriculture.

Section 5. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms
shall be defined as follows:


a. Accreditation - refers to the procedure by which government agency
having jurisdiction formally recognizes the competence of an inspection
and/or certification body to provide inspection and certification services

s

Agribusiness - refers to the various businesses involved in food production,
including farming, breed and feed supply, agrichemicals farm and
processing machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing
and retail sales, It also means making a "simple farmer" or "small backyard
operator" into an “entrepreneur,” by legalizing their business venture with
distinct identity and by developing their own competitive edge in the
industry group where they belong

2

Animal - refers to vertebrate and invertebrate species whether domestic or
wild (exotic or indigenous) animals which maybe food producing,
companion, aquatic, laboratory including birds, worms, bees and butterflies.
The term excludes human and non-mammalian aquatic species.

a

Animal facility - refers to structures or premises generally used for the
purpose of caring, breeding, rearing, holding, gaming, training, trading,
treating and exhibition such as but not limited to, farms, zoos, aviaries,
apiaries, kennels, racetracks, cockpits, pet shops, pounds, animal rescue
centers, airport and seaport quarantine stations, animal holding facilities,
stables, livestock markets, slaughterhouses, veterinary clinics, and
veterinary hospitals.

©

. Animal Health - refers to the over-all physical condition and well-being of
animal(s)

Animal Identification - refers to the combination of the identification and
registration of an animal individually, with a unique identifier, or collectively
by its epidemiological unit or group, with a unique group identifier

g. Animal Identification System - refers to the inclusion and linking of
component such as identification of establishments, owners, person or
persons responsible for the animal(s), animal movements and other
records with an animal identification.

h. Animal Industry - refers to any activity relating to the production, breeding,
caring, rearing, holding, trading, transporting and use of all animals; animal
processing, marketing and feed milling;

Animal Health Technician - refers to any person who is authorized by the
Professional Regulations Commission to carry out certain designated and
delegated tasks under the responsibility and supervision of a duly licensed
veterinarian.

Animal Production Food Safety and Security - refers to measures taken in
farms and production areas to safeguard the health of the consuming
public and ensure that the food derived therefrom is safe and of sufficient


k.

quantity or supply. This includes measures taken to regulate and control
the introduction of non-food animals to the food chain

Animal Products and By-Products - refer to any meat, fat, milk whey,
cream, butter, cheese, egg or other food or foodstuffs derived from an
animal; or any part of the viscera of an animal, hide, skin, hair, wool,
feathers, shell, horn or hoof; or any article or substance derived from dung,
urine, feces, bone, or blood of an animal; or any secretion of an animal or
any product or biological preparation made or derived from any animal
tissue or animal secretion; or any article or substance derived from an
animal such as semen, whether or not in combination with any article or
substance; or any article or substance or thing that is declared by order to
be an animal product for the purposes of this Act.

|. Animal Registry - refers to the list of information on animals (such

identification, animal health, movement, certification, epidemiology,
establishments) collected, recorded, securely stored and made
appropriately accessible and able to be utilized by the NLVSA and its
stakeholders.

Border Post - refers to any airport, or seaport, railway station or road
check-point open to domestic and international trade of commodities,
where veterinary inspections are performed.

Buffer Zone - refers to an area established to protect the health status of
animals in a disease free country or disease free zones, from those in a
country or zone of a different animal health status, using measures based
on the epidemiology of the disease under consideration to prevent spread
of the causative pathogenic agent into a free country or free zone. These
measures may include, but are not limited to, vaccination, movement
control and an intensified degree of disease surveillance

Certification- refers to the procedure by which official certification bodies or
officially recognized certification bodies provide written or equivalent
assurance that animal control systems conform to requirements.

. Chief Veterinary Officer - refers to a veterinarian who has the responsibility

and competence of ensuring and supervising the implementation of animal
health and welfare measures, international veterinary certification and
other standards and guidelines in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of
the World Organization for Animal Health or Organization international des
Epizooties (OIE) in the entire country.

|. Compartment - refers to one or more establishments under a common

biosecurity management system containing an animal subpopulation with
a distinct health status with respect to a specific disease or diseases for
which required surveillance, control, biosecurity measures have been
applied for the purpose of international trade.


r. Competent Authority - refers to the NLVSA which is the official authority
charged by the government in the control of animal health, welfare, animal
production food safety and veterinary services.

s. Confiscation - refers to taking into custody of animals, animal parts and/or
products, and/or of animal effects by the competent authority for its proper
disposal for having been the subject of violation of rules and regulations or
posing risk to general human and animal welfare.

t. Control Area or Zone - refers to an area around the infected area where
restrictions will reduce and/or limit the chance of further spreading the
disease.

u. Diseases - refer to the impairment of normal state of living animals showing
sub-clinical, clinical/pathological manifestation with infectious and non-
infectious condition.

v. Early Detection System - refers to a system for the timely detection and
identification of animal and zoonotic diseases which includes the following
characteristics, namely; (a) representative coverage of target animal
populations by veterinary field services; (b) ability to undertake effective
disease investigation and reporting; (c) access to laboratories capable of
diagnosing and differentiating relevant diseases; and (d) training program
for veterinarians and animal health technicians for detecting and reporting
unusual disease occurrence

w. Emerging Disease - refers to a new infection resulting from the evolution or
change of an existing pathogenic agent, a known infection spreading to a
new geographic area or population, or a previously unrecognizable
pathogenic agent or disease diagnosed for the first time and which has a
significant impact on animal or public health

x. Epidemiology - refers to the science concerned with the study of factors
determining and influencing the frequency and distribution of disease, injury
and other health-related events and their causes in a defined population

y. Equivalence of Sanitary Measures - refers to the state wherein the sanitary
measure(s) proposed by the exporting country as an alternative to those of
the importing country achieve(s) the same level of protection

2. Eradication - refers to the elimination of a pathogenic agent or disease from
the country or zone/area/region.

aa. Establishment - refers to entities engaged in the manufacture, production,
preparation, handling, importation, exportation, sale, storage, offer for
sale, distribution, transfer, use, testing, promotion, advertising or
sponsorship of animals, animal products and by-products, veterinary
drugs and biological products, feeds and feed ingredients, cosmetics,
and devices.


bb. Exporting Country - refers to the country of origin of commodities which
are sent to another country.

oc, Feed - refers to a mixture or combination of feed ingredients, supplements
and additives, in any form, by specific formula to be fed directly as a sole
ration to animals which is capable of furnishing the nutritional needs or
requirements of the animal in order to maintain life, promote growth,
production and reproduction without any additional substance except
water.

dd. Feed Ingredients - refer to all articles, in any form, that are added or
mixed into the composition or which are used as raw materials in the
formulation of a feed or ration, base feed, base mix, concentrate, feed
supplement, feed additive, specialty feed and/or special feed preparation
purporting to supply additional nutrients, such as but not limited to,
proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, growth promoting factors
and/or correcting nutritional disorders.

ee. Free Zone - refers to an area which the absence of the disease under
consideration has been complied in accordance with the requirements
specified in the Terrestrial Code of the OIE for free status being met.
Within the zone and at its borders, appropriate official veterinary control is
effectively applied for animals and animal products, and their
transportation.

ff. Governance - refers to the process by which the Philippines government
(national, regional and local), private sector, industry associations and
other stakeholders collectively solve the problems, needs and concerns of
the animal industry.

gg. Hazard - refers to a biological, chemical or physical agent in, or a
condition of an animal or animal product with the potential to cause an
adverse health effect

hh. Indemnification - refers to the payment for any loss of animals or damage
to its by-products in accordance with the guidelines established by the
Veterinary Authority.

li, Infected Zone - refers to an area in which the disease under consideration
is present.

jj. Livestock - refers to food animals including poultry.

kk. Livestock Agribusiness Marketing - refers to the critical roles marketing
plays in the successful operation of an agribusiness firm by focusing on
the six major parts of agribusiness marketing system such as: 1) the
agricultural input industries; 2) the impact of technology-induced changes
on production practices and the need for marketing awareness on the
part of farmers as a way to achieve greater profitability; 3) the commodity
processing and food manufacturing industries; 4) the food wholesaling

6


and retailing industries; 5) the food service industry; and 6) cooperative
agribusiness.

ll. Livestock Marketing System - refers to livestock economics system that
relies upon the markets and market forces to allocate resources and
goods, to determine prices and quantities of each product that will be
produced

mm. Marketing - refers to the process of planning the conception, pricing,
promotion and distribution of goods and services to create exchanges
that satisfy individual and organizational objectives.

n

5

Market Infrastructure - refers to facilities including, but not limited livestock
"oksyon" market, wet/public market buildings, weighing scale center,
holding pens, warehouses, market information centers, slaughterhouses,
connecting roads, transport and communication and cold storage used by
the livestock farmers in marketing their produce.

