FU'TEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Senate Bill No. 2839 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Angara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
']1 
t1AY 23 P 6 :26 
The challenges in food animal production and health over the last decade have 
been enormous. Impeding the full development of the animal industry, and consequently 
posing real threats to our food security, are a myriad of factors including new and 
emerging animal diseases especially those that are transmissible to humans; climate 
change effects; demands of globalization; growing population; and pervasive rural 
poverty. 
In 2009, the agricultural sector contributed 18 percent to the country's gross 
domestic product. About 26 percent to 28 percent of this - or P340 billion - came from 
the livestock and poultry subsector, which is overseen by the Bureau of Animal Industry 
(BAr). 
The BAr was established by law in 1930 as a line bureau mandated to increase 
food animal production and maintain the health of food animals. However in 1987, its 
regional line functions were decentralized in line with Executive Order 292 
(Administrative Code of 1987). Furthermore, when the Local Government Code was 
enacted and implemented in 1991, most ofthe veterinary field services were devolved to 
the local government units (LGU's). 
With regard to its domestic activities, the BAI has been relegated to a staff bureau 
without control over the regional and local veterinary services, animal production and 
animal welfare. This contributed to the BAI's inability to immediately and effectively 
institute measures to prevent, control and eradicate harmful zoonotic animal diseases on 
both national and international scales. At the same time, this has affected the effective 
implementation of national policies and standards on animal production and welfare. 
For instance, the BAI should be able to effectively prevent the entry of exotic 
animal diseases, as well as control and eradicate domestic animal and zoonotic diseases 
such as Avian Influenza, Mad Cow, Rabies, Leptospirosis and Ebola Reston Virus in 
plgS. 
The Philippines officially recognizes the international health guidelines of the 
World Organization for Animal Health and the Sanitary-Phytosanitary measures set by 
the World Trade Organization in matters of trade facilitation. However, problems remain 
with regard to their implementation. Major health-related concerns that now face the 
animal industry include the acceptable level of drug residues in animal products; lack of 


enforcing authority on confiscating and destroying animals and animal products which 
are contaminated or suspected to be infected; farm accreditation; animal traceability; and 
establishment of disease-fi'ee areas. 
Global developments and challenges pertaining to the food animal industry are 
more complex and multifaceted now than they were when the BAr was created 81 years 
ago. Hence, we now need an expanded but limited line authority to take charge of the 
delivery of functional and efficient veterinary services. It is imperative that the present 
BAI be transformed into the National Livestock and Veterinary Services Authority, 
which will have greater capability to improve our country's animal industry and 
strengthen its veterinary services. 
Therefore, the approval of the Animal Industry and Veterinary Services Act of 
2011 is earnestly sought. 
~//Av-
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Senate Bill No. 2 B 3 9 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Angara 
'11 
MAY23 P6:26 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY AND 
VETERINARY SERVICES IN THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
Chapter I 
2 
3 
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS 
4 
5 
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Animal Industry and 
6 
Veterinary Services Act of 20 11." 
7 
8 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to 
9 
promote and protect animal health and welfare, recognize the importance of 
10 
efficient delivery of sanitary measures, establish a modern and responsive 
I I 
national veterinary authority, encourage the participation of various 
12 
veterinary service providers, and secure the development of the animal 
13 
industry in the attainment of greater safeguards and food security for the 
14 
country's animal and human populations, improved public health and 
IS 
environment, and enhanced global trade competitiveness. 
16 
17 
Section 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all programs, activities and 
18 
undertakings of persons, corporations, associations, organizations, small-
19 
hold farmers, entities, or government agencies that, directly or indirectly, 
20 
deals on the following: 
21 
22 
1. Animal health related matters such as but not limited to: 
23 
24 
(a) 
Animal 
and zoonotic disease 
diagnosis, treatment, 
25 
prevention, control and eradication; 
26 
(b) Early detection systems and compulsory reporting of 
27 
important animal diseases and zoonoses; 
28 
(c) inspection and monitoring of (i) animals, animal products 
29 
and by-products (ii) animal facilities, premises, equipment, 
30 
means of transportation and other inanimate things in contact 
3 I 
with animals and/or animal products (iii) animal feeds, feed 


ingredients, supplements and additives, (iv) veterinary drugs, 
2 
biologicals, immunological products, cosmetics and devices; 
3 
4 
2. Animal welfare; 
5 
6 
3. Training and research on animal health and welfare, marketing and 
7 
extension services, and product development; 
8 
9 
4. Rational and judicious use of veterinary drugs, biologicals and 
10 
diagnostic reagents in animals; 
11 
12 
5. Management, genetic improvement and operations of beef cattle, 
13 
poultry and small ruminant farms of the government for conservation 
14 
of native domestic breeds. 
15 
16 
Section 4. Objectives. - The State shall endeavor to achieve the following 
17 
objectives: 
18 
19 
1. To protect human and environmental health from hazards caused by 
20 
animal diseases and zoonoses; 
21 
22 
2. To establish a modern and responsive veterinary services; 
23 
24 
3. To formulate, promote, enforce, implement rules, policies and 
25 
programs for the promotion of animal health, animal welfare and 
26 
environment-friendly animal production processes; 
27 
28 
4. 
To 
institutionalize 
inter-agency, 
multi-sectoral 
and 
local 
29 
government cooperation on animal health and veterinary service 
30 
programs; 
31 
32 
5. To ensure animal food production safety and food security m 
33 
suppOli of poverty alleviation; 
34 
35 
6. To guarantee compliance and harmonization of sanitary and 
36 
phytosanitary (SPS) measures and other veterinary protocols with 
37 
international standards; 
38 
39 
7. 
To 
promote 
an 
environment of global 
livestock 
trade 
40 
competitiveness. 
41 
42 
8. To establish nucleus and multiplier livestock breeder and 
43 
production farms in support of the government's modernization 
44 
programs in agriculture. 
45 
46 
Section 5. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes ofthis Act, the following 
47 
terms shall be defined as follows: 
48 
2 


