Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRE:
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 2607

Introduced by Representative Mark Llandro L. Mendoza

AN ACT
HE ANIMAL INDUSTRY
RVICES IN THE PHILIPPINES,

STRENGTHENING
AND VETERINARY

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

The challenges in food animal production and health during the last decade had been enormous,
The presence of new and emerging animal diseases, especially those that are transmissible to
humans, demands of globalization, effects of climate change, dependence on agricultural
imports, burgeoning population and pervasive rural poverty have all impeded the full
development of the animal industry, thereby posing real threats to our nation’s food security
The agricultural sector contributed 18% to the National Gross Domestic Produc: (NGDP) of
Which 26% to 28% or about P340 billion was contributed by the livestock and poult),; sub-sector
under the auspices of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). ‘The BAI, established by law in
1930 as a line bureau was able to carry out its mandate of increasing food animal production and
maintaining the health of food animal. However, in 1987, its regional line functions were
decentralized pursuant to Executive Order No. 292 (Admi ive Code of 1987), When the
Local Government Law was enacted and implemented in 1991, most of the veterinary field
services were devolved to the local government units (LGUs). With regard to its domestic
activities, BAI has been relegated to a staff bureau without control over the regional and local
veterinary services and animal production as well as animal welfare. This inadequacy
contributed to the inability of the BAI to immediately and effectively institute measures in the
prevention, control and eradication of harmful/zoonotic animal diseases on a national scale and
international scale such as the prevention of entry of exot’c animal diseases, control and
eradication of domestic animal and zoonotic diseases (e.g., Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
or Bird Flu, Mad Cow, Rabies, Leptospirosis, Ebola Reston Virus in pigs). Likewise, this has
also affected the implementation of national policies and standards on animal product
welfare effectively. The Philippines officially recognizes the international health guidelines of
the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and Sanitary-Phytosanitary (SPS) neasures set
by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in matters of trade facilitation. However, there are
problem areas in their proper implementation. Issues relating to observance of acceptable level
of drug residues in animal products and lack of enforcing authority on confiscation/destruction of
contaminated or suspected to be infected animals and animal products, farm accreditation,



animal traceability and establishment of disease free areas are some of the health concerns facing
the animal industry. With these evolving challenges since its inception more than 80 years ago,
the BAI must keep abreast with global developments. Hence, we now need an expanded but
LIMITED LINE AUTHORITY in the delivery of functional and efficient Veterinary Services in
the country, It is therefore imperative that this proposed Act be enacted into law in order to
further improve the animal industry and strengthen the veterinary services of the Philippines
through an agency to be called the “National Livestock and Veterinary Services Authority
(NLYSA) in lieu of the current BAI as provided for in this proposed Act.



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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV]
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2607

HOUSE BILL NC

Introduced by Representative Mark Llandro L. Mendoza

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

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress Assemble.

Section |

Section 2.

Section 3.

Section 4.

Chapter T

INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Animal Industry and Veterinary Serv’
2013”,

It shall be the policy of the State to promote and protect animal
sures,

Declaration of Policy.
health and welfare, recognize the importance of efficient delivery of sanitary mi
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 ani iol and human
s, improved public health and environment, and enhanced global trade
ceness.

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 ot indirectly, deals on (1) animal heaith 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 aninnal
diseases and zoonoses, (¢) inspection and monitoring of (i) animals, animal products and by-
products (i) 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) veterinacy drugs, veterinary biological and
immunological products, veterinary cosmetics and veterinary 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, veterinary
biologicals and diagnostic reagents in animals; (5) management, genetic icaprovement and
operations of beef cattle, poultry and small ruminant farms of the ¢ »vernment for
conservation of native domestic breeds.

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

To protect human and environmental health from hazards caused by animal diseases and
Zoonoses;
To establish a modern and responsive veterinary services:


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

4, To institutionalize inter-ageney, multi-sectoral and local government cope tica on animal
health and veterinary service program

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) meastires
and other veterinary protocols with international standards

7. To promote an environment of global livestock trade competitivenes

8. To establish nucleus and multiplier livestock breeder and production farms in support of the
government's modernization programs in agriculture.

Section 5. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms and phrases shall mean as
follows:

Accreditation — refers to the procedure by wl
recognizes the competence of an inspection and/or cert
certification services.

Agribusiness. = refers to the various businesses involved in food production, including farming, breed
and feed supply, agrichemicals, farm and processing machinery, wholesale ind distribution,
processing, marketing and retail sales, It also means making a “simple far ner” 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,

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

Animal Effects ~ means litter or manure, hay, fodder or the like, used as blankets, chains, hamesses,
ropes, buckets, boxes or crates and the like used by the animal. HB 3363,

Animal facility ~ refers to permanent or temporary structures or premises generally used for purposes of
caring, breeding, rearing, holding, gaming, training, trading, transporting, treating, testing and
exhibiting animals, such as but not limited to farm,, zoos, aviaries, apiaries, kennels,
racetracks, cockpits, pet shops, pounds, animal rescue centers, airport and seaport quarantine
stations, animal holding facilities including those found in ports, railways and bus stations,
stables, livestock auction markets, slaughterhouses, veterinary clinics, and veterinary
hospitals.

Animal Feeds - refers to a mixture or combination of feed ingredients, supplements and <deitives, 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. HB 3363

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

Animal Health Technician ~ a properly trained person who is authorized to carry out designated tasks
related to veterinary medicine under the immediate supervision of a veterinarian

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.