00. Marketing Information System - refers to an information system concerned
with the collection, storage, and analysis of information and data for
marketing decision making purposes. Information for use in marketing
information systems is gathered from customers, competitors and their
products, and from the market itself.

pp. Marketing Intelligence - refers to data/information obtained both publicly &
privately by market players that reflect a myriad of factors regarding
prices, stocks, trends, government policies affecting supply or demand,
production and consumption of products, by-products and allied products
in an industry, e.g. animal industry, to achieve a marketing or business-
related competitiveness.

qq. Market Research - refers to the identification of a specific market and
measurement of its size and other characteristics collected from direct
observation of the consumers (such as in retail stores), mail surveys,
telephone or face-to-face interviews, and from published sources (such
as demographic data).

rr. Notifiable Disease - refers to disease listed by the Veterinary Authority,
and that, as soon as detected or suspected, must be brought to the
attention of the Veterinary Authority, in accordance with national
regulations.

ss

2

Notification - refers to the procedure by which the Local Veterinary
Authority informs the National Veterinary Authority, of the occurrence of
an outbreak of disease or infection.

tt. Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) or the World Organization for
Animal Health - is the intergovernmental organization responsible for
improving animal health worldwide. It is recognized as a reference
organization by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

7


uu, Quarantine - refers to the act of isolating animals from other animals with
no direct or indirect contact with other animals, to prevent the
transmission of specified pathogen(s) while the animals are undergoing
observation, and, if appropriate, testing and treatment, for a specified
length of time and/or to determine their freedom from disease.

wy. Production processes - refer to the transformational steps in the
conversion of raw materials to finished products,

ww. Poultry - includes chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, gamefowls, ducks,
geese, quails, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, and ratites reared or kept
in captivity for breeding, production of meat or eggs for consumption or
for re-stocking supplies of game.

xx. Professional Regulation Commission - Board of Veterinary Medicine
(PRC-BVM) - refers to an autonomous authority regulating veterinarians
and animal health technicians

yy. Quarantine Station - refers to a facility under the control of the veterinary
services where animals are under quarantinelisolation for observation

zz. Risk - refers to the likelihood of the occurrence and the likely magnitude
of consequences of an adverse event to animal or human health in the
importing country during a specified time period, as a result of hazardous
elements.

aaa. Risk Analysis - refers to the process composed of hazard identification,
risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication.

bbb. Risk Assessment - refers to the evaluation of the likelihood and the
biological and economic consequences of entry, establishment, or spread
of a pathogenic agent within the territory of an importing country.

ccc. Risk Communication - refers to the interactive exchange of information
‘on risk among risk assessors, risk managers and other interested parties.

ddd. Risk Management - refers to the process of identifying, selecting and
implementing measures that can be applied to reduce the level of risk

eee. Sanitary Measure - refers to any scheme or strategy applied to protect
animal or human health or life within the territory of the country from the
risks arising from the entry, establishment or spread of a hazardous
element.

fff. Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - refers to the set of legal framework
for international trade of animals, animal products and by products,
veterinary biologics, drugs, products and devices, animal feeds and feed
ingredients that is safe for public, animal and plant health with important
provisions on harmonization, equivalence, assessment of risk and


appropriate level of protection, regionalization, transparency and
notification

999. Shipping Permit - refers to the document issued by the NL VSA
authorizing the person indicated therein to ship or transport the stated
items to their indicated destination(s)

hhh. Third Party Certification or Independent Certification — refers to the
process wherein a firm requires that its suppliers meet a certain standard
and requests an independent organization that is not involved in the
business relationship to control the compliance of the suppliers.

il, Traceability - refers to the ability to follow or monitor the history/record of
an animal or group of animals during all stages of its life.

jjj. Vaccination - refers to the successful immunization of susceptible animals
through the administration of appropriate immunizing agents comprising
of antigens or bacterins or any agent appropriate to the disease to be
controlled

kkk, Veterinarian - refers to a person who has been registered and issued a
valid certificate of registration and professional identification card by
Professional Regulatory Commission Board of Veterinary Medicine of the
Philippines.

Ill. Veterinary Authority - refers to the government authority, comprising of duly
licensed veterinarians, having the responsibility and competence of
ensuring or supervising the implementation of animal health and welfare
measures, international veterinary certification and other standards and
guidelines in the Terrestrial Code of the OIE (World Organization for
Animal Health).

mmm. Veterinary Biological Products - refer to all microorganisms (viruses,
bacteria, fungi, protozoa, etc.) components or products of
microorganisms, antigens, antisera, bacterins, immunoglobulins and
analogous products of natural or of synthetic origin, including genetically
modified organisms, diagnostic kits and reagents, serums, toxins and
antitoxins intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of
animal diseases and for research purposes.

nnn. Veterinary Cosmetics - refer to any substance or preparation intended to
be placed in contact with the various external parts of the animal body or
with the teeth, mucous membranes of the oral cavity, with a view
exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their
appearance and/or correcting the body odor, and/or protecting the body
or keeping the same in good condition.

000. Veterinary Device - refers to any instruments, apparatuses, implements,
machines, appliances or contrivances, including their components, parts
and accessories intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation,


treatment and prevention of animal diseases or to affect the structure or
any function of the body or animals.

ppp. Veterinary Drug - refers to articles for use in the diagnosis, cure,
mitigation, treatment or prevention of diseases of animals.

qaq. Veterinary Products - as use in this Act shall collectively refer to
veterinary biologicals, drugs, devices, and cosmetics as defined herein
and to other substances applied to animal facilities such as but not limited
to disinfectants, insecticides, and substances that modify or extend
physiological functions, behaviors or availability such as but not limited to
hormones, growth promotants, probiotics and acidifiers.

rm

Veterinary Inspector - refers to any duly-licensed veterinarian employed
by the national or local government unit primarily tasked to diagnose,
investigate and control animal diseases and other such duties stipulated
in this Act

sss. Veterinary Personnel - refers to an employee working in a veterinary
office

ttt. Veterinary Services - refer to the activities in the implementation of animal
health, welfare, feeds and animal production food safety by government
and non-government organizations.

uuu. Zone / Region - refers to a clearly defined part of the country containing
an animal subpopulation with a distinct health status with respect to a
specific disease for which required surveillance, control and biosecurity
measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade.

vw. Zoonosis - refers to any disease or infection which is naturally
transmissible from animals to human.

Chapter II

STRUCTURE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

Section 6. The National Livestock and Veterinary Services Authority. - The
Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) shall be renamed as the "National Livestock and
Veterinary Services Authority (NLVSA)", an attached line agency up to the regional
level under the Department of Agriculture, chiefly responsible for overseeing and
promoting the health, welfare and productivity of the national animal population for
food safety, food security and rural development.

The NLVSA shall be headed by a Director General, with the rank of

undersecretary, who must possess a minimum experience of ten (10) years in
practice as a duly licensed veterinarian. He shall be assisted by a Deputy Director
General for Regulatory Services and a Deputy Director General for Research,
Development and Extension Services, who, likewise, must both possess a minimum
experience of ten (10) years practice as a duly licensed veterinarian.

10


The Director General, and Deputy Directors General shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines, while, the Center Directors, Regional Directors and
Director for Administrative Support Services shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Agriculture. All personnel below the Director and Regional Director levels shall be
appointed by the Director General.

Section 7. Powers and Functions - The NLVSA shall have the following principal
powers through the Director General or his duly designated representative:

1, Regulatory Authority. - The NLVSA shall have authority to regulate animal health,
animal welfare, animal production food safety and matters connected or pertaining
to, but not limited to general sanitary measures, risk analysis, animal quarantine,
diagnosis of diseases, animal feeds and feed ingredients, veterinary drugs and
biological products, and other pharmaceuticals and products used on animals and
the environment, animal facilities, equipments, devices and cosmetics, veterinary
research, animal production and international certification procedures.

2. Technical Assistance and Supervision. - The NLVSA shall provide technical
training for the capacity building and strengthening of livestock and veterinary
services related functions of all national government agencies and Local
Government Units (LGUs). It shall exercise technical supervision over veterinary
offices and veterinary related functions of all national government agencies and
LGUs. This includes oversight authority to require mandatory notification and
coordination, submission of reports and other pertinent data regarding animal
disease situations, within the respective areas or jurisdictions of other government
agencies and local government units.