a. Accreditation - refers to the procedure by which government agency 
2 
having jurisdiction formally recognizes the competence of an 
3 
inspection andlor certification body to provide inspection and 
4 
certification services. 
5 
6 
b. Agribusiness -
refers to the various businesses involved in food 
7 
production, including farming, breed and feed supply, agrichemicals, 
8 
farm 
and processing machinery, 
wholesale 
and 
distribution, 
9 
processing, marketing and retail sales. It also means making a "simple 
10 
farmer" or "small backyard operator" into an "entrepreneur," by 
I I 
legalizing their business venture with distinct identity and by 
12 
developing their own competitive edge in the industry group where 
13 
they belong. 
14 
IS 
c. Animal - refers to vertebrate and invel1ebrate species whether 
16 
domestic or wild (exotic or indigenous) animals which maybe food 
17 
producing, companion, aquatic, laboratory including birds, worms, 
18 
bees and butterflies. The term excludes human and non-mammalian 
19 
aquatic species. 
20 
21 
d. Animal facility - refers to structures or premises generally used for 
22 
the purpose of caring, breeding, rearing, holding, gaming, training, 
23 
trading, treating and exhibition such as but not limited to, farms, zoos, 
24 
aviaries, apiaries, kennels, racetracks, cockpits, pet shops, pounds, 
25 
animal rescue centers, airport and seaport quarantine stations, animal 
26 
holding 
facilities, 
stables, 
livestock markets, 
slaughterhouses, 
27 
veterinary clinics, and veterinary hospitals. 
28 
29 
e. Animal Health - refers to the over-all physical condition and well-
30 
being of animal(s). 
31 
32 
f. Animal Identification - refers to the combination of the identification 
33 
and registration of an animal individually, with a unique identifier, or 
34 
collectively by its epidemiological unit or group, with a unique group 
35 
identifier. 
36 
37 
g. Animal Identification System - refers to the inclusion and linking of 
38 
component such as identification of establishments, owners, person or 
39 
persons responsible for the animal(s), animal movements and other 
40 
records with an animal identification. 
41 
42 
h. Animal Industry - refers to any activity relating to the production, 
43 
breeding, caring, rearing, holding, trading, transporting and use of all 
44 
animals; animal processing, marketing and feed milling; 
45 
46 
1. Animal Health Technician - refers to any person who is authorized by 
47 
the Professional Regulations Commission to carry out certain 
48 
designated and delegated tasks under the responsibility and 
49 
supervision of a duly licensed veterinarian. 
3 


I 
J. Animal Production Food Safety and Security - refers to measures 
2 
taken in farms and production areas to safeguard the health of the 
3 
consuming public and ensure that the food derived therefrom is safe 
4 
and of sufficient quantity or supply. This includes measures taken to 
5 
regulate and control the introduction of non-food animals to the food 
6 
chain. 
7 
8 
k. Animal Products and By-Products - refer to any meat, fat, milk whey, 
9 
cream, butter, cheese, egg or other food or foodstuffs derived from an 
10 
animal; or any part of the viscera of an animal, hide, skin, hair, wool, 
II 
feathers, shell, horn or hoof; or any article or substance derived from 
12 
dung, urine, feces, bone, or blood of an animal; or any secretion of an 
13 
animal or any product or biological preparation made or derived from 
14 
any animal tissue or animal secretion; or any article or substance 
15 
derived from an animal such as semen, whether or not in combination 
16 
with any article or substance; or any article or substance or thing that 
17 
is declared by order to be an animal product for the purposes of this 
18 
Act. 
19 
20 
1. Animal Registry - refers to the list of information on animals (such 
21 
identification, animal health, movement, certification, epidemiology, 
22 
establishments) collected, recorded, securely stored and made 
23 
appropriately accessible and able to be utilized by the NL VSA and its 
24 
stakeholders. 
25 
26 
m. Border Post - refers to any airport, or seaport, railway station or road 
27 
check-point open to domestic and international trade of commodities, 
28 
where veterinary inspections are performed. 
29 
30 
n. Buffer Zone - refers to an area established to protect the health status 
31 
of animals in a disease free country or disease free zones, from those 
32 
in a country or zone of a different animal health status, using 
33 
measures based on the epidemiology of the disease under 
34 
consideration to prevent spread of the causative pathogenic agent into 
35 
a free country or free zone. These measures may include, but are not 
36 
limited to, vaccination, movement control and an intensified degree of 
37 
disease surveillance. 
38 
39 
o. Certification- refers to the procedure by which official certification 
40 
bodies or officially recognized certification bodies provide written or 
41 
equivalent assurance that animal control systems conform to 
42 
requirements. 
43 
44 
p. Chief Veterinary Officer - refers to a veterinarian who has the 
45 
responsibility and competence of ensuring and supervising the 
46 
implementation of animal health and welfare measures, international 
47 
veterinary certification and other standards and guidelines in the 
48 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organization for Animal 
4 


Health or Organization International des Epizooties (DIE) 1ll the 
2 
entire country. 
3 
4 
q. Compartment - refers to one or more establishments under a common 
5 
biosecurity management system containing an animal subpopulation 
6 
with a distinct health status with respect to a specific disease or 
7 
diseases for which required surveillance, control, biosecurity 
8 
measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade. 
9 
10 
1'. Competent Authority - refers to the NL VSA which is the official 
11 
authority charged by the government in the control of animal health, 
12 
welfare, animal production food safety and veterinary services. 
13 
14 
s. Confiscation - refers to taking into custody of animals, animal parts 
15 
and/or products, and/or of animal effects by the competent authority 
16 
for its proper disposal for having been the subj ect of violation of rules 
17 
and regulations or posing risk to general human and animal welfare. 
18 
19 
1. Control Area or Zone - refers to an area around the infected area 
20 
where restrictions will reduce and/or limit the chance of further 
21 
spreading the disease. 
22 
23 
u. Diseases - refer to the impairment of normal state of living animals 
24 
showing 
sub-clinical, 
clinical/pathological 
manifestation 
with 
25 
infectious and non-infectious condition. 
26 
27 
v. Early Detection System - refers to a system for the timely detection 
28 
and identification of animal and zoonotic diseases which includes the 
29 
following characteristics, namely; (a) representative coverage of target 
30 
animal populations by veterinary field services; (b) ability to 
31 
undertake effective disease investigation and reporting; (c) access to 
32 
laboratories capable of diagnosing and differentiating relevant 
33 
diseases; and (d) training program for veterinarians and animal health 
34 
technicians for detecting and reporting unusual disease occurrence. 
35 
36 
w. Emerging Disease - refers to a new infection resulting from the 
37 
evolution or change of an existing pathogenic agent, a known 
38 
infection spreading to a new geographic area or population, or a 
39 
pre~iously unrecognizable pathogenic agent or disease diagnosed for 
40 
the first time and which has a significant impact on animal or public 
41 
health. 
42 
43 
x. Epidemiology - refers to the science concerned with the study of 
44 
factors determining and influencing the frequency and distribution of 
45 
disease, injury and other health-related events and their causes in a 
46 
defined population. 
47 
48 
y. Equivalence of Sanitary Measures - refers to the state wherein the 
49 
sanitary measure(s) proposed by the exporting country as an 
5 