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

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 Production Food Safety and Security - refers to measures taken in farms and pre: ‘ucsion areas to
safeguard the health of the consuming public and ensure that the food derived therefrom is safe
and of sufficient quantity or supply. This includes measures taken to regulate and control the

ich government igency having jurisdiction formally
ication body to provide inspection and

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introduction of non-food animals to the food chain.

Animal Products and By-Products - refer to any meat, fat, milk whey, cream, butter, cheese, egy, or
other food or foodstuffs derived from an animal; or any wart 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

logical 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 b, 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 National Livestock and
Veterinary Services Authority (NLVSA), and its stakeholders as described hereunder in
Section 6, Chapter II

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 und r 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 cert
certification bodies provide written or equivalent a
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.

Communicable Animal Diseases - reter to diseases which are transmissible from one animal to another.
HB 3363

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, conirol, biosecurity measures have been
applied for the purpose of international trade.

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.

Confiscation - refers to taking into custody of animals, animal parts and/or products, »rd/cr 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.

ication bodies or officially recognized
surance that animal « yntrol syst

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.

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

Domestic movement- refers to the transfer/transport of animals, animal product, by-products and effects
within the country. HB 3363

Down time ~ refers to the waiting period and biosecurity measures prescribed by the owner’ or
management approved by NLVSA for people to observe before entering the premises of any
animal farm/establishment to prevent the entry of animal diseases.

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

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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.

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.

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

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

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

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 veterinary biological products, animal feeds and feed ingredients, veterinary
cosmetics, and veterinary devices.

Exportation- refers to the transportation of commodities such as live animals, animal products, animal
by-products, animal effects, animal feeds, veterinary drugs/products and veterinary biological
products from the Philippines to another country. HB 3363

Exotie/Foreign Animal Diseases- refer to any disease known to ex’st in foreign countries which is likely
to be introduced in the country through importation of animals, animal products, animal by-
products or animal effects, animal feeds, veterinary drugs/products and veterinary biological
products.

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 eed, 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.

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,

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

Hazard - refers to a biological, chemical or physical agent in, 01 a condition of an animal or ani
product with the potential to cause an adverse health effect.

Importation- refers to the bringing into the country commodities such as live animals, animal products,
animal by-products, animal effects, animal feeds, veterinary drugs and veterinary biological
products from foreign countries. HB 3363

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

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

International Veterinary Certificate — Otherwise called as Veterinary Health Certificate refers to the
document issued by the Veterinary Quarantine Service Officers specifying among others
therein that the animals, animal products and by-products or animal effects intended for
international or domestic transport are free from any communicable animal diseases or are not
carriers thereof.

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Livestock - refers to food animals including poultry.

Livestock Agribusiness Marketing - refers to the critical roles marketing plays ir the successful
operation of an agribusiness firm by focusing on the six major parts of agribus.ness 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 and retailing industries; 5) the food service industry; and 6)
cooperative agribusiness

Livestock Marketing System — refers to livestock economies 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

Marketing — refers to the process of planning the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of
‘goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy indiviriual and organizational objectives

Market Infrastructure ~ refers to facilities including, but not limited to livestock “oksyon” market,
wet/public market buildings, weighing scale center, holding pens, warshouses, market
information centers, slaughterhouses, connecting roads, transport and commun at.on and cold
storage used by the livestock farmers in marketing their produce.

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.

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

in industry, e.g, animal industry, to achieve a marketing or business-related competitiveness

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

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.

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

OIE (Office Internationale des Epizooties) 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).

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.

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

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

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 spreified length of
time and/or to determine their freedom from disease.

Quarantine Station - refers to a facility under the control of the veterinary service authority where
animals are maintained in isolation with no direct contact or indirect contact with other

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animals, to ensure that there is no transmission of specified pathogen/s outside the
establishment while the animals are undergoing observation for a specified length of time and,
if appropriate, testing and treatment. HB 3363

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.

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

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

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

Risk Management - refers to the process of identifying, selecting a
applied to reduce the level of risk.

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ~ defined as measures applied (a) to protect human or anima! life
from risks arising from additives, contaminants, toxins or disease-causing organisms in their
food: (b) to protect human life from plant-or animal-carried diseases; (c) to protest animal or
plant life from pests, diseases, or disease-causing organisms; and (d) to preveist ar limit other
damage to a country from the entry, establishment or spread of pests. This also includes SPS
measures taken to protect the health of fish and wild fauna, as well as of forests and wild flora.
HB 3363

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

Third party certification or independent certification is defined as when 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.

Traceability - refers to the ability to follow or monitor the history/record of an animal or group of

mals during all stages of its li

Transhipment- shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination and then from th
another destination.

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.

d implementing measures that can be

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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.

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).

Veterinary Biological Products - refer to all microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, ete.),
‘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 resea‘ch purposes.

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 keep'ng the same in
good condition.

Veterinary Devices - refer to any instruments, apparatuses, implements, machines, appliances or

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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.

Veterinary Drugs - refer to articles for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of
diseases of animals.

Veterinary Products — as use in this Act shall collectively refer :o veterinary biologicals, veterinary
drugs, veterinary devices, and veterinary 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, stimulants, enhancers, probioties and acidifiers

Veterinary Officer - refers to a duly-licensed veterinarian employed or deputized by the Director General
‘of the NLVSA specifically tasked 10 investigate, diagnose and control animal diseases,
including the performance of such duties and functions provided in this Act and other laws,

Veterinary Services - refer to the activities in the implementation of animal health, welt: .e, feed control
‘and animal production food safety by government and non-government organizations

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,

Zoonosis - refers to any disease or infection which is naturally transmissible from animals to human vise
versa,

Chapter IL
STRUCTURE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

Section 6. The National Livestock and Veterinary Services Authority (NLVSA). - The Bureau of
Animal Industry (BAD shall be renamed as the “National Livestock and Veterinary Services
‘Authority (NLVSA)”, an attached line ageney up to the regional level under the Department
of Agriculture, primarily responsible for the regulation of the health, welfare and
productivity of the national animal population.

nk of undersecretary, who
sed

The NLVSA shall be headed by a Director General, with the ra
must possess a minimum experience of ten (10) years in practice as a duly lice
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.