3. Assumption of Control. - The NLVSA is authorized, subject to the approval of the
Secretary of Agriculture and in coordination with the concerned LGU and regional
officials of other agencies, to assume full control and direction in the management of
local and regional outbreaks of dangerous communicable and zoonotic animal
diseases, where the animal and/or human health status of the country, as
recommended by the hereunder described National Advisory Committee on Animal
Diseases and Emergency (NAC-ADE), is in actual or imminent danger.

4, Visitorial Power - The NLVSA, through its duly authorized veterinary officers, upon
presenting appropriate credentials or authority to the owner, manager, operator,
agent or any person within the premises, shall have the power to enter and inspect
anytime but following down time requirements of livestock and poultry farms and
other animal establishments, conduct collection of laboratory specimens and
samples with proper description and receipt of those taken, and when required by
circumstances and as authorized by the Director General or his representative,
impose preventive and control measures therein, in coordination with, and as may be
necessary, subject to biosafety entry requirements of concerned owners and
caretakers.

5. Declaration of Quarantine - The Director General through a written order of
quarantine shall cause the immediate holding or detention for thirty (30) days or for

i


such longer period, if necessary, for observation and testing of animals, animal parts,
products, and by-products, feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements and feed
additives, veterinary biologics, drugs, products and devices, and such other
materials or substances which are found or deemed to be infected or carriers of
dangerous animal diseases.

6. Seizure and Confiscation - The NLVSA shall have the authority to seize and
confiscate animals, animal parts, products, and by-products, feeds, feed ingredients,
feed supplements and feed additives, veterinary biologics, drugs, products and
devices, and such other materials or substances that are undocumented, or of
unknown source and conditions, and are showing signs of dangerous animal
diseases, or reasonably suspected to be infected with or carriers of dangerous
animal diseases, contaminated with toxic materials, or posing an imminent danger,
threat and injury to the overall animal health situation in declared disease-free zones,
areas or compartments, and border posts of the country.

7. Animal Condemnation and Eradication Measures - The NLVSA shall have the
authority to institute condemnation and eradication measures on animals that are
diseased or reasonably suspected to be infected with diseases, and are deemed a
great risk to the livestock population and/or public health.

8. Call for Assistance - The Director General may call upon any government agency
for any form of assistance consistent with its powers, duties, and responsibilities for
the purpose of ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of this Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated hereunder.

9. Delegation - The NLVSA shall have the authority to deputize local government
and private veterinarians to perform disease control, measures to obviate any animal
welfare concerns and animal health matters for proper implementation of national
disease control policies and programs at all levels. The DG shall deputize Animal
Welfare Officers from Non Government Organizations (NGOs), citizens groups,
community organizations and other volunteers who have undergone the necessary
training and accreditation for this purpose. As such, the Animal Welfare Officers shall
have the full authority to seize and confiscate affected animals in violation of the
provisions of the Act, subject to existing rules and regulation on arrest and detention.

10. Emergency Response - In the event of natural and man-made disasters, the NL
VSA shall ensure the safety and protection of the animal population following the
quick response "Oplan Sagip Hayop" scheme, The NLVSA shall administer and
supervise the effective implementation of this Act and its rules and regulations. It
shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be necessary to
carry out its duties and responsibilities under this Act.

Section 8. Organizational Structure - The technical, administrative, finance and
support services of the NLVSA shall be strengthened as may be appropriate and
necessary to carry out effectively the provisions of this Act. Various Centers shall be
established under the NLVSA and each Center shall be headed by a Director, who
must possess a minimum practice of five (5) years as a veterinarian, with
supervisory experience in any related field. Each center shall include divisions which

12


shall be headed by a division chief with minimum management experience of three
(3) years. The Centers established are as follows:

1. Center for Animal Health and Welfare - The Center shall be responsible for
veterinary epidemiology, animal disease surveillance systems, animal disease
prevention, control and eradication programs, risk analysis, herd health
management, animal welfare and animal health information.

The center shall have the following divisions: (a) Veterinary Epidemiology and
Economics (b) Animal Disease Control and Veterinary Public Health, (c) Animal
Welfare and (d) Animal Health Information and Communication.

2. Center for Veterinary Quarantine Services - The Center shall be primarily
responsible in issuing import and export certifications and conducting pre- and post-
border inspections and monitoring, accreditation, quarantine, and if warranted by
biosecurity procedures, instituting immediate seizure and/or confiscation of animals,
animal parts, products, and by-products, feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements
and feed additives, veterinary biologics, drugs, products and devices, and such other
materials or substances posing threat or harm to animal health. The Center shall
also be responsible for the maintenance of quarantine stations and enforcement of
animal quarantine and welfare rules and regulations in the various inland and
offshore shipping routes of the country.

The Center shall have the following divisions: (a) Sanitary and PhytoSanitary
Trade Facilitation (b) Veterinary Quarantine Inspection and Monitoring, and (c)
Biosecurity.

3. Center for Animal Disease Diagnosis - The Center shall primarily conduct
laboratory diagnosis of animal diseases and act as a repository of data on disease
diagnosis. It shall be responsible for the management of regional veterinary
diagnostic laboratories, including the monitoring of certified/accredited private animal
disease diagnostic laboratories. CADD shall also be the National Reference Center
for Animal Disease Diagnosis.

The Center shall have the following divisions: (a) Pathobiology, (b)
Bacteriology & Mycobiology, (c) Virology, (d) Laboratory Standards and Compliance
and (e) National Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Information Management
and Coordination

4. Center for Animal Feeds, Veterinary Products and Establishments Regulation -
The Center shall regulate the manufacture, production, importation, exportation,
distribution, handling, sale, offer for sale, transfer, promotion, advertisement, the use
and testing of premixes, animal feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements and feed
additives, veterinary drugs, biologicals, cosmetics and devices and all other types of
veterinary products and establishments. It shall likewise conduct assays on the
quality, safety, potency and efficacy of these products and veterinary drug residues
in animal products except meat

The Genter shall include the following divisions: (a) Registration, Licensing, &
Accreditation, (b) Inspection and Compliance and (c) Laboratory Services.


5. Animal Genetic Resource Management and Improvement Center - This Center
shall be responsible for formulating policies and programs for sustainable animal
genetic resources of domestic animals. It shall prepare in consultation with various
stakeholders the national strategy and action plan for the use, development and
conservation of animal genetic resources in particular the native food animals.

The Center shall have the following divisions: (a) Breed Registry and Central
Data Management (b) Gene Bank (c) Native Pigs (d) Native Poultry (e) Native Cattle,
Goat and Sheep (f) Native Horses.

6. Center for Animal Research and Product Development - This Center shall address
the national agenda for all researches on animal health, animal welfare and animal
production food safety and security in coordination, collaboration and consultation
with international and local agencies and stakeholders.

It shall also be responsible for the generation of technology, technology
adaptation and demonstration necessary for maximum utilization of available
resources in accordance with the requirements of the national animal research,
production and development agenda and shall also serve as repository of all animal
research and scientific information

This Center shall have the following divisions: (a) Animal Production
Research, (b) Veterinary Product Research and Standards Development and (c)
Animal Product Development.

7. Center for Livestock Trade Promotion and Development - This Center shall be
primarily responsible for the promotion of the National Agenda for the development
and implementation of sustainable livestock business development, animal industry
strategic management, animal supply chain management, animal knowledge and
information network, participatory governance, animal market and post- production
development and animal market infrastructure and animal statistics and marketing
intelligence, animal marketing system programs and activities

The center shall have following divisions: (a) Livestock Business and Industry
Strategic Development (b) Market and Post-production Development (c) Socio-
Economic and Marketing Research.

Section 9. Regional Livestock and Veterinary Services Offices (RLVSOs) -
Regional Livestock and Veterinary Services Offices of the NLVSA shall be created at
the regional level to be headed by the Regional Director, who must possess a
minimum experience of five (5) years as a veterinarian, He shall be assisted by
Chiefs of Divisions necessary in the performance of regional operations

All existing DA regional staff performing veterinary services and functions are
hereby transferred to the RLVSO.