alternative to those of the importing country achieve(s) the same level 
2 
of protection 
3 
4 
z. Eradication - refers to the elimination of a pathogenic agent or disease 
5 
from the country or zone/area/region. 
6 
7 
aa. Establishment - refers to entities engaged in the manufacture, 
8 
production, preparation, handling, importation, exportation, sale, 
9 
storage, offer for sale, distribution, transfer, use, testing, promotion, 
10 
advertising or sponsorship of animals, animal products and by-
II 
products, veterinary drugs and biological products, feeds and feed 
12 
ingredients, cosmetics, and devices. 
13 
14 
bb.Exporting Country - refers to the country of origin of commodities 
15 
which are sent to another country. 
16 
17 
cc. Feed - refers to a mixture or combination of feed ingredients, 
18 
supplements and additives, in any form, by specific formula to be fed 
19 
directly as a sole ration to animals which is capable of furnishing the 
20 
nutritional needs or requirements of the animal in order to maintain 
21 
life, promote growth, production and reproduction without any 
22 
additional substance except water. 
23 
24 
dd.Feed Ingredients - refer to all articles, in any form, that are added or 
25 
mixed into the composition or which are used as raw materials in the 
26 
formulation of a feed or ration, base feed, base mix, concentrate, feed 
27 
supplement, feed additive, specialty feed and/or special feed 
28 
preparation purporting to supply additional nutrients, such as but not 
29 
limited to, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, growth 
30 
promoting factors and/or correcting nutritional disorders. 
31 
32 
ee. Free Zone - refers to an area which the absence of the disease under 
33 
consideration has been complied in accordance with the requirements 
34 
specified in the Terrestrial Code of the OlE for free status being met. 
35 
Within the zone and at its borders, appropriate official veterinary 
36 
control is effectively applied for animals and animal products, and 
37 
their transportation. 
38 
39 
ff. Governance -
refers to the process by which the Philippines 
40 
government (national, regional and local), private sector, industry 
41 
associations and other stakeholders collectively solve the problems, 
42 
needs and concerns of the animal industry. 
43 
44 
gg.Hazard - refers to a biological, chemical or physical agent in, or a 
45 
condition of an animal or animal product with the potential to cause 
46 
an adverse health effect. 
47 
6 


1 
hh.lndemnification - refers to the payment for any loss of animals or 
2 
damage to its by-products in accordance with the guidelines 
3 
established by the Veterinary Authority. 
4 
5 
11. Infected Zone - refers to an area in which the disease under 
6 
consideration is present. 
7 
8 
JJ. Livestock - refers to food animals including poultry. 
9 
10 
kk.Livestock Agribusiness Marketing - refers to the critical roles 
11 
marketing plays in the successful operation of an agribusiness firm by 
12 
focusing on the six major parts of agribusiness marketing system such 
13 
as: 1) the agricultural input industries; 2) the impact of technology-
14 
induced changes on production practices and the need for marketing 
15 
awareness on the paI1 of farmers as a way to achieve greater 
16 
profitability; 3) the commodity processing and food manufacturing 
17 
industries; 4) the food wholesaling and retailing industries; 5) the food 
18 
service industry; and 6) cooperative agribusiness. 
19 
20 
11. Livestock Marketing System - refers to livestock economics system 
21 
that relies upon the markets and market forces to allocate resources 
22 
and goods, to determine prices and quantities of each product that will 
23 
be produced. 
24 
25 
mm. 
Marketing - refers to the process of planning the conception, 
26 
pricing, promotion and distribution of goods and services to create 
27 
exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives. 
28 
29 
nn.Market Infrastructure - refers to facilities including, but not limited to 
30 
livestock "oksyon" market, wet/public market buildings, weighing 
31 
scale center, holding pens, warehouses, market infonnation centers, 
32 
slaughterhouses, connecting roads, transport and communication and 
33 
cold storage used by the livestock farmers in marketing their produce. 
34 
35 
oo.Marketing Information System - refers to an information system 
36 
concerned with the collection, storage, and analysis of information 
37 
and data for marketing decision making purposes. Information for use 
38 
in marketing infonnation systems is gathered from customers, 
39 
competitors and their products, and from the market itself. 
40 
41 
pp.Marketing Intelligence - refers to data/information obtained both 
42 
publicly & privately by market players that reflect a myriad of factors 
43 
regarding prices, stocks, trends, government policies affecting supply 
44 
or demand, production and consumption of products, by-products and 
45 
allied products in an industry, e.g. animal industry, to achieve a 
46 
marketing or business-related competitiveness. 
47 
48 
qq.Market Research - refers to the identification of a specific market and 
49 
measurement of its size and other characteristics collected from direct 
7 


observation of the consumers (such as in retail stores), mail surveys, 
2 
telephone or face-to-face interviews, and from published sources 
3 
(such as demographic data). 
4 
5 
IT. Notifiable Disease - refers to disease listed by the Veterinary 
6 
Authority, and that, as soon as detected or suspected, must be brought 
7 
to the attention of the Veterinary Authority, in accordance with 
8 
national regulations. 
9 
10 
ss. Notification - refers to the procedure by which the Local Veterinary 
11 
Authority informs the National Veterinary Authority, of the 
12 
occurrence of an outbreak of disease or infection. 
13 
14 
tt. Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) or the World Organization 
15 
for Animal Health - is the intergovernmental organization responsible 
16 
for improving animal health worldwide. It is recognized as a reference 
17 
organization by the World Trade Organization (WTO). 
18 
19 
uu. Quarantine - refers to the act of isolating animals from other animals 
20 
with no direct or indirect contact with other animals, to prevent the 
21 
transmission of specified pathogen(s) while the animals are 
22 
undergoing observation, and, if appropriate, testing and treatment, for 
23 
a specified length of time and/or to determine their freedom from 
24 
disease. 
25 
26 
vv.Production processes - refer to the transformational steps III the 
27 
conversion of raw materials to finished products. 
28 
29 
ww. 
Poultry - includes chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, game fowls, 
30 
ducks, geese, quails, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, and ratites reared 
31 
or kept in captivity for breeding, production of meat or eggs for 
32 
consumption or for re-stocking supplies of game. 
33 
34 
xx.Professional Regulation Commission - Board of Veterinary Medicine 
35 
(PRC-BVM) -
refers to an autonomous authority regulating 
36 
veterinarians and animal health technicians. 
37 
38 
yy.Quarantine Station - refers to a facility under the control of the 
39 
veterinary services where animals are under quarantine/isolation for 
40 
observation. 
41 
42 
zz. Risk - refers to the likelihood of the occurrence and the likely 
43 
magnitude of consequences of an adverse event to animal or human 
44 
health in the importing country during a specified time period, as a 
45 
result of hazardous elements. 
46 
47 
aaa. 
Risk Analysis - refers to the process composed of hazard 
48 
identification, 
risk 
assessment, 
risk 
management, 
and 
risk 
49 
communication. 
8 