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 f-llowing 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 pertaiing to, but not
limited to general sanitary measures, risk analysis, animal quarantine .nd_ inspection,
diagnosis of diseases, animal feeds and feed ingredients, veterinary drugs and veterinary

fogical products, and other pharmaceuticals and products used on animals and the

environment, animal facilities, equipments, veterinary devices and veterinary cosmetics,
veterinary research, animal production and international certification procedures.

Technical Assistance and Supervision. ~The NLVSA shall provide technical training. for
capacity building and strengthening of livestock and veterinary services related functions of
all national government agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs). It shall exercise

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technical supervision over veterinary offices and veterinary related functions of all national
government agencies and LGUs, This includes oversight authority to requise 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.

‘Assumption of Control. ~The NLVSA is authorized, subject to the approval of the Secretary
of Agriculture and as recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Animal
Diseases and Fmergency (NAC-ADE), as hereunder described in Sections 14 & 15, Chapter
IV, 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 is in actual or imminent danger.

rhe NLVSA shall make the proper coordination with the concerned LGU and regional
officials of other agencies on its activities

Visitorial Power — The NLVSA, through its duly authorized personnel, upon presenting
appropriate credentials or authority to the owner, manager, or any person-in-charge ané after
following reasonable down time requirements duly approved by the NLVS, shall have the
power to enter and inspect the premises of livestock and poultry farms a° 1 vther 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, impose preventive and control measures therein, in coordination
with concerned owners and caretakers.

Declaration of Quarantine - The Director General through a written order of quarantine
shall cause the immediate seizure, holding or detention for thirty (30) days or for such longer
period, if necessary, for observation and/or mandatory testing of animals, animal parts,
products, and by-products, animal feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements and feed
additives, veterinary biologicals, veterinary drugs/products and veterinary devices, anc! such
other materials or substances which are suspected or deemed to be affected with or carriers
of dangerous animal diseases or found to be undocumented, or of unknown source and
conditions, and posing an imminent danger, threat ard injury to the overall animal health
situation in the country.

Confiscation and Disposal - The NLVSA, through appropriate destruction order, shall have
the authority to immediately confiscate and dispose of animals, animal parts, products, and
by-products, animal feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements/additr 2s, veterinary
biological products, veterinary drugs, products and veterinary devices, and such other
materials or substances that are declared prohibited or banned; or showing signs and
symptoms of dangerous animal diseases: or, in case of animal feeds, veterinary drugs,
biological and other materials or substances, tested positive for adulteration, or
contamination of toxie chemicals or substances.

Articles or items that are undocumented, or of unknown source and conditions, not covered
in the preceding paragraph which the possessor, owner, consignee or importer, as the case
maybe, failed to substantiate through submission of requisite documents, or establish the
origin thereof and its compliance with pertinent regulations within seventy-two (72) hours
fiom quarantine shall, likewise, be subject to confiscation and appropriate disposal.

Call for Assistance - The Director General may call vpon 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.

Subsidiary Legislation - The Secretary of Agriculture, upon the recomniendation of the
NLVSA Shall issue rules and regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of this
Act.

Delegation ~The NLNSA shall have the authority to deputize local government and private
veterinarians to perform disease control, measures to obviate any animal welfare concerns

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and animal health matters for proper implementation of national disease control poli
programs at all levels. The Director General (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 ace:aditation for this
purpose. As such, the Animal Welfare Officers shall have the full author’ y :o seize and
confiscate affected animals in violation of the provisions of the Act, subject to existing rules
and regulation on arrest and detention.

Emergency Response — The NLVSA shall establish an emergency preparedness plan to
ensure the safety and protection of the animal population in the event of natural and man-
made disasters

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
inciude divisions which shall be headed by a division chief with minimum management
experience of three (3) years.

Center for Animal Health and Welfare (CAHW) - The Center shall be responsible for
veterinary epidemiology, animal disease surveillance systems, animal disease prevention,
control and eradication programs, risk analysis, herd health management, an‘mal :velfare and
animal health information,

The center shall have the following divisions: (a) Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics
(b) Animal Disease Control and Veterinary Public Health, (¢) Animal Welfare and (4)
Animal Health Information and Communication.

Center for Veterinary Quarantine Services (CVQS) — The Center shall be primarily
responsible in issuing import and export certifications , conducting pre- and post-border
inspections and monitoring, accreditation, quarantine, and if warranted by biosecurity
procedures, instituting immediate seizure and/or confiscation and destruction or disposal of
animals, animal parts, products, and by-products, animal feeds, feed ingredients, feed
supplements and feed additives, veterinary biological products, veterinary drugs/products
and veterinary devices, and such other materials or substances posing threat or harm to
ani alth. The Center shall also be responsibli 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 Phy!oSanitary Trade
Facilitation (b) Veterinary Quarantine Inspection and Monitoring, and (¢) Bic evsrity.