Section 10. Administrative Support Services -The NLVSA shall be assisted by an
Administrative Support Services which shall be headed by Director and Regional
Chiefs of Division, who must possess a minimum management experience of five (5)
years and three (3) years in any related field, respectively. It shall have the

14


following divisions or units, as maybe applicable, to wit: (a) Assets and Finance,
(b) Human Resource Development, (c) Property and Logistics Management (d)
Legal Support Services, (e) Monitoring & Evaluation, (f) Planning & Intemational
Desk, and (g) Information and Communication Technology Management

Chapter III

CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER, VETERINARY INSPECTORS AND
ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS

Section 11. Chief Veterinary Officer. - The Director General of the NLVSA shall be
the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of the country, He shall be primarily responsible in
the formulation and implementation of national policies, strategies, priorities and
action plans on animal health, animal welfare and animal production food safety, He
shall also represent the country in official international dialogue on animal health
matters.

The CVO shall coordinate and, as much as possible, establish linkages with
allied government agencies, the private sector and academe in the implementation
of plans and programs in animal disease prevention, control and eradication to
ensure prompt mobilization of all essential personnel and resources in the event of
animal disease emergencies

The CVO shall also endeavor to address current, recurring, new and
prospective national issues and concems on animal health, animal welfare, feeds
and animal food production safety and security, with regional and global impact
through the help of other allied government agencies and stakeholders.

Section 12. Veterinary Inspectors (VI) - The Secretary of Agriculture, upon
recommendation of the Director General of the NLVSA, may by instrument in writing,
appoint or deputize veterinarians as Veterinary Inspectors under this Act. The
appointment of the Regional Veterinary Inspectors shall be made by the Regional
Director with the concurrence of the Director General, The Director General shall
prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the National and Regional Veterinary
Inspectors.

The services of the Veterinary Inspectors shall be entitled to incentives
and overtime work when the interest of the service so requires and the services
performed outside of the office hours and other expenses shall be chargeable to the
parties served, at the rates to be prescribed by the Secretary upon the
recommendation of the Director General.

Section 13. Animal Health Technician - An Animal Health Technician is a person
who is authorized by the PRC to carry out certain designated tasks in a country and
delegated to them under the responsibility and direction of the veterinarian. The
tasks authorized for each category of veterinary para-professional shall be defined
by the PRC depending on qualifications and training, and according to need.

Section 14. Magna Carta for Public Health Workers - Veterinarians, Animal
Health Technicians and other veterinary personnel performing veterinary public

15


health related activities employed under the National Government Agencies (NGAs)
and LGUs are public health workers and shall be entitled to the provisions and
compensations stipulated under RA 7305 (Magna Carta for Public Health Workers).

Chapter IV
ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Section 15. National and Regional Advisory Committees for Animal Diseases
and Emergency. - The existing National and Regional Advisory Committees on
Animal Disease Control and Emergency (NAC-ADCE/RAC-ADCE), which were
created in the advent of emerging diseases are hereby renamed and institutionalized
in this Act as the National and Regional Advisory Committees on Animal Diseases
and Emergency (NAC-ADE/RAC-ADE) under the Office of the Secretary of
Agriculture,

The Chairperson of the NAC-ADE shall be a duly licensed veterinarian of
good standing in the veterinary profession, a practicing veterinarian for at least ten
(10) years. He shall be designated as such by the Secretary of Agriculture from the
recommendation of the regular members from the private sector. The manner in the
filling up of the members of the committee shall be prescribed and approved by the
Secretary of Agriculture upon recommendation of the Director General. The
composition of the committee shall be updated from time to time and as may be
needed by circumstances

Section 16. Duties and Functions. - The NAC-ADE and RAC-ADE shall submit
their recommendations directly to the Secretary of Agriculture and perform the
following duties and functions:

1. Recommend policies and measures on the following:

a. Risk analyses and import protocols, prevention, control, eradication and
monitoring of economically harmful animal diseases including zoonotic
diseases;

b. Procedures to be followed in times of emergencies, e.g., nationwide
epidemic of food animal and zoonotic diseases and during disasters, either
man-made or natural;

c. Verification of reports on emerging zoonotic animal diseases;

d. Support the CVO in sourcing funds from national and international funding
agencies.

2. The NAC-ADE shall coordinate the activities of the various Regional Advisory
Committee on Animal Diseases and Emergency (RAC-ADEs) which is the regional
counterpart and have similar function advising the Secretary of Agriculture and the
respective Regional Directors (RDs);

16


3. Create sub-committees to address special issues and concerns of the NLVSA and
other agencies.

4. Assist in the review of policies, programs, and projects for the development of the
National Veterinary Services.

5. Assist in the evaluation of the implementation, efficiency and effectiveness of the
programs and projects of the NLVSA.

Section 17. National Advisory Committee for the Welfare of Animals (NACWA)
- The CAW created under RA 8486 shall_ be renamed the NACWA which is a multi-
agency/multi sectoral committee which shall be chaired by a representative from any
of the private sector subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture. The Committee shall be responsible for the formulation of rules and
regulations for the strict implementation of the provisions of this Act and RA 8485

The Committee shall be composed of representatives from the following
agency/sector:

a. Department of Agriculture

b. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

¢, Department of Interior and Local Government

d. Department of Education

e. Provincial, City and Municipal Veterinarians’ League of the Philippines

f. Philippines Veterinary Medical Association

g. Non-Government Organizations

h. Peoples’ Organizations

i. Academe
Section 18. Animal Feed Services Advisory Committee (AFSAC) - The Animal
Feed Control Advisory Committee (AFCAC) created under Republic Act No 1556,
as amended by Presidential Decree No.7, which adopted into law Senate Bill No.
627, is hereby renamed Animal Feed Services Advisory Committee with eleven (11)
members, the composition of which shall be modified to add three (3) more members
as follows: one legal representative from the NLVSA, one representative from the
Legal Division of DA and one from the Philippine College of Veterinary Feed

Practitioners.

The AFSAC shall continue to exercise its functions in matters related to the
animal feed industry, except as provided in Section 66 of SB No. 627 hereof.

7


Section 19. Mandatory Review and Evaluation - The recommendations of the
NAC-ADE, NACWA, and AFSAC shall be subject to mandatory review and
evaluation by the Director General, before the same are submitted for final approval
by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Section 20. Other Advisory Committees - Other Advisory Committees may be
created to assist the NLVSA in the implementation of its various programs and
projects

Chapter V

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND LOCAL VETERINARY
OFFICERS

Section 21. LGU Assistance and Cooperation - Local Government Units (LGUs)
shall assist and closely cooperate with the NLVSA in the implementation of the
provisions of this Act. They shall extend any available manpower, security, material
and financial resources to any national animal disease prevention and control
measures, animal welfare and other national programs being undertaken by the
NLVSA within their respective jurisdictions.

Section 22. Creation of Municipal Veterinary Positions - The position of
municipal veterinarian shall be mandatory in all first class municipalities and optional
in other municipalities.

Section 23. Responsibilities of Provincial, City and Municipal Veterinarians
- In addition to the duties of a veterinary officer as provided in Section 489 of
Republic Act No. 7160, also known as the "Local Government Code of 1991”, it
shall be the duty of veterinary officers, as the case maybe, to:

|. Ensure the implementation of policies, rules and regulations issued by NLVSA and
other coordinating agencies in accordance with the provisions of this Act and its
related laws, rules and regulations towards the enforcement of animal disease
prevention, control measures and animal welfare regulations.

2. Extend assistance, as may be necessary, to the NLVSA in the implementation or
enforcement of animal disease prevention and control measures, and animal welfare
within their area of responsibility.

3. Comply with all reportorial and documentary requirements needed by the NLVSA
in the implementation of this Act.

Section 24. Issuance of Mayor's Permit - No LGU shall issue any Mayor's Permit
to operate any farm, clinic, animal facility, kennel or any other veterinary
establishment unless the owner/operator has secured clearance from the provincial,
city or municipal veterinarian attesting to the fact that the establishment has
complied with all the requirements prescribed under NLVSA rules and regulations.

18


Chapter VI

ROLE OF ALLIED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND NON-27 GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES

Section 25. Allied Government Agencies - Allied government agencies that are
performing veterinary services and related functions shall continue to do so. The DG.
of the NLVSA as the national competent authority shall call upon other allied
government agencies and academe in the implementation of this Act

Section 26. Other Agencies and Sectors - The NLVSA shall establish agreements
with other government sectors, private sectors, academe and other relevant
agencies and stakeholders in the implementation of plans and programs in animal
disease prevention, control, eradication and to ensure prompt mobilization of all
essential personnel and resources in the event of animal disease emergencies.

