THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
1 
,_./I. 
‘ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
An estimated 2.000,000 dogs and cats arc slaughtered and sold annually as part of thc 
interimtiondl fur trade. Internationally, dog and cat fur is used in a \vide varicty of products. 
including fur coats and jackets, fur-trimmcd garnicnts, hats, glovcs, decorative acccssorics, 
stuffed animals, and other toys. 
Dog and cat fur, when dyed, is not easily distinguishable to persons who are not experts 
from otlicr furs such as fox, rabbit, coyote, wolf, and mink. Dog and cat i’ur is gcncrally less 
expensive than other types of h r  and may he used as a substitute for morc cxpcnsive typcs o l  
furs. Forcign fur producers usc dogs and cats bred for their fur, and also usc strays and stolcn 
pets. The methods of housing, transporting, and slaughtering dogs and a t s  for fur production 
arc generally unrcgulatcd and inhumane. The purposes of this bill arc: 
( I )  to prohibit the sale, nianuracturcc; offer for sale. transportation. and distrihtion in tllc 
Philippincs of dog and cat fur products; 
(2) to require accurate labeling o f  fur species so that consumers in the Philippines can 
make informed choices; and 
(3) to prohibit the trade in, both imports and exports of, dog and cat fur products, to 
ensure that the Philippine market does not encourage the slaughter o f  dogs or cats for their fur, 
arid lo ensure that the purposes of this Act are not undermined. 
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_. .. * 
, .- 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
-, 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
, 
..I, ’ -’ i 
Third Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO I’IIC)IIIHII‘ T I  il~i IMPORI‘A’1’lON 01: PRODIJCIS MADE WI‘I’I I 1)OG OR CAI‘ l’UI<> ’1’0 
PROHIBIT THE SALE, MANUFACTURE, OFFER FOR SALE. ‘I‘ILANSDORTA~lONI 
AND 
DISTRIBUTION 01: 
PRODUCTS MADE WITH DOG OR CAT FUR IN ’I’I~IE I’I~II1.II’I’INE.S. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philbpines it1 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Dog and Cat Protection Act 
of2007”’. 
SECTION 2. Definition of Term. - The following terms as used in this Act shall be 
defined as follows: 
(1) “lhg fur” refers to the pclt or skin of any animal ofthe spccies canis familiaris. 
(2) “Cat lur” rel‘ers to the pelt or skin of any animal of the species klis catus. 
(3) Tomtncrcc” rcfcrs to any transportation for salc, trade. or usc on thc Phiiippinc 
territory, aid any place outside thereof. 
(4) “Ilog or Cat Fur Product” refers to any itcni of merchandise which consists, or is 
coniposed in whole or in part, of any dog l‘nr, cat fur, or both. 
(5) “Person” includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association. organization; 
business trust, government entity, or other entity. 
(6) “lntcrcsted Party” refers to any person having a contractual, financial, humanc, or 
other interest. 
(7) “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Trade and Industry. 
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(8) "Duly Authorized Officer'' rekrs to any Customs oflicer. mi? agent of the National 
13urcau of lnvcstigation, or any agent or othcr pcrson authorized by law or dcsignatcd by the 
Secretary to enforce the provisions of' this Act. 
SI<C'fION 3. I'rohihitions. - 
(a) PROHIBITION ON MANUFACTURE, SALE, AND OTIHER ACI'IVII'II~S - No 
person in the Philippines or subject to the jurisdiction of the Philippines may introduce into 
commerce, manufacture for introduction into commerce, sell, trade, or advertise in commerce, 
offer to sell, or trailsport or distribute in commerce, any dog or cat fur product. 
(b) IMPORTS AND EXPORTS- No dog or cat fur product inay be imported into, or 
exported li-om, the Philippines. 
SECTION 4. Labeling. - This Act shall not apply to articles exempt by reason of the 
relatively small quantity or value of the fur or used fur contained therein. 
SECTION 5. Enforcement. - 
(a) 1N GZINHRAI, 
The Secretary, either independently or in cooperation miit11 local 
govcrnment units, and intcrcstcd partics, is authorized to carry out operations and mcasurcs to 
eradicate and prevent the activities prohibited by Section 3. 
(b) INSPI!C'lIONS - A duly authorized officer may, upon his oujn initiative or upon thc 
request of any interested party, devain for inspection and inspect any product, package, crate, or 
othcr containcr, including its contents, and all accompanying documents to dctcrniinc 
compliance with this Act. 
(c) Slil%,UIUS AND ARRESTS - If a duly authorized officcr has reasonable cause to 
believe that there has been a violation of this Act or any regulation issued under this Act. such 
officcr inay search and seizc, with or without a warrant, thc item suspected or king thc subjcct 
of' the violation. and may arrest the owner of the item. An item so seized sh&ll be held by any 
pcrson authorizcd by the Secretary pending disposition o f  civil or criminal proccedings. 
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(d) BURDEN 01: PROOF - 'The burden of proof shall lie with thc owncr to cslahlish lhat 
the itcin seized is not a dog or cat fur product subject to forfeiture and civil penalty undcr Section 
I .  
(e) ACTION BY NATIONAL 13UIZI~A,AlJ 01; INVIiS'I'lGAI'ION - Upon prescntation by 
a duly authorized officer or m y  interested party of credible evidence that a violatioii of this Act 
or any regulation issued under this Act has occurred, the National Elureau of lnvcstigatiou will1 
jurisdiction shall investigate the matter and shall take appropriate action under this Act. 
(1') CI'IIZI~N SUFI'S - Any person may comincnce a civil suit to conipcl the Secretary to 
implement and cnlorce this Act, or to enjoin any person from taking action in violation of any 
provision of this Act or any regulation issued under this Act. 
(g) REWARD - The Secretary may pay a reward to any person who ftirnishes 
arrcst, criminal conviction, civil pcnalty assessment, or rorfciturc 
information which leads to 
ofproperty lor any violation olthis Act or any regulation issued under this Act. 
(h) 1IEGlJI.,AI'IC)NS- 
(I) IN GENERAL - The Secretary shall issue final reglrlations.  lie^ notjc.e and 
opportunity for public conment, to implement this Act within I80 days after thc date of 
enactment of this Act . 
(2) FlillS - 'I'he Secretary may chxgc reasonable fces for cxpenscs to the 
Government connected with permits or certificates authorized by this Act, including 
cxpenscs for-- 
(A) pmccssing applications; 
(13) rcasonablc inspections; and 
(C) the transfer, handling, or storage or evidentiary items seized and forkited 
undcr this Act. 
All fees collected pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the National Treasury 
in an account specifically designated for enforccment of this Act and availablc only for tbat 
purpose. 
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SECTION 6. Pendlie.~. - 
(a) CIVII, PliNAI,'I'Y - Any person who violates any provision of this Act or any 
regulation issued mider this Act niay be assessed a civil penalty of' not more than 1'20,000 for 
cach violation. 
(b) CRIMINAL PENALTY - Any person who knowingly violatcs any provision ol' Chis 
Act or any regulation issued undcr this Act shall be subject to imprisotinieiit of 1 year but not 
Inore than 3 years. 
(c) IQRFL~I'I'UKI? - Any dog or cat fur product that is thc subject of a violation of this 
Act or any regulation issued under this Act shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture to the same 
cxtent as any merchandise imported in violation of the customs law. 
(d) INJUNCTION - Any person who violales any provision oCthis Act or any regulation 
issued undcr this Act may bc ciijoined from further salcs of any fur products. 
(e) APPLICABILITY - The penalties in this section apply to violations occurring on or 
after thc date of enactmcnt of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter o€ instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. EffectiviQ Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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