2 
bbb. 
Risk Assessment - refers to the evaluation ofthe likelihood and 
3 
the biological and economic consequences of entry, establishment, or 
4 
spread of a pathogenic agent within the territory of an importing 
5 
country. 
6 
7 
ccc. 
Risk Communication - refers to the interactive exchange of 
8 
information on risk among risk assessors, risk managers and other 
9 
interested parties. 
10 
11 
ddd. 
Risk Management - refers to the process of identifying, 
12 
selecting and implementing measures that can be applied to reduce the 
13 
level of risk. 
14 
15 
eee. 
Sanitary Measure - refers to any scheme or strategy applied to 
16 
protect animal or human health or life within the territory of the 
17 
country from the risks arising from the entry, establishment or spread 
18 
of a hazardous element. 
19 
20 
fff.Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - refers to the set of legal 
21 
framework for international trade of animals, animal products and by-
22 
products, veterinary biologics, drugs, products and devices, animal 
23 
feeds and feed ingredients that is safe for public, animal and plant 
24 
health with important provisions on harmonization, equivalence, 
25 
assessment of risk and appropriate level of protection, regionalization, 
26 
transparency and notification. 
27 
28 
ggg. 
Shipping Permit - refers to the document issued by the NL VSA 
29 
authorizing the person indicated therein to ship or transport the stated 
30 
items to their indicated destination(s). 
31 
32 
hhh. 
Third Party Certification or Independent Certification - refers 
33 
to the process wherein a firm requires that its suppliers meet a certain 
34 
standard and requests an independent organization that is not involved 
35 
in the business relationship to control the compliance ofthe suppliers. 
36 
37 
iii. Traceability -
refers to the ability to follow or monitor the 
38 
history/record of an animal or group of animals during all stages of its 
39 
life. 
40 
41 
jjj. Vaccination - refers to the successful immunization of susceptible 
42 
animals through the administration of appropriate immunizing agents 
43 
comprising of antigens or bacterins or any agent appropriate to the 
44 
disease to be controlled. 
45 
46 
kldc 
Veterinarian - refers to a person who has been registered and 
47 
issued a valid certificate of registration and professional identification 
48 
card by Professional Regulatory Commission Board of Veterinary 
49 
Medicine of the Philippines. 
9 


2 
Ill. Veterinary Authority - refers to the government authority, comprising 
3 
of duly licensed veterinarians, having the responsibility and 
4 
competence of ensuring or supervising the implementation of animal 
5 
health and welfare measures, international veterinary certification and 
6 
other standards and guidelines in the Terrestrial Code of the OlE 
7 
(World Organization for Animal Health). 
8 
9 
mmm. 
Veterinary Biological Products - refer to all microorganisms 
10 
(viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, etc.), components or products of 
II 
microorganisms, antigens, antisera, bacterins, immunoglobulins and 
12 
analogous products of natural or of synthetic origin, including 
13 
genetically modified organisms, diagnostic kits and reagents, serums, 
14 
toxins and antitoxins intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention and 
15 
treatment of animal diseases and for research purposes. 
16 
17 
nnn. 
Veterinary Cosmetics - refer to any substance or preparation 
18 
intended to be placed in contact with the various external parts of the 
19 
animal body or with the teeth, mucous membranes of the oral cavity, 
20 
with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, 
21 
changing their appearance and/or correcting the body odor, and/or 
22 
protecting the body or keeping the same in good condition. 
23 
24 
000. 
Veterinary Device - refers to any instruments, apparatuses, 
25 
implements, machines, appliances or contrivances, including their 
26 
components, parts and accessories intended for use in the diagnosis, 
27 
cure, mitigation, treatment and prevention of animal diseases or to 
28 
affect the structure or any function of the body or animals. 
29 
30 
ppp. 
Veterinary Drug - refers to articles for use in the diagnosis, cure, 
31 
mitigation, treatment or prevention of diseases of animals. 
32 
33 
qqq. 
Veterinary Products - as use in this Act shall collectively refer 
34 
to veterinary biologicals, drugs, devices, and cosmetics as defined 
35 
herein and to other substances applied to animal facilities such as but 
36 
not limited to disinfectants, insecticides, and substances that modify 
37 
or extend physiological functions, behaviors or availability such as but 
38 
not limited to hormones, growth promotants, probiotics and acidifiers. 
39 
40 
rrr.Veterinary Inspector - refers to any duly-licensed veterinarian 
41 
employed by the national or local government unit primarily tasked to 
42 
diagnose, investigate and control animal diseases and other such 
43 
duties stipulated in this Act. 
44 
45 
sss. 
Veterinary Personnel - refers to an employee working 111 a 
46 
veterinary office. 
47 
10 