Section 27. Responsibilities - All government agencies and private entities
performing veterinary and related functions shall cooperate fully with the Director
General as CVO and comply with the set policies and technical standards for
veterinary services.

Chapter VII

ANIMAL HEALTH, WELFARE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION FOOD.
SAFETY

Section 28. Duty to Report Notifiable Diseases - All animal and livestock
producers, owners, operators, farm managers, farm veterinarians, animal facility
operators and farm consultants who have in their possession or care, animals or
animal products infected or suspected to be infected, or have reasonable grounds to
believe that the animal or animal product is infected with a Notifiable Disease are
duty bound to report to the concerned Local Government Unit -Veterinary Office or to
the NLVSA or to the RL VSO immediately within 24 hours by the quickest means
possible

These notifiable diseases are, but not limited to, Foot and Mouth Disease
(FMD), Classical Swine Fever (CSF, Hog Cholera), Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (HPAI), Newcastle Disease (ND) or Avian Pest, Rabies, Anthrax and
Hemorrhagic Septicemia. The NLVSA shall provide a complete list of Notifiable
Diseases and their reporting guidelines which shall be updated from time to time.

Section 29. Proper Disposal of Dead Animals and Potentially infective
Materials - Dead animals, manure, and other potentially infective materials from
regular operations of farms, clinics, animal facilities shall be disposed in accordance
with existing laws, rules and regulations and guidelines set by NLVSA.

Section 30. Animal Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology - All agencies
performing veterinary services shall be responsible in monitoring animal disease

19


situation by conducting regular surveillance of the animal and livestock population in
their respective jurisdiction and are required to report periodically to the NLVSA.

Section 31. National Registry, Animal Identification and Traceability of
Livestock - A national registry of animal facilities and establishments shall be
established by the NLVSA. An animal identification system shall also be developed
to be able to trace the origin of each animal or groups of animals. The NLVSA in
consultation with livestock stakeholders shall also establish farm classification
system in accordance with accepted standard and parameters

Section 32. Mandatory Vaccination - To prevent, control, and eradicate emerging
or re-emerging, communicable and exotic diseases, all animals shall have to be
vaccinated in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

Section 33. Emergency Preparedness - The NLVSA shall draft the National
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Plans in response to animal health, welfare
and animal production food safety. Measures shall also be developed to mitigate the
effect of climate change in the livestock industry.

Section 34. Animal Welfare Practices - All animal producers, owners, operators,
farm managers, farm veterinarians, animal facility operators and farm consultants
who have in their possession or care, animals shall adopt and observe animal
welfare regulations and practices.

Section 35. Animal Health, Welfare and Animal Production Food Safety
Information System - The NLVSA shall develop a more effective animal health
information system involving agencies and other stakeholders on animal health,
welfare and animal production food safety including establishment of an effective
information network.

Section 36. Risk Analysis - Principles of risk analysis shall be incorporated in all
policy formulation and standard setting

Section 37. Veterinary Public Health -The NLVSA shall take the lead role in the
formulation and implementation of veterinary public health programs and activities
particularly in the prevention and control of zoonoses and food safety.

Section 38. Mandatory Engagement of the Professional Services of a
Veterinarian - All animal establishments such as but not limited to farms, zoos,
kennels, apiaries, aviaries, livestock markets, animal race tracks and cockpits shall
engage the professional services of a veterinarian based on minimum number of
animals and other parameters to be prescribed by the NLVSA, in consultation with
concerned sectors.

Section 39. Farm Inspection and Certification - The NLVSA in consultation with

stakeholders shall establish standards and parameters on farm inspection and
certification.

20


Chapter VIII
COMPENSATION TO SUPPORT DISEASE ERADICATION

Section 40. Creation of a Disease Compensation and Eradication Trust Fund -
A Disease Compensation and Eradication Trust Fund shall be provided for in the
General Appropriations Act annually and be held by the Authority, It shall not be
reduced and shall not revert to the General Fund even if the same is not used for a
current fiscal year. An initial amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P
500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to start the seed fund for the Disease
Compensation and Eradication Trust Fund.

Section 41. Fund Utilization -The Fund shall be applied for the payment of
compensation to the owner of animals. It shall also be utilized for the payment of
expenses directly connected with controlling, eradicating or preventing, the spread of
any animal disease that is notifiable or emerging or re-emerging, exotic and zoonotic
including administrative expenses.

Section 42. Coverage of Compensation - Only those animals that were stamped
out pursuant to the Depopulation Order issued by the Director General, as
recommended by NAC-ADE and as approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, to
prevent further spread of the disease should be indemnified. Dead animals due
to notifiable and emerging or re-emerging, exotic and zoonotic diseases are not
compensable

Section 43. Compensable Amount -The amount of compensation payable shall not
be more than Sixty Percent (60%) of the market value of the identified animals that
are ordered depopulated on account of a disease.

Section 44. Issuance of Compensation Guidelines - Guidelines for the payment
of compensation shall be prescribed by the NLVSA in consultation with stakeholders.

Chapter IX
QUARANTINE MEASURES.

Section 45. Border Post Entry - The importation of animals, animal products,
animal by-products, animal feeds and feed ingredients, veterinary drugs, biologicals,
cosmetics and devices, and other potential vectors of animal diseases shall be
subjected to close veterinary inspection, quarantine and test as may be deemed
appropriate and necessary, and examination of required document such as, but not
limited to, (1) an Authority to Import duly issued by the NLVSA and secured prior to
the importation, and (2) a Veterinary Health Certificate and/or Sanitary Phytosanitary
(SPS) Clearance, or its equivalent, and such other documents as may be required
by the NLVSA to be obtained from the proper authorities of the country of origin.

24


Section 46. Release from Customs Zone - The Bureau of Customs or its
representative shall not allow the release of any article of importation that is subject
to veterinary inspection, quarantine and examination procedures unless the NLVSA
or its duly authorized representative has issued a Veterinary Quarantine
Compliance Certificate or Lifting of Quarantine for the particular shipment, as the
case may be.

Section 47. Prohibited Importation - No importation of animals, animal products,
animal by-products, animal effects and other related products such as but not limited
to fodder crops and forage shall be allowed from countries known or declared to be
infected with a dangerous communicable animal disease or diseases which has
been banned to export the said products to the Philippines and where there is a
possible danger of spreading or introducing such disease or diseases into the
Philippines by the importation of such item. Alll in-transit shipments at the time of the
occurrence of the foreign disease or contagion shall be subjected to strict quarantine
and laboratory testing, or automatically denied entry and/or confiscation and
disposal, and as the NLVSA may determine, in the overriding interests of protecting
the animal and public health of the country.

Section 48, Wildlife and Endangered Species - In accordance with Section of
Article 14 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
on effect on domestic legislation and international conventions, all kinds of wildlife
that are subject to veterinary quarantine regulations shall be under NLVSA
jurisdiction.

Section 49. Exportation Clearance or Certificate - No animals, animal products,
animal by-products animal effects, animal feeds, veterinary drugs/products and
biologics shall be allowed to be exported and loaded on board ships and airplanes or
any vehicle unless it is accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate and/or
Commodity Clearance duly issued by the NLVSA and it has complied with the
quarantine requirements of the country of destination.

Section 50. Transhipment - In the transhipment of live animals, animal products,
animal by-products, animal effects, animal feeds, and veterinary products, all
importer/shippers shall comply with the health and welfare rules and regulations
prescribed by the NLVSA

Section 51. Domestic Shipping - All inland and inter-island shipments of animals,
animal products, animal by-products, animal effects, veterinary drugs and biologics
from one province or region to another shall be accompanied by a Veterinary
Health Certificate or Shipping Permit duly issued by the Director General or his duly-
authorized representatives.

Section 52. Illegal or Unauthorized Shipments - Shipments of animals, animal
products, by-products, veterinary drugs, biologics and feeds which are found to be
in violation of this Act or rules and regulations issued thereunder, or orders of the
Director General or his veterinary quarantine officers shall be confiscated and
disposed of in a manner prescribed by the Director General.

22


Section 53. Registration of Commercial Livestock Traders and Shippers — All
commercial livestock trader and shippers or handlers who are engaged in the inter-
provincial and regional shipmentttransportation of livestock shall register with the
RLVSO in order to maintain disease free areas and achieve safe, clean and orderly
handling of commodities through the various stages of marketing or distribution
channels.

