FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
An estimated 2,000,000 dogs and cats are slaughtered and sold annually as part of the 
international fur trade. Internationally, dog and cat Cur is used in a wide variety of products, 
including fw coats and jackets. fur-trimmed garments, hats, gloves, decorative accessories, 
stuffed animals, and other toys. 
Dog and cat fur, whcn dyed, is not easily distinguishablc to persons who are not experts 
from other furs such as Cox, rabbit, coyote, wolf, and mink. Dog and cat fur is generally less 
expensive than other types of fur and may be used as a substitute for more expensive types of 
furs. Foreign fur producers use dogs and cals bred for their fur, and also use strays and stolen 
pets. 'The methods of housing, transporting, and slaughtcring dogs and cats for fur production 
are generally unregulated and inhumane. The purposes ofthis bill are: 
(I) to prohibit the sale, manufacture, offer for sale, transportation, and distribution in the 
Philippines of dog and cat fur products; 
(2) to require accurate labeling of fur species so that consumers in the Philippines can 
make informed choices; and 
(3) to prohibit the trade in, both imports and exports of, dog and cat fur products, to 
ensure that the Philippine market does not encourage the slaughter of dogs or cats for their fur, 
and to ensure that the purposes of this Act are not undermined.' 
' This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROI-IIHIT THE IMPOR’I’ATION OF PRODUCTS MADE WITH DOG OR CAT FIJR, TO 
PROHIBIT THE SALE, MANUFACTURE, OFFER FOR SALE, TRANSPORTATION, AND 
DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCTS MADE WITH DOG OR CAT FUR IN THE PHILIPPINES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Dog and Cat Protection Act 
of2007”’. 
SECTION 2. Definition of Term. - The following terms as used in this Act shall be 
defined as follows: 
(1) “Dog fur” refers to the pelt or skin of any animal of the species canis lamiliaris. 
(2) “Cat fur” refers to the pelt or skin of any animal of the specics felis catus. 
(3) “Commerce” refers to any transportation for sale, trade, or use on the Philippine 
territory, and any place outside thereof. 
(4) “Dog or Cat Fur Product” refers to any item of merchandise which consists, or is 
composed in whole or in part, of any dog fur, cat fur, or both. 
(5) “Person” includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization. 
busiiicss trust, government entity, or other entity. 
(6) “Interested Party” refers to any person having a contractual, financial, humane, or 
othcr interest. 
(7) “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Trade and Industry. 
(8) “Duly Authorizcd Officer” rerers to any Customs officer, any agent of the National 
Bureau of Investigation, or any agent or other person authorized by law or designated by the 
Secretary to cnforce the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 3. Prohibitions. - 
(a) PKOIIIDI1'ION ON MANUFAC'I'URE, SALIC, ANI> OfI1F:R AC'I'IVII'IES - No 
person in the Philippines or subject to the jurisdiction of the Philippines may introduce into 
commerce, manufacture for introduction into commerce, sell, trade, or advcrtisc in commerce, 
offer to sell, or transport or distribute in commerce, any dog or cat fur product. 
(b) IMPORTS AND IiXPORTS- No dog or cat fur product may he imported into, or 
exported fiom, the Philippines. 
SECTION 4. Labeling. - This Act shall not apply to articles exempt by reason of the 
relatively small quantity or value of the fur or used fur contained therein. 
SECTION 5. Enforcement. - 
(a) IN GENI3RAL - The Secretary, either independently or in cooperation with local 
government units, aid interested parties, is authorized to carry out operations and measures to 
eradicate and prevent the activities prohibited by Section 3. 
(b) INSPECTIONS - A duly authorized officer may, upon his own initiative or upon the 
requcst of any intcrestcd party, detain for inspection and inspcct 'any product, package, crate, or 
other conlainer, including its contents, and all accompanying documents to determine 
compliance with this Act. 
(c) SEIZlJRES AND ARRESTS - If a duly authorized officer lids reasonable cause to 
believe that there has bccn a violation of this Act or any regulation issued under this Act, such 
officer may search and seize, with or without a warrant, the item suspected of being the subject 
of the violation, and may arrest the owner of the item. An item so seized shall be held by any 
person authorized by the Secretary pending disposition of civil or criminal proceedings. 
(d) I3UKDEN OF PROOF - The burden of proof shall lie with the owner to establish that 
the item seized is not a dog or cat fur product subject to forfeiture and civil penalty under Section 
7. 
(e) ACTION BY NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION - Upon presentation by 
a duly autliorizcd officer or any intcrcsted party of credible cvidcnec that a violation of this Act 
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or any regulation issued under this Act has occurred, the National Bureart of Investigation with 
jurisdiction shall investigate the matter and shall take appropriate action under this Act. 
Q CITIZEN SIJITS - Any person may conimence a civil suit to compel the Secretary to 
implcmcnt and cnforcc this Act, or to enjoin any person from taking action in violation of any 
provision OT this Act or any regulation issued under this Act. 
(g) KBWARII - 'I'he Secretary may pay a reward to any person who furnishes 
information which leads to an arrest, criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or Forfeiture 
of property for any violation of this Act or my regulation issued under this Act. 
(h) REGIJLATIONS- 
(1) IN GRNERAL - The Secretary shall issue final regulations, after notice and 
opportunity for public comment, lo implement this Act within 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(2) FEES - The Secretary may charge reasonable fees for expenses to the 
Government connected with permits or certificates authorized by this Act, including 
expenses for-- 
(A) processing applications; 
(B) reasonable inspections; and 
(C) the transfer, handling, or storage of evidentiary items seized and forfeited 
under this Act. 
All fces collected pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the National Treasury 
in an account specilically designated For enforcement of this Act and available only for that 
purpose. 
SECTION 6. Penalties. - 
(a) CIVIL PENALTY -- Any person who violates any provision of this Act or any 
regulation issued under this Act may be assessed a civil penalty of no1 more than P20,OOO For 
each violttion. 
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(b) CRIMINAL PENALTY - Any person who knowingly violates any provision of this 
Act or any regulation issued under this Act shall be subject to imprisonment of 1 year hut not 
more than 3 years. 
(c) I.ORFIIJ'L'UKE - Any dog or cat fur product that is the subject of a violation of this 
Act or any regulation issued under this Act shall be subject lo seizure and Corfeiture lo the same 
extent as any merchandise imported in violation of thc customs laws. 
(d) INJUNCTION - Any person who violates any provision of this Act or any regulation 
issucd under this Act may bc enjoined from further sales of any fir products. 
(e) APPLICABILITY - The penalties in this section apply to violations occurring on or 
after thc date of enactment of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
fldpl616107 
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