ttt. Veterinary Services - refer to the activities in the implementation of 
2 
animal health, welfare, feeds and animal production food safety by 
3 
government and non-government organizations. 
4 
5 
UUll. 
Zone / Region - refers to a clearly defined part of the country 
6 
containing an animal subpopulation with a distinct health status with 
7 
respect to a specific disease for which required surveillance, control 
8 
and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of 
9 
international trade. 
10 
11 
vvv. 
Zoonosis - refers to any disease or infection which is naturally 
12 
transmissible from animals to human. 
13 
14 
15 
Chapter II 
16 
17 
STRUCTURE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS 
18 
19 
Section 6. The National Livestock and Veterinary Services Authority. - The 
20 
Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) shall be renamed as the "National 
21 
Livestock and Veterinary Services Authority (NLVSA)", an attached line 
22 
agency up to the regional level under the Department of Agriculture, chiefly 
23 
responsible for overseeing and promoting the health, welfare and 
24 
productivity of the national animal population for food safety, food security 
25 
and rural development. 
26 
27 
The NL VSA shall be headed by a Director General, with the rank of 
28 
undersecretary, who must possess a minimum experience often (10) years in 
29 
practice as a duly licensed veterinarian. He shall be assisted by a Deputy 
30 
Director General for Regulatory Services and a Deputy Director General for 
31 
Research, Development and Extension Services, who, likewise, must both 
32 
possess a minimum experience of ten (10) years practice as a duly licensed 
33 
veterinarian. 
34 
35 
The Director General, and Deputy Directors General shall be 
36 
appointed by the President of the Philippines, while, the Center Directors, 
37 
Regional Directors and Director for Administrative Support Services shall 
38 
be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. All personnel below the 
39 
Director and Regional Director levels shall be appointed by the Director 
40 
General. 
41 
42 
Section 7. Powers and Functions - The NL VSA shall have the following 
43 
principal powers through the Director General or his duly designated 
44 
representative: 
45 
46 
1. Regulatory Authority. - The NL VSA shall have authority to regulate 
47 
animal health, animal welfare, animal production food safety and matters 
48 
connected or pertaining to, but not limited to general sanitary measures, risk 
49 
analysis, animal quarantine, diagnosis of diseases, animal feeds and feed 
11 


ingredients, 
veterinary 
drugs 
and 
biological 
products, 
and 
other 
2 
pharmaceuticals and products used on animals and the environment, animal 
3 
facilities, equipments, devices and cosmetics, veterinary research, animal 
4 
production and international certification procedures. 
5 
6 
2. Technical Assistance and Supervision. - The NL VSA shall provide 
7 
technical training for the capacity building and strengthening of livestock 
8 
and veterinary services related functions of all national government agencies 
9 
and Local Government Units (LGUs). It shall exercise technical supervision 
10 
over veterinary offices and veterinary related functions of all national 
II 
government agencies and LGUs. This includes oversight authority to require 
12 
mandatory notification and coordination, submission of reports and other 
13 
pertinent data regarding animal disease situations, within the respective 
14 
areas or jurisdictions of other government agencies and local government 
15 
units. 
16 
17 
3. Assumption of Control. - The NL VSA is authorized, subject to the 
18 
approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and in coordination with the 
19 
concerned LGU and regional officials of other agencies, to assume full 
20 
control and direction in the management of local and regional outbreaks of 
21 
dangerous communicable and zoonotic animal diseases, where the animal 
22 
and/or human health status of the country, as recommended by the hereunder 
23 
described National Advisory Committee on Animal Diseases and 
24 
Emergency (NAC-ADE), is in actual or imminent danger. 
25 
26 
4. Visitorial Power - The NL VSA, through its duly authorized veterinary 
27 
officers, upon presenting appropriate credentials or authority to the owner, 
28 
manager, operator, agent or any person within the premises, shall have the 
29 
power to enter and inspect anytime but following down time requirements of 
30 
livestock and poultry farms and other animal establishments, conduct 
31 
collection of laboratory specimens and samples with proper description and 
32 
receipt of those taken, and when required by circumstances and as 
33 
authorized by the Director General or his representative, impose preventive 
34 
and control measures therein, in coordination with, and as may be necessary, 
35 
subject to biosafety entry requirements of concerned owners and caretakers. 
36 
37 
5. Declaration of Quarantine - The Director General through a written order 
38 
of quarantine shall cause the immediate holding or detention for thirty (30) 
39 
days or for such longer period, if necessary, for observation and testing of 
40 
animals, animal parts, products, and by-products, feeds, feed ingredients, 
41 
feed supplements and feed additives, veterinary biologics, drugs, products 
42 
and devices, and such other materials or substances which are found or 
43 
deemed to be infected or carriers of dangerous animal diseases. 
44 
45 
6. Seizure and Confiscation - The NL VSA shall have the authority to seize 
46 
and confiscate animals, animal parts, products, and by-products, feeds, feed 
47 
ingredients, feed supplements and feed additives, veterinary biologics, drugs, 
48 
products and devices, and such other materials or substances that are 
49 
undocumented, or of unknown source and conditions, and are showing signs 
12 


of dangerous animal diseases, or reasonably suspected to be infected with or 
2 
carriers of dangerous animal diseases, contaminated with toxic materials or 
, 
3 
posing an imminent danger, threat and injury to the overall animal health 
4 
situation in declared disease-free zones, areas or compartments, and border 
5 
posts of the country. 
6 
7 
7. Animal Condemnation and Eradication Measures - The NLVSA shall 
8 
have the authority to institute condemnation and eradication measures on 
9 
animals that are diseased or reasonably suspected to be infected with 
10 
diseases, and are deemed a great risk to the livestock population and/or 
11 
public health. 
12 
13 
8. Call for Assistance - The Director General may call upon any government 
14 
agency for any form of assistance consistent with its powers, duties, and 
15 
responsibilities for the purpose of ensuring the effective and efficient 
16 
implementation of this Act and the rules and regulations promulgated 
17 
hereunder. 
18 
19 
9. Delegation - The NL VSA shall have the authority to deputize local 
20 
government and private veterinarians to perform disease control, measures 
21 
to obviate any animal welfare concerns and animal health matters for proper 
22 
implementation of national disease control policies and programs at all 
23 
levels. The DG shall deputize Animal Welfare Officers from Non 
24 
Government 
Organizations 
(NGOs), 
cItizens 
groups, 
community 
25 
organizations and other volunteers who have undergone the necessary 
26 
training and accreditation for this purpose. As such, the Animal Welfare 
27 
Officers shall have the full authority to seize and confiscate affected animals 
28 
in violation of the provisions of the Act, subject to existing rules and 
29 
regulation on arrest and detention. 
30 
31 
10. Emergency Response - In the event of natural and man-made disasters, 
32 
the NL VSA shall ensure the safety and protection of the animal population 
33 
following the quick response "Oplan Sagip Hayop" scheme. The NL VSA 
34 
shall administer and supervise the effective implementation of this Act and 
35 
its rules and regulations. It shall exercise such powers and perform such 
36 
functions as may be necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities 
37 
under this Act. 
38 
39 
Section 8. Organizational Structure - The technical, administrative, finance 
40 
and support services of the NL VSA shall be strengthened as may be 
41 
appropriate and necessary to carry out effectively the provisions of this Act. 
42 
Various Centers shall be established under the NL VSA and each Center 
43 
shall be headed by a Director, who must possess a minimum practice of five 
44 
(5) years as a veterinarian, with supervisory experience in any related field. 
45 
Each center shall include divisions which shall be headed by a division chief 
46 
with minimum management experience of three (3) years. The Centers 
47 
established are as follows: 
48 
13 