Section 54, Prescribing Standard Operating Procedures for Veterinary
Quarantine Services in all Seaports and Airports - The NLVSA shall establish a
standard operating procedure for the Veterinary Quarantine Services at the
different seaports and airports in the country

Section 55. Rendering of Underguarding and Overtime Services - Veterinary
Quarantine Officers/Inspectors and other duly designated personnel are authorized
to render underguarding and overtime work when the interest of the service so
requires and the services performed outside office hours and other expenses shall
be chargeable to the party or parties served at the rates to be prescribed by the
Director General and approved by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Section 56. Declaration of Infected Areas, Premises or Zones - If the Director
General has reasonable grounds to believe that any premises, place or area is
infected with a Notifiable Disease, he may, by a written order, declare an area to be
infected. In case of an outbreak of communicable animal and zoonotic diseases, the
Director General has the power to declare the area, region, province or specific farm
or establishment under quarantine.

Section 57. Movement in Infected Areas - Movement of animals, animal products,
animal by-products, animal effects, veterinary drugs, biologics, and transport
vehicles reasonably suspected to be exposed or contaminated with a Notifiable
Disease shall be restricted in areas, region, province or specific farm or
establishment that are declared infected, unless authorized by the Director General
or his duly-authorized representative. In the event of a disease outbreak, zones shall
be established to restrict the movement of animals between zones. Notices declaring
the areas under quarantine shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the Municipal
and/or Barangay Hall, as the case may be

Section 58. Lifting of Order of Quarantine - The Director General shalll issue an
order lifting the quarantine where the areas, region, province or specific farm or
establishment declared to be infected are eventually determined to be safe and
out of danger from such infection. This shall authorize the resumption of shipments
within the affected places.

Section 59. Duty of Owner or Holder -A person who owns or is in charge of, or has
in his or her possession or control, an animal or animal product which the person
has reasonable grounds to suspect is infected with a notifiable disease must as far
as practicable, keep that animal or animal product separate from non-infected
animals or animal products.

Section 60. Controlled Shipments - It shall be unlawful for any person to possess,
administer or use infectious disease agents, for scientific, laboratory or other

23


purposes, unless duly authorized by a special permit by the Director General to
handle hazardous materials.

Section 61. Depopulation Order - The Director General or his duly authorized
representative may, by a written Depopulation Order require the stamping out of
healthy animals in declared infected areas, premises or zones to prevent further
spread of the disease.

Section 62. Destruction Order -The Director General or his duly authorized
representative may, by a written Destruction Order require the proper disposal of
(1) any animal, animal product, fodder which is infected, or reasonably suspected
to be infected with a Notifiable Disease; (2) confiscated expired, banned,
unregistered, counterfeit, veterinary biologics, drugs and products

Section 63. Disinfection Order - The Director General or his duly authorized
representative may, by a written Disinfection Order, likewise, require the owner or
person in charge or in apparent control of an area which is infected, or reasonably
suspected to be infected with a Notifiable Disease, to clean and disinfect said area
including vehicles or any material found therein.

Section 64. Disease-Free Areas - Declaration of any area as disease-free shall be
made by the NLVSA Director General upon the recommendation of concerned
animal health authorities of said office. The declaration of an area as disease-free
shall be subject to the guidelines set by concerned NLVSA.

Section 65. Expenses of Quarantine and Authority to Auction - The owner,
consignee or possessor of the animals placed under quarantine shall reimburse the
NLVSA for the expenses incurred during the quarantine period of such animals. In
case of his failure to do so after a Lifting Order of Quarantine has been issued and
duly served upon him, the NLVSA shall have the right to auction off his animals to
recover such expenses made.

Chapter X
QUARANTINE FACILITIES

Section 66. Establishment of Veterinary Quarantine Stations - The NLVSA shall
establish and maintain quarantine stations for the detention, treatment and
observation of domestic animals in such places as may be approved from time to
time by the Secretary of Agriculture, and to place all animals arriving from foreign
and domestic ports or interior places in quarantine for such time as he may deem
necessary to prevent the introduction and spread of dangerous communicable
animal diseases.

Section 67. National Veterinary Quarantine Station - The pasture reserve known
as the Government Cattle Breeding/Grazing Reserve and Experimental Station
at Busuanga and Coron, Palawan pursuant to Proclamation No. 1387, dated
February 13, 1975 and Presidential Decree No. 1593 is hereby reclassified as
alienable and disposable lands of the public domain and hereby reserved for the
National Veterinary Quarantine Station and Busuanga Stock Farm of the NLVSA

24


Chapter XI
SPS FACILITATION & HARMONIZATION

Section 68. International Harmonization - The NLVSA shall study and review
national standards on animal health, animal welfare and farm feed and food safety,
participate in international for a relative to formulation and adoption of international
standards and harmonize our national standards with relevant international
standards.

Section 69. Certification Systems - The NLVSA shall in consultation with
stakeholders develop certification systems including third party certifications on
animal health, animal welfare, farm feed and food safety products, services and
production in accordance with national and international standards.

Section 70, Equivalence and Other Types of Sanitary Agreements - The NLVSA
in consultation with other agencies and stakeholders shall develop, negotiate and
implement appropriate level of protection (ALOP) in relation to human and animal life
and health in its territory, based on the principle of equivalence and other types of
sanitary and trade agreements with trading partners such as but not limited to, the
application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures of the World Trade
Organization (WTO).

Section 70. Transparency - The NLVSA shall have the responsibility to notify the
OIE and/or the WTO SPS Committee of the country's animal health, animal welfare
and animal production food safety sanitary and phytosanitary status and other
relevant matters and inform stakeholders on the changes in the regulations and
decisions.

Section 72. Zoning - The NLVSA shall have the authority to apply for recognition to
the OIE the disease free zones and shall implement relevant measures and
practices to establish and maintain these disease-free zones as based on physical
boundaries.

Section 73. Compartmentalization - The NLVSA shall establish and maintain
disease-free areas within its territory in accordance with OIE recommendations.

Chapter XII
VETERINARY LABORATORIES.

Section 74. Certification/Accreditation - The NLVSA shall be responsible for
controlling both government and non-government veterinary diagnostic laboratories
in the field through the Center for Animal Disease Diagnosis. Only duly certified
laboratory facilities are allowed to do diagnostic services. The NLVSA shall
develop guidelines and standards in the certification/accreditation of various
veterinary laboratory facilities and establish quality systems towards international
certification.

25


Section 75. Biosafety and Biosecurity - Standards and guidelines for laboratory
biosafety and biosecurity shall be established and practiced by veterinary and feed
analysis laboratories per national and international recommendations.

Section 76. Proficiency Testing - A system of quality assurance shall be developed
and implemented to ensure continuing proficiency and competency of
certified/accredited diagnostic and assay laboratories,

Chapter XIII
REGULATIONS ON ANIMAL FEEDS AND VETERINARY PRODUCTS

Section 77. Implementing Rules and Regulations - In consonance with RA 1556,
as amended by PD No.7, RA 1071, and Act 3101, the NLVSA shall provide the
necessary rules and regulations on the manufacture, production, handling, storage,
sale and use of veterinary biological products, drugs and products, devices, mixed
feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements, feed additives, concentrates, base
feeds, base mixes, specialty feeds, special feed nutrient preparations, other feed
products and their establishments which have to be followed and complied with for
registration.

Section 78. Registration and Licensing - Each class, type, brand or trademark
of veterinary biological products, drugs, devices, cosmetics, mixed feeds, feed
ingredients, feed supplements, feed additives, concentrates, base feeds, base
mixes, specialty feeds, special feed nutrient preparations, and other feed products,
inclusive of the establishments shall be registered individually and shall be
assigned separate registration numbers. A permanent Book of Records on the
registration number, codes assigned on each product and indicated therein the
class, type, brand or trade mark, technical description and manufacturer/importer of
each product registered shall be kept.

Section 79. Importation of Animal Feeds, Veterinary Biologics, Drugs and
Related Products - Importation of Animal Feeds, Veterinary Biologics, Drugs and
Related Products without valid SPS and permits shall not be allowed entry. All in-
transit shipments at the time of the occurrence of the foreign disease or contagion
shall be subjected to strict quarantine and laboratory testing, or automatically denied
entry and/or confiscation and disposal, as the NLVSA may determine, in the
overriding interests of protecting the animal and public health of the country.

Section 80. Warning and Temporary Revocation and Su~pension of License or
Permit - Failure of any grantee of license or permit to comply with any of the
requirements provided in this Act or its implementing rules and regulations without
justifiable or valid reason, as motu propio determined by the Director General,
shall be sufficient ground for the initial issuance of warning, or immediate temporary
suspension or revocation of such license or permit for not more than sixty (60) days,
subject to the institution of formal proceedings within the said period.