Center for Animal Disease Diagnosis (CADD) — 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 establishment and management of regional veterinary
diagnostic and other specialized laboratories, including the certification/accreditation of
private and government animal disease diagnostic laboratories and the monitoring of same
CADD shall also be the National Reference Center for Animal Disease Diagnosis.(HB2575)

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

Center for Animal Feeds, Veterinary Products and Establishments Regulation
(CAFVPER) — The Center shall regulate the m:nufacture, production, importation,
exportation, distribution, handling, sale, offer for sale, transfer, promotion, advertisement,
the use and testing of pre-mixes, animal feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements and feed
additives, veterinary drugs and veterinary biological products, veterinary cosmetics and
veterinary devices and all other types of veterinary products and establishrierts. It shall
likewise conduct assays on the quality, safety, potency and efficacy of theve products and

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veterinary drug residues in animal products except meat.

‘The Center shall include the following divisions: (a) Registration, Licensing. &
Accreditation, (b) Inspection and Compliance and (¢) L-boratory Services.

Animal Genetic Resource Management and Improvement Center — (AGRMIC) 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 eid 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 (4) Native Poultry (e) Native Cattle, Goat and
Sheep (f) Native Horses,

Center for Animal Research and Product Development (CARPD) ~ ‘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 agendi 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,

Center for Livestock Trade Promotion and Development (CLTPD) ~ This Center shall
be primarily responsible for the promot ional Agenda for the development and
implementation of sustainable livesto development, animal industry strategic
management, animal supply chain management, animal knowledge and information
network, participatory governance, animal market and post- production <levelopment and
animal market infrastructure and animal statistics and marketing intelligence, y
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

Administrative Support Services - ‘The NLVSA shall be assisted by an Administrative
Support Services which shall be headed by Director aad 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 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 & valuation, (f)
Planning & International Desk, and (g) Information and Communication Technology
Management.

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 at least ten (10) years
‘as a veterinarian. Each office shall be supported by such number of divisions as may be
necessary in the performance of regional operations

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

Chapter IIT


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Section 12,

Section 14,

Section 15.

CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER, VETERINARY OFFICERS AND
ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS

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 offieial international dialogue on animal hea'th 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 ~nisnal disease
emergencies.

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

Veterinary Officers (VOs) and Animal Health Technicians (AHTs)~ The Director General
of the NLVSA shall appoint or deputize veterinarians and other personnel under its employ
as VO and AHT, respectively, under this Act. ie shall prescribe the duties and
responsibilities of the National and Regional VO.

When the interest of the service so requires, the VO shall be entitled to incentives, overtime
fees and reimbursement of expenses for services render d outside of office hours which shall
be chargeable to the parties served, at the rates to be prescribed by the Secretary of
‘Agriculture upon the recommendation of the Director General. HB 3363

Magna Carta for Public Health Workers- NOs, AHTs, and other veterinarians employ ed oF
deputized by the NLVSA, including their administrative and support pe= orael directly
exposed to veterinary public health related activities shall be entitled to additio
‘compensations, and other benefits provided under Republic Act No. 7305, also known as the
Magna Carta for Public Health workers.

Chapter IV

ADVISORY COMMITTEE!
National and Regional Advisory Committees for Anin.al Diseases and Emerg 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 Rexional
‘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,
competence and probity in the veterinary profession, and a practicing veterivinrian for at least
ten (10) years with sufficient knowledge of the livestock industry and it: animal health
related services. 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 and sub-committees 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.

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:

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jes and measures on the following:

Recommend p

‘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;

¢. Verification of reports on emerging zoonotic animal diseases;

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

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 Agrculture and the respective Regional

Directors (RDs);

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

agencies

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

Assist in the evaluation of the implementation, efficiency and effectiveness of the operations,
programs and projects of the NLVSA, as well as the enforcement of the provisions of this
‘Act

National Advisory Committee for the Welfare of Animals (NACWA) ~The CAW created
under RA 8485 shall be renamed the NACWA which is a multi-agency/multi sectoral
committee. It 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 shill 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 agencies/sectors

Department of Agriculture
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Department of Interior and Local Government
Department of Education
Provincial, City and Municipal Veterinarians’ League of the
Philippines

f. Philippines Veterinary Medical Association

g. Animal Welfare Organizations

h, Academe
Animal Feeds Advisory Committee (AFAC) ~ The Animal Feed Control Advisory
Committee (AFCAC) created under Senate Bill No. 627 amending Republic Act No. 1556
adopted into law by Presidential Decree No. 7 in 1972, is hereby renamed Animal Feed
Advisory Committee with eleven (11) members, the composition of which shall be modified
to add three more members, namely: one legal representative from the NLVSA. one
representative from the Legal Division of DA and one representative from the Philippine
College of Veterinary Feed Practitioners. The AFAC s'all continue to exercise its functions
in matters related to the animal feed industry, except as provided in Section 66 of SH No.
627 hereof,

sacce

. Mandatory Review and Evaluation - The recommendations of the NAC-ADE, CAW. and

AFSAC shall be subject to mandatory review and evaluation by the Directo: Gereral, before
the same are submitted for final approval by the Secretary of Agriculture.