1. Center for Animal Health and Welfare - The Center shall be responsible 
2 
for veterinary epidemiology, animal disease surveillance systems, animal 
3 
disease prevention, control and eradication programs, risk analysis, herd 
4 
health management, animal welfare and animal health information. 
5 
6 
The center shall have the following divisions: (a) Veterinary 
7 
Epidemiology and Economics (b) Animal Disease Control and Veterinary 
8 
Public Health, (c) Animal Welfare and (d) Animal Health Information and 
9 
Communication. 
10 
11 
2. Center for Veterinary Quarantine Services - The Center shall be primarily 
12 
responsible in issuing import and export certifications and conducting pre-
13 
and post-border inspections and monitoring, accreditation, quarantine, and if 
14 
warranted by biosecurity procedures, instituting immediate seizure and/or 
15 
confiscation of animals, animal parts, products, and by-products, feeds, feed 
16 
ingredients, feed supplements and feed additives, veterinary biologics, drugs, 
17 
products and devices, and such other materials or substances posing threat or 
18 
harm to animal health. The Center shall also be responsible for the 
19 
maintenance of quarantine stations and enforcement of animal quarantine 
20 
and welfare rules and regulations in the various inland and offshore shipping 
21 
routes of the country. 
22 
23 
The Center shall have the following divisions: (a) Sanitary and 
24 
PhytoSanitary Trade Facilitation (b) Veterinary Quarantine Inspection and 
25 
Monitoring, and (c) Biosecurity. 
26 
27 
3. Center for Animal Disease Diagnosis -
The Center shall primarily 
28 
conduct laboratory diagnosis of animal diseases and act as a repository of 
29 
data on disease diagnosis. It shall be responsible for the management of 
30 
regional veterinary diagnostic laboratories, including the monitoring of 
31 
certified/accredited private animal disease diagnostic laboratories. CADD 
32 
shall also be the National Reference Center for Animal Disease Diagnosis. 
33 
34 
The Center shall have the following divisions: (a) Pathobiology, (b) 
35 
Bacteriology & Mycobiology, (c) Virology, Cd) Laboratory Standards and 
36 
Compliance and (e) National Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory 
37 
Information Management and Coordination. 
38 
39 
4. Center for Animal Feeds, Veterinary Products and Establishments 
40 
Regulation -
The 
Center shall regulate the manufacture, production, 
41 
importation, exportation, distribution, handling, sale, offer for sale, transfer, 
42 
promotion, advertisement, the use and testing of premixes, animal feeds, 
43 
feed ingredients, feed supplements and feed additives, veterinary drugs, 
44 
biologicals, cosmetics and devices and all other types of veterinary products 
45 
and establishments. It shall likewise conduct assays on the quality, safety, 
46 
potency and efficacy of these products and veterinary drug residues in 
47 
animal products except meat. 
48 
14 


The Center shall include the following divisions: (a) Registration, 
2 
Licensing, & Accreditation, 
(b) Inspection and Compliance and (c) 
3 
Laboratory Services. 
4 
5 
5. Animal Genetic Resource Management and Improvement Center - This 
6 
Center shall be responsible for formulating policies and programs for 
7 
sustainable animal genetic resources of domestic animals. It shall prepare in 
8 
consultation with various stakeholders the national strategy and action plan 
9 
for the use, development and conservation of animal genetic resources in 
10 
particular the native food animals. 
11 
12 
The Center shall have the following divisions: (a) Breed Registry and 
13 
Central Data Management (b) Gene Bank (c) Native Pigs (d) Native Poultry 
14 
(e) Native Cattle, Goat and Sheep (f) Native Horses. 
15 
16 
6. Center for Animal Research and Product Development - This Center shall 
17 
address the national agenda for all researches on animal health, animal 
18 
welfare and animal production food safety and security in coordination, 
19 
collaboration and consultation with international and local agencies and 
20 
stakeholders. 
21 
22 
It shall also be responsible for the generation of technology, 
23 
technology adaptation and demonstration necessary for maximum utilization 
24 
of available resources in accordance with the requirements of the national 
25 
animal research, production and development agenda and shall also serve as 
26 
repository of all animal research and scientific information. 
27 
28 
This Center shall have the following divisions: (a) Animal Production 
29 
Research, (b) Veterinary Product Research and Standards Development and 
30 
(c) Animal Product Development. 
31 
32 
7. Center for Livestock Trade Promotion and Development - This Center 
33 
shall be primarily responsible for the promotion of the National Agenda for 
34 
the development and implementation of sustainable livestock business 
35 
development, animal industry strategic management, animal supply chain 
36 
management, animal knowledge and information network, participatory 
37 
governance, animal market and post- production development and animal 
38 
market infrastructure and animal statistics and marketing intelligence, 
39 
animal marketing system programs and activities. 
40 
41 
The center shall have following divisions: (a) Livestock Business and 
42 
Industry 
Strategic 
Development 
(b) 
Market 
and 
Post-production 
43 
Development (c) Socio-Economic and Marketing Research. 
44 
45 
Section 9. Regional Livestock and Veterinary Services Offices (RL VSOs) -
46 
Regional Livestock and Veterinary Services Offices of the NL VSA shall be 
47 
created at the regional level to be headed by the Regional Director, who 
48 
must possess a minimum experience of five (5) years as a veterinarian. He 
15 