26


Chapter XIV
ANIMAL AND LIVESTOCK TRADE PROMOTION

Section 81. Animal Industry Market Profiles - The NLVSA shall maintain a
database of national, regional and local animal industry market profile to support. in
the business development of animal industries and allied industries and shall
integrate marketing information and develop a knowledge management system of
the different commodities/industries from national to local level.

Section 82. Country Animal Products Export Strategies - The NLVSA shall
formulate country animal products export strategies, conduct research and
benchmark export/import protocols, prepare industry analysis and reports of
potential export market of the different animal food commodities, and spearhead in
the promotion of exportable products and by-products to improve the performance
of local agribusiness establishments producing these tradable products and by-
products.

Section 83. Contracting and Subcontracting Arrangement - The NLVSA shall
facilitate and coordinate any contracting and subcontracting arrangement
between local and foreign investors, as necessary to boost and improve the animal,
animal products and by-products export and local trading performance of the animal
industry stakeholders,

Section 84, Export Incentives Programs -The NLVSA shall formulate and
implement the guidelines and policies for the registration and certification of bonafide
and eligible exporters and facilitate and coordinate applicants and stakeholders that
would like to avail the different export incentives programs of the NLVSA,
Department of Agriculture and other government agencies that are also providing
related services to stimulate international marketing of Philippine-made products.

Section 85. Livestock Business and Industry Strategic Development - The
NLVSA shall formulate and regularly update short, medium and long-term livestock
business and industry strategic development plan which will serve as guide and
roadmap for the development of the different industries in the livestock sector cut
across the agribusiness supply chain

Section 86, Livestock Marketing Information System - The NLVSA shall
strengthen the livestock marketing information system through the development
of database systems, printed and online publications of marketing information
which could be readily accessible to the input suppliers, producers, marketers,
processors, industry associations, government and other stakeholders.

Section 87. Socio-economic and Marketing Research - The NLVSA shall
strengthen the utilization of social-economic and marketing research to maximize
the benefit of the different methodologies and strategies of these interdisciplinary
researches for the sustained growth and development and the trade promotion of the
country's animal industry's products and services, considering the social and
economic factors that contributes to the increase in income, employment generation,

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improvement of standard of living and quality of life of livestock farmers, traders,
processors, consumers, and in incorporating the socio-economic impact
assessment, as an integral part of any project, program and policy implementation
by the NLVSA and DA on the different industries/commodities.

Section 88. Marketing Information Governance - The NLVSA shall support the
development of marketing information governance to achieve a more transparent,
effective exchange and higher coverage of marketing information dissemination in a
national scale, to boost the competitive advantage, strategic and supply chain
management of local livestock farmers, traders, processors and other relevant
stakeholders, considering the different bilateral and multilateral trade agreements in
which the country is already a part of and continually complying with national
commitments to efficiently compete in the local and in the international market.

Chapter XV
UTILIZATION OF GOVERNMENT FARMS.

Section 89. Private Sector Participation - The NLVSA shall maximize the
economic potential of its various animal stock and research farms for the benefit of
the animal industry through joint government and private sector initiative and
participation in the utilization and development thereof.

Section 90, Use of Government Lands for Quasi-Public Purposes - All lands of
the government which have been reserved, donated, leased or acquired for animal
stock farms or breeding purposes are hereby reclassified or allowed for quasi-public
purposes. The Secretary of Agriculture upon the recommendation of the NLVSA in
coordination with LGUS shall have the authority to enter into joint venture
agreements over such lands with private individuals, corporations and cooperatives
with the end in view of maximizing their full potential for livestock production
purposes, processing and marketing in achieving the accelerated development of
the livestock industry in accordance with the currently approved zoning ordinance.

Chapter XVI
PROHIBITIONS AND PENAL TIES

Section 91. Failure to Report Notifiable Diseases - All animal producers, owners,
operators, farm managers, farm veterinarians, and farm consultants who fail to report
notifiable diseases to the LGU Veterinary Office or to the NLVSA or to the RLVSO
immediately within 24 hours by the quickest means possible shall be fined for the
first offense, the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) and for
succeeding offenses, imprisonment of Ten (10) days.

Section 92. Disobedience, Evasion, Obstructing and Hindering the Director
General and his Representatives in the Performance of their Duties -The farm
or establishment owner, transport operator, animal facility operator or any person
acting on his behalf who disobeys, evades, obstructs or hinders the NLVSA Director
General, or any of his enforcement officers or deputized officers to perform his duty
shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of Twenty Thousand Pesos

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(P20,000.00). A repetition of the same offense shall be punished by imprisonment
of Six (6) Months, and cancellation of the registration, permit or license of such
person, farm or establishment owner, transport operator whichever is applicable.

Section 93, False Statements - Any person who knowingly makes false declaration
or misleading statements in his application for license, certificate of product
registration or permit; claim or use of recycled or counterfeit licenses, certificate of
product registrations, permits shall upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of Fifty
Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) and imprisonment of Six (6) months.

Section 94. Failure to Register Vessels, Vehicles and Equipment -Failure of the
owner to register vessels, vehicles, and equipment related to transport of animals,
animal products and by-products, animal feeds and feedstuffs, veterinary drugs,
biologics, devices and other products shall upon conviction be penalized by a fine
of Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) and/or imprisonment of Sixty (60) days.

Section 95. Failure to Observe NLVSA Procedures - Any person or
establishment operator which (a) during the course of regular operation fails to
observe NLVSA approved procedures, or (b) during seizure, detention or quarantine
fails to seek clearance from NLVSA on the handling, disposal, or destruction and
removal of live or dead animals, animal products, animal by-products, animal effects,
veterinary biological products, drugs and devices, animal feeds and feed ingredients,
shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of Fifty Thousand pesos (P50,000.00)
and imprisonment of Thirty (30) Days

Section 96. Operating Without a License -Establishment operators/owners found
without a valid License to Operate from NLVSA or unlawfully using the registration
number of another feed, veterinary biologics, drugs and products establishments
shall, upon conviction be penalized by a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P100,000.00) and imprisonment of Thirty (30) Days

Section 97. Failure to Display Registration Certificate - Establishment operators
found not displaying the Registration Certificate or displaying fake or expired
certificates in the premises of the establishments shall, upon conviction, be
penalized by a fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) and closure of said
establishments for second offense

Section 98. Dealing with Banned, Substandard, Tampered, Adulterated and
Damaged Veterinary Biologics, Drugs and Other Products -Establishment
operators engaged in the manufacture, trade, importation, distribution, use or sale
of banned, substandard, tampered, adulterated, deficient, unlabeled or mislabeled,
unbranded or misbranded, expired, repacked, unregistered or damaged through
improper handling of veterinary biologics, drugs and products, devices, mixed feeds,
feed ingredients, feed supplements, feed additives, premixes, base feeds, base
mixes, concentrates, any form shall, upon conviction be penalized by a fine of One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) and imprisonment of Thirty (30) Days.

Section 99, Tampering, Altering, Mutilating, Destroying, Obliterating or
Removing Labelling Material Packages and Tags or Labels - Any person or
establishment operator found guilty of tampering, altering, mutilating, destroying,

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obliterating or removing the whole or any part of the labelling material packages and
tags or labels of veterinary biological products, drugs and devices, mixed feeds, feed
ingredients, feed supplements, feed additives, base feeds, base mixes,
concentrates, specialty feeds, special feed nutrient preparations and other feed
products, in any form, shall be fined One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos
(P150,000.00) and punished with imprisonment of Sixty( 60) Days.

Section 100. Selling Unlawful Veterinary or Human Drugs -Any person/s using or
owner/s of establishments selling unlawful veterinary or human drugs for animals
raised for human consumption shall upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of
Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P25,000.00).

Section 101. Refusal to Vaccinate Animals During Outbeaks of Notifiable and
Priority Diseases -Refusal of an owner or caretaker to have his animals vaccinated
during outbreaks of notifiable and priority diseases, emerging or re-emerging
diseases and exotic diseases shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of
Ten Thousand Pesos (P 10,000.00) and/or imprisonment of Ten (10) Days.

Section 102. Other Penalties - Any person, officers of corporation, association,
organization or establishment found to be in violation of any of the provisions of this
Act, or rules and regulations issued thereafter that are not covered by the foregoing
provisions shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of Fifty Thousand
(P50,000.00) Pesos but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P100,000.00) and/or imprisonment of Six (6) Months to One (1) Year, at the
discretion of the court.