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

Chapter V

0)


LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND LOCAL

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VETERINARY OFFICERS
3. Section 20. LGU Assistance and Cooperation - Local Government Units (LGUs) shall assist and closely
4 cooperate with the NLVSA in the implementation of the provisions of this Act. They shall
5 extend any available manpower, security, material and financial resources to any national
6 animal disease prevention and control measures, animal welfare and other national programs
7 being undertaken by the NLVSA within their respective jurisdictions.
8 Section 21. Creation of Municipal Veterinary Positions ~ The position of municipal veterinarian shall
9 be mandatory in all first class municipalities and optional in other municipalities.
10 Section 22. Responsibilities of Provincial, City and Municipal Veterinarians - In addition to the duties
ul of a veterinary officer as provided in Section 489 of Republic Act No. 7160, also known as
12 the “Local Government Code of 1991”, it shall be the duty of veterinary officers as the case
13 maybe, to:
4 1. Ensure the implementation of policies, rules and regulations issued by NLVSA and other
15 coordinating agencies in accordance with the provisions of this Act and its related laws, rules
16 and regulations towards the enforcement of animal disease prevention, control measures and
7 animal welfare regulations.
18 2, Extend assistance, as may be necessary, to the NLVSA in the implementation or enforcement
19 of animal disease prevention and control measures, and animal welfare within their area of
20 responsibility.
21 Comply with all reportorial and documentary requirements needed by the NLVSA in the

22 implementation of this Act.
23. Section 23. Issuance of Mayor’s Permit - No LGU shall issue any Mayor's Permit to operate any farm,

24 clinic, animal facility, kennel or any other veterinary establishment unless the
25 ‘owner/operator has secured clearance from the provincial, city or municipal veterinarian
26 attesting to the fact that the establishment has complied with all the requirements prescribed
27 under NLVSA rules and regulations.

28 Chapter VI

29 ROLE OF ALLIED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND

30 NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

31 Section 24. Allied Government Agencies — Allied government agencies that are perfor” ing veterinary
32 services and related functions shall continue to do so. The DG of the NLVSA as the national
33 competent authority shall call upon other allied government agencies and academe in the

34 implementation of this Act.
35 Section 25. Other Agencies and Sectors ~ The NLWSA shall establish agreements with other

36 government sectors, private sectors, academe and other relevant agencies and stakeholders in
37 the implementation of plans and programs in animal disease prevention, control, eradication
38 and to ensure prompt mobilization of all essential personnel and resources in the event of
39 animal disease emergencies.

40 Section 26. Responsibilities — All government agencies and private entities performing veterinary and
4 related functions shall cooperate fully with the Director General or (CVO) and comply with
42 the set policies and technical standards for veterinary se-vices.

43 Chapter VI

44 ANIMAL HEALTH, WELFARE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION FOOD SAFETY

45

46 Section 27. Duty to Report Notifiable Diseases ~All animal and livestock proaucers, owners,
47 operators, farm managers, farm veterinarians, animal facility operators and farm consultants
48 who have in their possession or care, animals or animal products infected or suspected to be

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Section 29,

Section 30,

Section 31

Section 32,

Seetion 33.

Section 34,

Section 35.

Section 36,

Section 37.

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 concemed Local Government Unit
~ Veterinary Office or to the NLVSA or to the RLVSO immediately within 24 hours by the
quickest means possible.

These notifiable diseases include, among others Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Class
‘Swine Fever (CSF, Hog Cholera), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Newcastle Disease (ND) or Avian Pest, Rabies,
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), 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.

Proper Disposal of Dead Animals and Potentially Infective Materials - dead anivnals,
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

Animal Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology — All agencies performing, veterinary
‘ervices shall be responsible in monitoring animal disease situation by conducting regular
surveillance of the animal and livestock population in their respective jurisdiction and are
required to report periodically to the NLVSA.

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 consulta ion with livestock stakeholders shall
also establish farm classification system in accordance with accepted standard and
parameters.

Mandatory Vaccination ~ To prevent, control, and eradicate emerging or re-emerging
communicable and exotic diseases, all animals shall have to be vaccinate in accordance
with the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. In case of refusal to vaccinate
despite due notice, the NLVSA shall have authority to require the LGU concerned to revoke
the Mayor’s and Business Permits issued for the operation of the establishment.

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

‘Animal Welfare Practices - Al\ 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,

Animal Health, Welfare and Animal Production Foc d 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,

Risk Analysis — Principles of risk analysis shall be incorporated in all policy f »rr.ulation and
standard setting such as but not limited to the importation of animals, animal products, by-
products, veterinary biological products, animal feeds and animal effects.

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.

Mandatory Engagement of the Professional Services of a Veterinarian — A\\_ animal
establishments such as but not limited to farms, 200s, 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

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Section 39,

Section 40,

Section 41.

Section 42.

Section 43.

Section 44,

Section 45,

the NLVSA, in consultation with concerned sectors.

Farm Inspection and Certification — The NLVSA in consultation with stakeholders shall
establish standards and parameters on farm inspection and certification.

Chapter VII
QUARANTINE MEASURES AND FACILITIES (HB3363)

Border Post Entry — The importation of animals, animal products, animal by-products,
animal feeds and feed ingredients, veterinary drugs, veterinary biologicals, veterinary
cosmetics and veterinary devices, and other potential vectors of animal diseases shall be
Subjected to veterinary inspection at ports of entry, and if warranted, placed under
quarantine and tested as may be deemed appropriate and necessary. Such importation must
comply with prescribed documents, such as, but not limited to (1) an Authority to Inport
duly issued by the NLVSA and secured prior to the importation, and (2) 1 Viternational
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.

Boarding Inspection of Carriers - All vessels and planes, domestic or international, are
subject to boarding inspection upon arrival, and before departure for any unloaded and
undeclared importation, unauthorized exportation, or local shipment of regulated or
prohibited animals, animal products, animal by-products, animal feeds and feed ingredients,
veterinary drugs, veterinary biologicals, veterinary cosmetics and veterinary devices, and
other potential vectors of animal diseases. The captain, master or skipper, other officers and
crew members, and agent of such carriers shall render assistance as the Veterinary Officer
and his deputies may reasonably request to facilitate the discharge and disposal of illegal
articles

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 Quan ine for the
particular shipment, as the case may be,

Prohibited Importation (HB683) - No importation of animals, animal products, animal by-
products, animal effects and other related products (e.g. fodder crops, forage, ete.) shall be
allowed from countries known or declared to be infected with a dangerous communicable
nal disease or diseases which has been banned to export the said products 10 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. 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, and as the NLVSA may determine, in the overriding interests of protecting the
animal and public health of the country.

