S. No. 
703 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VELAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Agreement of the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures contained in 
the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization recognizes the important contribution 
of international standards, guidelines and recommendations for animal health and zoonoses 
developed under the auspices of the Ofjce International des Epizooties (OIE)). 
During the OIE 63rd General Session held on May 27, 1998, the International Committee 
adopted Resolution XI entitled: "Establishment of a list of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free 
countries where vaccination is not practiced." Aside from the resolution, the OIE publishes 
annually in its "bulletin" the list of OIE-recognized member-countries where vaccination is not 
practiced in accordance with Chapter 2.1.1. of the International Animal Health Code. 
On the local front, the Department of Agriculture's policy statement on Foot-and-Mouth 
Disease (FMD) recognizes that FMD is an OIE list-A disease and represents the greatest threat to 
the Philippine livestock industry, domestic food security and its export markets. This is so 
because FMD has the potential for rapid and extensive spread and an outbreak would jeopardize 
the domestic use and export of all cloven-hoofed animals and their products. In pursuance of its 
policy mandate to eradicate FMD in the shortest possible period while limiting the economic 
impact, there was created an FMD Task Force for which the appropriate funding has been 
established. 
The Department of Agriculture further recognizes that the global risk from FMD is 
changing as countries and trading blocs achieve national or regional freedom fi-om the disease. 
Thus, the Department of Agriculture emphasizes the need for the country to attain FMD-free 
status as early as possible in order for the Philippines to regain lost international markets as a 
result of previous outbreaks. 
Immediate passage of this Bill is recommended. 
MANUEL B. 
LLAR, JR. 
Y 


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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VELAR JR. 
AN ACT ALLOWING THE IMPORTATION OF LIVE ANIMALS, MEAT AND MEAT 
PRODUCTS 
ONLY 
FROM 
ZONES 
DECLARED 
BY 
THE 
OFFICE 
INTERNATIONAL DES EPIZOOTZES (OIE) AS “FMD (FOOT AND MOUTH 
DISEASE) FREE ZONES WHERE VACCINATION IS NOT PRACTICED” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. 
Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Foot and Mouth Disease Eradication 
Act of 2004.” 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - Recognizing that the livestock industry has the potential 
for engendering the development of the countryside and enhancing food security, and serving as 
an instrument for employment generation and economic growth, it is hereby declared the policy 
of the State to promote the eradication of foot and mouth disease through the prevention of the 
entry of additional FMD serotypes into the country. 
SEC. 3. 
Importation of Live Animals, Meat and Meat Products. - Only live animals, meat 
and meat products originating from zones declared by the OfJice International des Epizooties 
(OIE) in its periodically published bulletins as FMD-free zones where vaccination is not 
practiced, shall be allowed to be imported into the Philippines. 
SEC. 4. 
Implementing Rules. - The Secretary of Agriculture shall, upon the 
recommendation of the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the Executive 
Director of the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC), promulgate the rules and 
regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act, not later than one hundred 
twenty (120) days from the signing of this Bill into law. The said agencies shall ensure that the 


ports of exit are FMD-free before allowing the importation of live animals, meat and meat 
products into the country. 
SEC. 5. 
Penal Clause. - Any person who violates the provisions of this Act shall be 
punished with a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,OOO.OO) or 
imprisonment of six (6) months to six (6) years, or both, at the discretion of the court: Provided, 
That if the violator is a corporation, the president, the vice-president(s), secretary, treasurer and 
members of the board of directors shall be individually imposed the above penalties: Provided, 
further, That public officials who are instrumental in permitting the entry of such live animals, 
meat and meat products in violation of this Act shall be meted out the same penalties; and: 
Provided, PnaZZy, That the live animals, meat and meat products imported in violation of this Act 
shall be subject to confiscation and destroyed immediately in the appropriate manners to prevent 
the spread of foot and mouth disease. 
SEC. 6. 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 7. 
in the OfJiciaZ Gazette or in q newspaper of general circulation. 
Repealing Clause. - All Acts and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publications 
Approved,