Section 103. Failure to Comply with Animal Health and Welfare Regulations
and Rules -Failure or refusal of any person, owner or caretaker, or handler,
operators, officers of corporation, association, organization or establishments to
comply with animal health and welfare regulations and standards as provided herein
or by the rules hereinafter set by the NLVSA and the local government units shall,
upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand
Pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos
(P150,000.00) and/or imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

Section 104. Exceptions under Certain Conditions - Nothing in this Chapter shall
be construed as requiring the Director General to certify for prosecution any first
violation of this Act whenever he believes that sufficient compliance and public
interest will be adequately served by a suitable written notice of violation and
warning

Section 105. Repeated Violation - Any person found to have committed a second

violation of the same offense shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of the said
offense.

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Chapter XVII
REVOCATION AND SUSPENSION PROCEEDINGS

Section 106. Institution of Complaint - The Director General or upon the instance
of any interested party may file a complaint before the hearing committee for the
formal suspension or revocation of the license or permit duly issued by the NLVSA
for violation of its terms and conditions, or any provisions of the rules and regulations
applicable thereto.

Section 107. Alternative Dispute Resolution - To achieve speedy and impartial
justice, as provided under RA 9285 known as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act
of 2004, the Director General shall issue the guidelines for the implementation of
the NLVSA Dispute Resolution.

Section 108. Adjudication - In the event that ADR shall not be resolved to a
favorable outcome for the complaint, it shall be raised for adjudication

Section 109. Hearing Committee -A hearing committee is hereby created to hear
any complaint filed under the preceding section. It shall be composed of at least
three (3) members. The Director General or in his unavailability, the deputy head of
the Center for Animal Products and Services Regulation shall act as Chairman with
the Division Chief of the commodity concemed and any other Division Chief of
NLVSA, as may be designated by the Director General, as members thereof.

Section 110. Powers and Functions - The Hearing Committee shall have the
following powers and functions:

1. To conduct formal investigation and hearings on the cases before it and make
recommendations for appropriate actions thereon for approval of the Director
General;

2. To administer oaths, issue summons and subpoenas requiring the attendance
and testimony of witnesses or the production of such books, papers, contracts,
records, statement of accounts, agreements, and other documents as may be
material to a just determination of the matter under investigation, and to testify in
any investigation or hearing conducted in pursuance to this Act.

3. To hold any person in contempt, directly or indirectly, and impose appropriate
penalties therefor ranging from One Thousand (P1,000.00) to Ten Thousand
(P10,000.00) Pesos.

4, To enjoin any or all acts involving or arising from any case pending before it
which, if not restrained forthwith, may cause grave or irreparable damage to any
party or the government;

5. The Committee shall use every and all reasonable means to ascertain the facts,

issues and applicable laws, rules and jurisprudence in each case speedily and
objectively and without regard to technicalities of law or procedure, all in the

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interest of due process. In any proceeding before the Committee, the parties may be
represented by a legal counsel

The Committee report when approved by the Director General shall be final
and binding on the parties after the lapse of fifteen (15) days from its date of receipt
by said parties. Subject to execution pending appeal, any aggrieved party may
appeal to the Secretary of Agriculture within the same period

Chapter XVIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 111. Protection of Sensitive Technical Information -The NLVSA shall
take such measures as may be necessary in order to protect trade, industrial and
policy information of industry stakeholders, and researchers, when disclosure of
such information will injure the competitiveness or viability of their business.

Section 112. Regulatory Fees and Retention of Income:

1, The NLVSA shall have the power to impose charges and fees for the services
rendered subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture such as farm
accreditations, licensing of establishments, products registration, laboratory tests,
Import Permit Fees, Export Permit/commodity clearance fees, Issuance of Landing
Permit Fees, Quarantine Inspection Fees, Feed and Veterinary Drugs and Product
Production/inspection Fees and the like which are payable to the NLVSA. Special
fee shall be collected from slaughtered animals based on a collection scheme
approved by the DA Secretary.

2. All income of the NLVSA shall be deposited in an authorized government
depository bank as a special regulatory fund. Any interest earned by such fund shall
form part of the retained income. Such fund shall be used primarily for but not
limited to the acquisition and expansion of office and laboratory space, human
resource development and expansion, purchase of laboratory equipment and motor
vehicles, the upgrading of its current facilities and equipment, and maintenance,
other operating expenses of the central and regional laboratories, and other
activities, services of the agency in the performance of its mandate and support
enforcement and monitoring activities.

3. The special regulatory fund shall be allowed to accept grants, donations and other
endowments from local and external sources in accordance with pertinent laws, rules
and regulations.

4. Any contribution, donation, bequest, subsidy or financial aid which may be made
to the NLVSA for the implementation of this Act shall constitute as an allowable
deduction from the taxable income of the donor/giver and shall be exempted from
donor's tax.

5. The retention, use and application of this fund shall not be delayed, amended,
altered, or modified, or affected in any way by an order or directive from any
executive office, but will be subject only to the general accounting rules and

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guidelines by the Commission on Audit (COA). The primary purpose of the fund as
herein stated shall prevail over any other purpose that may be pursued by NLVSA on
its own initiative or through an order or directive by any higher office. The NLVSA
shail submit annually to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Budget & Management a
report on how funds were utilized including its accomplishments

6. There shall also be established a legal fund out of the interest earned from the
retained income for use in case of legal actions against the officials, employees of
the NLVSA in the course of the exercise of their official functions and duties.

Section 113, Disease Compensation Fund - The disease compensation fund shall
be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Agriculture. For the
LGUs, the requirements shall be taken from their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA)

Section 114. Appointment of Veterinary Attaches - The Department of Agriculture
shall strengthen the international animal health, disease surveillance, and
information gathering capability by the appointment of veterinary attaches in
countries that are major livestock trading partners, In other countries, the NLVSA,
subject to. the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, and in coordination with other
government entities concerned, may require Filipino representatives abroad and
foreign- based personnel to assist in the collection of data on animal health, disease
surveillance, and other related information.

Section 115. Foreign and Local Grants and Aids - The NLVSA, in itself, or in
collaboration with other agencies shall receive grants and other funds for its research
activities and various programs

Section 116. Veterinary Education - The NLVSA in coordination with CHED and
PVMA shall regularly provide recommendations to make veterinary medical
curriculum responsive to the needs and imperatives of the animal industry.

Section 117. Mandatory Review. - The Congress of the Philippines shall undertake
a mandatory review of this Act at least once every five (5) years and as often as it
may deem necessary, to ensure that veterinary policies and guidelines remain
responsive to changing circumstances.

Chapter XIX
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 118. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of Agriculture,
upon recommendation of NLVSA, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for the full implementation of this Act, provided, however, that the
formulated rules and regulations shall be submitted to both Houses of Congress
for information and guidance. Such rules and regulations shall take effect upon
publication in 2 newspapers of general circulation and submission of three (3)
certified copies thereof to the National Administrative Register of the UP Law Center.

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Section 119, Creation and Reclassification of Positions - The NLVSA is hereby
authorized to create, upgrade, collapse or reclassify existing positions to veterinary
and related positions necessary to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

Chapter XX
FINAL PROVISIONS

Section 120. Appropriations - The appropriations for the NLVSA included in the
budget of the Department of Agriculture under the current General Appropriations
Act shall be used to effectively carry out the implementation of this Act. The
appropriation may be augmented by the income which the agency is authorized to
use under this Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 121. Repealing Clause - Any provision of law or regulation inconsistent
with this Act shall be considered, modified or repealed accordingly. However, the
provisions of Act No. 3639, Republic Act No. 8435, as amended, otherwise known as
the "Agricultural Fisheries Modernization Act", Executive Order No, 292, otherwise
known as the "Administrative Code of 1987", Republic Act No. 1556, as amended by
Presidential Decree No.7, otherwise known as the "Livestock and Poultry Feeds
Act", Act No, 3101, Republic Act No, 1071, Republic Act No. 1578, otherwise known
as the "Livestock Promotion Fund", Batas Pambansa Blg. 97, Republic Act No.
8485, otherwise known as the "Animal Welfare Act of 1998", Republic Act No. 9842,
otherwise known as the "Anti-Rables Act of 2007", and such other laws which are
not consistent with this Act shall remain valid and in full force and effect.

Section 122. Separability Clause -If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof, which are not
affected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 123. Effectivity -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

APPROVED,

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