Wildlife and Endangered Species — In accordance with Section 2 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

Exportation Clearance or Certificate - No animals, animal products, anit.ai by-products
animal effects, animal feeds, veterinary drugs/products and veterinary biological products
shall be allowed to be exported and loaded on board ships and airplanes or any vehicle
unless (1) it is accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate/International Veterinary
Certificate and/or Commodity Clearance duly issued by the NLVSA; and (2) it has complied
with the quarantine requirements of the country of destination

ive animals, animal products, animal by-products,
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Section 47,

Section 49,

Section 50.

Section 51.

Section 52.

Section 53

Section 55,

animal effects, animal feeds, and veterinary products at domestic or international por's of
call shall comply with the animal health and welfare rules and regulations pseribed by the
NLVSA. HB 3363

Domestic Shipping — Al\ inland and inter-island shipments of animals, animal products,
animal by-products, animal effects, veterinary drugs and veterinary biological products 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.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA)
and other agencies/entities managing fishports, and other ports shall require the owner, «gent
or master of carrier, or vessel to secure and submit a copy of clearance from the Veterinary
Inspector or his deputies assigned thereat as a prerequisite to issuance of clearance to depart
from the port

Mlegal or Unauthorized Shipments - Shipments of animals, animal products, by-products,
Veterinary drugs, veterinary biological products and aimal feeds which are found to be in
Violation of this Act and its rules and regulations, or orders of the Director General or h
veterinary quarantine officers shall be confiscated and disposed of in a manner prescribed by
the Director General

Registration of Commercial Livestock Traders and Shippers - All comtr. ¢vial livestock
trader and shippers or handlers who are engaged in the inter-provincial and regional
pment/transportation 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. HB 3363,

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 quarantine facilities such as but not limited to
seaports and airports in the country. HB 3363

Dectaration 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 in‘ected. 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. HB 3363

Movement in Infected Areas - Movement of animals, animal products, animal by-products,
animal effects, veterinary drugs, veterinary biological products, and trorspert vehicles
reasonably suspected to be exposed or contaminated with a Notifiable Discase 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. HB 3363

Lifting of Order of Quarantine - The Director General shall 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.

Duty of Owner or Holder - A person who owns or is in charge of, or has in his or her
possession of control, an animal or animal product whi zh 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 not infected animals or animal products.

Controlled Shipments — It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, a minister or use
infectious disease agents, for scientific, laboratory or other purposes, unless uly authorized
by a special permit by the Director General to handle hazardous materials

Depoputation Order - The Director General or his duly authorized representative may. by a

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Section 57.

Section 58,

Section 59,

Section 60,

Section 61

Section 62.

Section 63.

Section 64.

written Depopulation Order require the stamping out o* healthy animals in declared infected
areas, premises or zones to prevent further spread of the disease.

Destruction Order - The Director General or his duly authorized representative may. by @
written Destruction Order require the proper disposal of (1) any animal, animal product. and
effect, and if deemed necessary, any expendable material such as, but not ‘imited to, litter,
bedding, feed bags, chick cartoon, animal crates, cage, and feeds which 1s infected, or
reasonably suspected to be infected with a Notifiable Disease; (2) confiscated expired,
banned, unregistered, counterfeit, veterinary biological products, veterinary drugs and
products. HB 3363

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

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.

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 NLVS/* shall have the
right to auction off his animals to recover such expenses made

Non-Liability Clause. All charges for storage, demurrage, cartage, labor and delays incident
to the inspection, cost of disinfection and disposition and other post entry requirement shall
be paid by the importer, exporter, shipper or consignee, as the case may be. HB 3363

The Veterinary Quarantine Service Officer (VOSO) or any other authorized personnel of
the Center for Veterinary Quarantine Services shall not be held liable for damages 10 the
commodity or any other damages in the course of implementation of the provisions of this
Act, as well as its implementing rules and regulations.

Disposal of food/garbage from vessels or planes. No food provisions or garbage shall be
unloaded from vessels or airplanes if there is danger that such provision may introduce any
communicable animal disease into the country, especie ly if such provisions originated from
areas known to be .d with any communicable animal disease.

Role of BOC, PPA, ATO & other ports- The Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports
Authority, Air Transportation Office and other seaport and airport authorities shall cooperate
with the veterinary quarantine service in the enforcement of this act o: any rules and
regulations issued in the implementation thereto, and shall give effect to the same in so far as
they are connected with matters of shipping, navigation and transportation, or
shipmenv/transport of animals, animal products, animal by-products, animal effects, animal
feeds, and veterinary drugs/products and veterinary biologics. HB 3363,

Establishment of Veterinary Quarantine Stations ~ The NLVSA shall establish and
maintain quarantine stations for the detention, treatment and observation of 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.

Chapter IX

INDEMNIFICATION AND DISEASE ERADICATION TRUST FUND (HB684)

Section 65,

Creation of a Disease Compensation and Eradication Trust Fund — A Disease

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Section 67.

Section 68,

Section 69.

Section 70.

Section 71

Section 72,

Section 73.

Section 74.

Section 75.

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 Three Hundred Million Pesos (P 300,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to start
the seed fund for the Disease Compensation and Eradication Trust Fund, subject to
replenishment and inerease to such amounts as circumstances may require.