shall be assisted by Chiefs of Divisions necessary in the performance of 
2 
regional operations. 
3 
4 
All existing DA regional staff performing veterinary services and 
5 
functions are hereby transferred to the RL VSO. 
6 
7 
Section 10. Administrative Support Services - The NL VSA shall be assisted 
8 
by an Administrative Support Services which shall be headed by Director 
9 
and Regional Chiefs of Division, who must possess a minimum management 
10 
experience of five (5) years and three (3) years in any related field, 
11 
respectively. It shall have the following divisions or units, as maybe 
12 
applicable, to wit: (a) Assets and Finance, (b) Human Resource 
13 
Development, (c) Property and Logistics Management (d) Legal Support 
14 
Services, (e) Monitoring & Evaluation, Cf) Planning & International Desk, 
15 
and (g) Information and Communication Technology Management. 
16 
17 
Chapter III 
18 
19 
CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER, VETERINARY INSPECTORS AND 
20 
ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS 
21 
22 
Section 11. Chief Veterinary Officer. - The Director General of the NL VSA 
23 
shall be the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of the country. He shall be 
24 
primarily responsible in the formulation and implementation of national 
25 
policies, strategies, priorities and action plans on animal health, animal 
26 
welfare and animal production food safety. He shall also represent the 
27 
country in official international dialogue on animal health matters. 
28 
29 
The CVO shall coordinate and, as much as possible, establish linkages 
30 
with allied government agencies, the private sector and academe in the 
31 
implementation of plans and programs in animal disease prevention, control 
32 
and eradication to ensure prompt mobilization of all essential personnel and 
33 
resources in the event of animal disease emergencies. 
34 
35 
The CVO shall also endeavor to address current, recurring, new and 
36 
prospective national issues and concerns on animal health, animal welfare, 
37 
feeds and animal food production safety and security, with regional and 
38 
global impact through the help of other allied government agencies and 
39 
stakeholders. 
40 
41 
Section 12. Veterinary Inspectors (VI) - The Secretary of Agriculture, upon 
42 
recommendation of the Director General of the NL VSA, may by instrument 
43 
in writing, appoint or deputize veterinarians as Veterinary Inspectors under 
44 
this Act. The appointment of the Regional Veterinary Inspectors shall be 
45 
made by the Regional Director with the concurrence of the Director General. 
46 
The Director General shall prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the 
47 
National and Regional Veterinary Inspectors. 
48 
16 


The services of the Veterinary Inspectors shall be entitled to 
2 
incentives and overtime work when the interest of the service so requires 
3 
and the services performed outside of the office hours and other expenses 
4 
shall be chargeable to the parties served, at the rates to be prescribed by the 
5 
Secretary upon the recommendation of the Director General. 
6 
7 
Section 13. Animal Health Technician - An Animal Health Technician is a 
8 
person who is authorized by the PRC to carry out certain designated tasks in 
9 
a country and delegated to them under the responsibility and direction of the 
10 
veterinarian. The tasks authorized for each category of veterinary para-
11 
professional shall be defined by the PRC depending on qualifications and 
12 
training, and according to need. 
13 
14 
Section 14. Magna Carta for Public Health Workers- Veterinarians, 
15 
Animal Health Technicians and other veterinary personnel performing 
16 
veterinary public health related activities employed under the National 
17 
Government Agencies (NGAs) and LGUs are public health workers and 
18 
shall be entitled to the provisions and compensations stipulated under RA 
19 
7305 (Magna Carta for Public Health Workers). 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
Chapter IV 
ADVISORY COMMITTEES 
25 
Section 15. National and Regional Advisory Committees for Animal 
26 
Diseases and Emergency. - The existing National and Regional Advisory 
27 
Committees 
on 
Animal 
Disease 
Control 
and 
Emergency 
(NAC-
28 
ADCE/RAC-ADCE), which were created in the advent of emerging diseases 
29 
are hereby renamed and institutionalized in this Act as the National and 
30 
Regional Advisory Committees on Animal Diseases and Emergency (NAC-
31 
ADE/RAC-ADE) under the Office ofthe Secretary of Agriculture. 
32 
33 
The Chairperson of the NAC-ADE shall be a duly licensed 
34 
veterinarian of good standing in the veterinary profession, a practicing 
35 
veterinarian for at least ten (10) years. He shall be designated as such by the 
36 
Secretary of Agriculture from the recommendation of the regular members 
37 
from the private sector. The manner in the filling up of the members of the 
38 
committee shall be prescribed and approved by the Secretary of Agriculture 
39 
upon recommendation of the Director General. The composition of the 
40 
committee shall be updated from time to time and as may be needed by 
41 
circumstances. 
42 
43 
Section 16. Duties and Functions. - The NAC-ADE and RAC-ADE shall 
44 
submit their recommendations directly to the Secretary of Agriculture and 
45 
perform the following duties and functions: 
46 
47 
1. Recommend policies and measures on the following: 
48 
17 


a. Risk analyses and import protocols, prevention, control, eradication 
2 
and monitoring of economically harmful animal diseases including 
3 
zoonotic diseases; 
4 
5 
b. Procedures to be followed in times of emergencies, e.g., nationwide 
6 
epidemic of food animal and zoonotic diseases and during disasters, 
7 
either man-made or natural; 
8 
9 
c. Verification of reports on emerging zoonotic animal diseases; 
10 
11 
d. Support the cva in sourcing funds from national and international 
12 
funding agencies. 
13 
14 
2. The NAC-ADE shall coordinate the actlVltles of the various Regional 
15 
Advisory Committee on Animal Diseases and Emergency (RAC-ADEs) 
16 
which is the regional counterpart and have similar function advising the 
17 
Secretary of Agriculture and the respective Regional Directors eRDs); 
18 
19 
3. Create sub-committees to address special issues and concerns of the 
20 
NL VSA and other agencies. 
21 
22 
4. Assist in the review of policies, programs, and projects for the 
23 
development of the National Veterinary Services. 
24 
25 
5. Assist in the evaluation of the implementation, efficiency and 
26 
effectiveness of the programs and projects of the NL VSA. 
27 
28 
Section 17. National Advisory Committee for the Welfare of Animals 
29 
(NACWA) - The CAW created under RA 8485 shall be renamed the 
30 
NACWA which is a multi-agency/multi sectoral committee which shall be 
31 
chaired by a representative from any of the private sector subject to the 
32 
approval of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. The Committee 
33 
shall be responsible for the formulation of rules and regulations for the strict 
34 
implementation of the provisions of this Act and RA 8485. 
35 
36 
The Committee shall be composed of representatives from the following 
37 
agency/sector: 
38 
a. Department of Agriculture 
39 
40 
b. Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
41 
42 
c. Department of Interior and Local Government 
43 
44 
d. Department of Education 
45 
46 
e. Provincial, City and Municipal Veterinarians' League of the 
47 
Philippines 
48 
49 
f. Philippines Veterinary Medical Association 
18 