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 directl, connected with
controlling, eradicating or preventing, the spread of any animal disease that .s notifiable or
emerging or re-emerging, exotic and zoonotic including administrative expenses.

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.

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

Issuance of Compensation Guidelines ~ Guidelines for the payment of compensation shall
be prescribed by the NLVSA in consultation with stake solders,
Chapter X

SANITARY AND PHY TOSANITARY (SPS) MEASURE
TRADE FACILITATION & HARMONIZATION

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

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.

Equivatence and Other Types of Sanitary Agreements - The NLVSA in consultation with
other agencies and stakeholders shall develop, negotiats 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).

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.

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

Compartmentalization - The NLVSA shall establish and maintain disease-free areas within
its territory in accordance with OIE recommendations.
Chapter XI
VETERINARY LABORATORIES


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Section 76.

Section 77.

Section 78,

Section 79.

Section 80.

Section 81

Section 82.

Section 83.

Section 84,

Certification/Accreditation — The NLVSA shall be responsible for controlling both
government and private veterinary testing laboratories. Only duly certified/accredited
Veterinary testing laboratory facilities are allowed to do diagnostic. feed analysis and other
services. The NLVSA shall develop guidelines and standards __ in the
certification/accreditation of various veterinary laboracry facilities and establish quality
systems towards international certification.

Biosafety and Biosecurity — Standards and guidelines for laboratory biosafety and
biosecurity shall be established and practiced by veterirary and feed analysis laboratories per
national and international recommendations,

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.

Establishment of a Specialized Diagnostic Laboratory for Swine Diseases - (HB2575)
There shall be established a specialized laboratory for the diagnosis of swine diseases which
have grown in complexity in recent years and adversely affected all farms in the country.

Chapter XII
REGULATIONS ON ANIMAL FEEDS AND VETERINARY PRODUCTS.

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

Registration and Licensing ~ Each class, type, brand or trade mark of veterinary biolo
products, veterinary drugs, veterinary devices, veterinary cosmetics, mixes animal
feed ingredients, feed supplements, feed additives, concentrates, base feecs, base mixes,
specialty feeds, special feed nutrient preparations, and other feed products, inclusive of the
establishments shall be registered individually and shall be ass istration
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

Importation of Animal Feeds, Veterinary Biological products, Veterinary Drugs and
Related Products — Importation of Animal Feeds, Veterinary Biological products,
Veterinary 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 tie NLVSA may determine, in the
overriding interests of protecting the animal and public health of the country

Temporary Revocation and Suspension of License or Permit, anor Stoppage of
Production ~ Failure of any grantee of license or permit to comply with any of the
requirements provided in this Act or its implementing rules and regu'etions shall be
sufficient ground for the immediate temporary suspension or revocation of su2h license or
permit, and/or stoppage of production and marketing for the particular product, with
authority to institute recall order for said product, subject to the institution of immediate
formal proceedings against the grantee or licensee.

Chapter XIII
ANIMAL AND LIVESTOCK TRADE PROMOTION

‘Animal Industry Market Profiles — The NLVSA shall maintain a database of national,
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Section 85.

Section 86,

Section 88.

Section 89,

Section 91.

Section 92,

regional and local animal industry market profile to support the business development of
animal industries and allied industries. It shall, likewise, integrate marketing information
and develop a knowledge management system of the different commodities/industries from
national to local level.

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

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

Export Incentives Programs- The NLVSA shall formulate and implemen’ th. guidelines
and policies for the registration and certification of bona fide and eligible exporters and
facilitate and coordinate applicants and stakeholders that would like to avail of 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.

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 roodmap for the development of the
different industries in the livestock sector cut across the agribusiness supply chain.

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 (0 the input
suppliers, producers, marketers, processors, industry associations, government and other
stakeholders.

Socio-economic and Marketing Research ~ The NLVSA shall strengthen ‘ie utilization of
social-economic and marketing research to maximize the benefit or 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
come, employment generation, improvement of standard of living and quality of life of
festock 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.

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 me ragement of local livestock farme
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 XIV

UTILIZATION OF GOVERNMENT
FARMS

Public-Private Sector Participation - The NNSA shall maximize the economic potential of

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Section 93.

Section 94,

Section 95.

tion 96.

Section 97.

Section 98,

Section 99,

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.

Use of Government Lands for Quasi-Public Purposes - A\\ 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 yenture agreements over such lands with private individuals,
corporations and cooperatives with the end in view of ma: 12 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 XV
PROHIBITIONS AND PENAL IES

Failure to Report Notifiable Diseases - Ail animal producers, owners, operators, farm
managers, farm veterinarians, and farm consultants who have sufficient knowledge of a
notifiable disease and fail to report it to the LGU Veterinary Office or to we NLVSA or to
the RLVSO immediately within 24 hours by the quickest means possible sl sli be fined! for
the first offense, the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) and for each
succeeding offense, imprisonment of Ten (10) days.

Obstruction of Duty -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
(P20,000,00). A repetition of the same offense shalt 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.

False Statements ~ Any petson who knowingly makes false declaration or misleading
statements in his application for license, certificate of product registration or permit; shall
upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) and
imprisonment of Six (6) months.

Non-registration of Transport Facilities and Equipments - Failure of the owner to register
ssels, vehicles, and equipment related to transport of animals, animal products and by-
products, animal feeds and feedstuffs, veterinary drugs, veterinary biological products,
veterinary 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.

Non-observance of Prescribed 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, veterinary drugs and
veterinary devices, animal feeds and feed ingredients, shall, upon conviction, be penalized
by a fine of Fifty Thousand pesos (PS0,000.00) and imprisonment of Thirty (30) Days.

Unauthorized Operation and Use of Registration Number ~ blishment
operators/owners found without a valid License to Uperate from NLVSA or unlaw fully
using the registration number of another feed, veterinary biological products, veterinary
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 100. Failure to Display and Use of Fake or Expired 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

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fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) and closure of said establishments for second
offense.

Section 101. IMlegal Manufacture and Marketing of ‘Animal Feeds, Veterinary Drugs and Veterinary
Biological Products ~ Any person or establishment operator 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 biological products,
veterinary drugs and products, veterinary devices, mixed animal feeds, feed ingredients, feed
supplements, feed additives, premixes, base feeds, base mixes, concentrates, specialty feeds,
special feed nutrient preparations and other feed products, in 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 102, Megal Acts on Labeling and Use of Fake Veterinary Drugs and Veterinary Biological
Products ~ Any person ot establishment operator found guilty of tampering, altering,
mutilating, destroying, obliterating or removing the whole or any part of the labeling
material packages and tags ot labels of; or using fake or adulterated veterinary biological
products, veterinary drugs and veterinary devices, mixed animal feeds, feed ingredients, feed
supplements, feed additives, base feeds, base mixes, oncentrates, specialty feeds, special
feed nutrient preparations and other feed products, in any form, shall be fined One Hundred
Fifly Thousand Pesos (P 150,000.00) and punished with imprisonment of Sixty (60) Days

Section 103. Megal Use and Sale of Veterinary and Human Drugs - Any person found to be using and
selling unlawful or unauthorized veterinary or human drugs for animals rise¢ for human
consumption shall upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of Twenty Five %huusand Pesos

(P25,000.00).
Seotion 104. Refusal to Vaccinate Animals -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 not less than
Ten Thousand Pesos (P 10,000.00) and/or imprisonment of Ten (10) Days.

Section 105. Other Violations of this Act - Any person, officers of corporation, association, organization
or establishment found to be in violation of any of the provisions of this Act that are not
covered by the foregoing provisions, or rules and regulations issued therewith, shall, upon
conviction, be penalized by a fine of Fifty Thousand (P 50,000.00) Pesos but not more than
One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 100,000.00) and/or imprisonment of Six (6) Months to
One (1) Year, at the discretion of the court.

Section 106, 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 sufficient compliance and public interest, with no damage cause’ to the public or
any individual, will be adequately served by a suitable written notice ¢ violation and
warning duly endorsed by the appropriate Advisory Committee described under Chapter TV
hereof, and recommended by the Director General to the Secretary of Agriculture for
approval.

Section 107. Repeated Violation — Any person found to have committed a second violation of the same
offense shall suffer the penalty of fine and/or imprisonment prescribed for said offense.

‘Chapter XVI
REVOCATION AND SUSPENSION PROCEEDINGS

Section 108. Institution of Complaint - ‘The Director General or upon the instance of any interested
party may file a complaint before the hearing com nittee 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 109. Hearing Committee - A heating committee is hereby created to hear anv complaint filed
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under the preceding section, It shall be composed of at least three (3) members. The
Director General or in his unavailability, the deputy heed of the Center for Animal Proxlucts
and Services Regulation shall act as Chairman with the Division Chief of the commodity
concerned and any other Division Chief of NLVSA, as may be designated by the Di
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 Directo’ “ieneral;

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.

To hold any person in contempt, directly or indirectly, and impose appropriate penalties

therefor ranging from One Thousand to Ten Thousand (P1 ,000.00-P 10,000.00) 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 ir. terest 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 sai parties. Subject
to execution pending appeal, any aggrieved party may appeal to the Secretaiv of Agriculture
within the same period,

Chapter XVII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Confidentiality of Technical Information - The NLNSA shalll take such measure as may be
necessary to protect trade, industrial and policy data of industry stakeholders acquired or
gathered during the course of official business when disclosure of such information will
prejudice the competitiveness or operational viability of concerned persons or entities.

Section 112, Regulatory Fees and Retention of Income

1, The NLVSA shall have the authority to impose charges and fees for the services rendered
subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture which are payable to the NLVSA.

2. All income of the NLYSA 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 .cquisition 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. HB 3363

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 exe npted from donor's tax.

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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 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 shall 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 “he 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. Appointment of Veterinary Attaches ~ The Department of Agriculture sh«!! strengthen the
international animal health, disease surveillance, and information gatheriy’ 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

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 115. 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 116. 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 circumstarices.

Chapter XVII
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

The NLVSA shall formulate and recommend to
the Secretary of Agriculture the necessary rules and regulations for the fuil 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,
HB 3363

Section 118. Creation and Reclassification of Positions ~The NI VSA is hereby authorized to create,
upgrade, collapse or reclassify existing positions ‘0 veterinary and related positions
necessary to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 117. Implementing Rules and Regulation:

Chapter XIX
FINAL PROVISIONS

Section 119. 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

The amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (P 100,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the
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Section 120.

Section 121.

Section 122.

tablishment of a specialized diagnostic laboratory for swine diseases as provided under
. 82 of this Act. (HB 2575)

Repeating 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 Fisher
Modernization Act”, Executive Order No, 292, otherwise known as the “Administra
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 Ble, 97, Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the “Animal Welfare
‘Act of 1998”, Republic Act No, 9842, otherwise known as the “Anti-Rabies Act of 2007”,
and such other laws which are not consistent with this Act shall remain valid and in full
force and effect.

Separability Clause - {f 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.

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

APPROVED,