1 
g. Non-Government Organizations 
2 
3 
h. Peoples' Organizations 
4 
5 
i. Academe 
6 
7 
Section 18. Animal Feed Services Advisory Committee (AFSAC) - The 
8 
Animal Feed Control Advisory Committee (AFCAC) created under 
9 
Republic Act No 1556, as amended by Presidential Decree No.7, which 
10 
adopted into law Senate Bill No. 627, is hereby renamed Animal Feed 
11 
Services Advisory Committee with eleven (11) members, the composition of 
12 
which shall be modified to add three (3) more members as follows: one legal 
13 
representative from the NL VSA, one representative from the Legal Division 
14 
ofDA and one from the Philippine College of Veterinary Feed Practitioners. 
15 
16 
The AFSAC shall continue to exercise its functions in matters related 
17 
to the animal feed industry, except as provided in Section 66 of SB No. 627 
18 
hereof. 
19 
20 
Section 19. Mandatory Review and Evaluation - The recommendations of 
21 
the NAC-ADE, NACWA, and AFSAC shall be subject to mandatory review 
22 
and evaluation by the Director General, before the same are submitted for 
23 
final approval by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
24 
25 
Section 20. Other Advisory Committees - Other Advisory Committees may 
26 
be created to assist the NL VSA in the implementation of its various 
27 
programs and projects. 
28 
29 
Chapter V 
30 
31 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND LOCAL VETERINARY 
32 
OFFICERS 
33 
34 
Section 21. LGU Assistance and Cooperation - Local Government Units 
35 
(LGUs) shall assist and closely cooperate with the NLVSA in the 
36 
implementation of the provisions of this Act. They shall extend any 
37 
available manpower, security, material and financial resources to any 
38 
national animal disease prevention and control measures, animal welfare and 
39 
other national programs being undertaken by the NL VSA within their 
40 
respective jurisdictions. 
41 
42 
Section 22. Creation of Municipal Veterinary Positions - The position of 
43 
municipal veterinarian shall be mandatory in all first class municipalities and 
44 
optional in other municipalities. 
45 
46 
Section 
23. 
Responsibilities of Provincial, 
City 
and Municipal 
47 
Veterinarians- In addition to the duties of a veterinary officer as provided in 
48 
Section 489 of Republic Act No. 7160, also known as the "Local 
19 


1 
Government Code of 1991", it shall be the duty of veterinary officers, as the 
2 
case maybe, to: 
3 
4 
I. Ensure the implementation of policies, rules and regulations issued by 
5 
NL VSA and other coordinating agencies in accordance with the provisions 
6 
of this Act and its related laws, rules and regulations towards the 
7 
enforcement of animal disease prevention, control measures and animal 
8 
welfare regulations. 
9 
10 
2. Extend assistance, as may be necessary, to the NL VSA 
111 the 
11 
implementation or enforcement of animal disease prevention and control 
12 
measures, and animal welfare within their area of responsibility. 
13 
14 
3. Comply with all reportorial and documentary requirements needed by the 
15 
NL VSA in the implementation ofthis Act. 
16 
17 
Section 24. Issuance of Mayor's Permit - No LGU shall issue any Mayor's 
18 
Permit to operate any farm, clinic, animal facility, kennel or any other 
19 
veterinary establishment unless the owner/operator has secured clearance 
20 
from the provincial, city or municipal veterinarian attesting to the fact that 
21 
the establishment has complied with all the requirements prescribed under 
22 
NL VSA rules and regulations. 
23 
24 
Chapter VI 
25 
26 
ROLE OF ALLIED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND NON-
27 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
28 
29 
Section 25. Allied Government Agencies - Allied government agencies that 
30 
are performing veterinary services and related functions shall continue to do 
31 
so. The DG of the NL VSA as the national competent authority shall call 
32 
upon other allied government agencies and academe in the implementation 
33 
of this Act. 
34 
35 
Section 26. Other Agencies and Sectors - The NL VSA shall establish 
36 
agreements with other government sectors, private sectors, academe and 
37 
other relevant agencies and stakeholders in the implementation of plans and 
38 
programs in animal disease prevention, control, eradication and to ensure 
39 
prompt mobilization of all essential personnel and resources in the event of 
40 
animal disease emergencies. 
41 
42 
Section 27. Responsibilities - All government agencies and private entities 
43 
performing veterinary and related functions shall cooperate fully with the 
44 
Director General as CVO and comply with the set policies and technical 
45 
standards for veterinary services. 
46 
47 
Chapter VII 
48 
20 


I 
ANIMAL HEALTH, WELFARE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION FOOD 
2 
SAFETY 
3 
4 
Section 28. Duty to Report Notifiable Diseases - All animal and livestock 
5 
producers, owners, operators, farm managers, farm veterinarians, animal 
6 
facility operators and farm consultants who have in their possession or care, 
7 
animals or animal products infected or suspected to be infected, or have 
8 
reasonable grounds to believe that the animal or animal product is infected 
9 
with a Notifiable Disease are duty bound to report to the concerned Local 
10 
Government Unit -Veterinary Office or to the NL VSA or to the RL VSO 
II 
immediately within 24 hours by the quickest means possible. 
12 
13 
These notifiable diseases are, but not limited to, Foot and Mouth 
14 
Disease (FMD), Classical Swine Fever (CSF, Hog Cholera), Highly 
15 
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HP AI), Newcastle Disease (ND) or Avian Pest, 
16 
Rabies, Anthrax and Hemorrhagic Septicemia. The NL VSA shall provide a 
17 
complete list of Notifiable Diseases and their reporting guidelines which 
18 
shall be updated from time to time. 
19 
20 
Section 29. Proper Disposal of Dead Animals and Potentially Infective 
21 
Materials - Dead animals, manure, and other potentially infective materials 
22 
from regular operations of farms, clinics, animal facilities shall be disposed 
23 
in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations and guidelines set by 
24 
NLVSA. 
25 
26 
Section 30. Animal Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology - All agencies 
27 
performing veterinary services shall be responsible in monitoring animal 
28 
disease situation by conducting regular surveillance of the animal and 
29 
livestock population in their respective jurisdiction and are required to report 
30 
periodically to the NL VSA. 
31 
32 
Section 31. National Registry, Animal Identification and Traceability of 
33 
Livestock - A national registry of animal facilities and establishments shall 
34 
be established by the NL VSA. An animal identification system shall also be 
35 
developed to be able to trace the origin of each animal or groups of animals. 
36 
The NL VSA in consultation with livestock stakeholders shall also establish 
37 
farm classification system in accordance with accepted standard and 
38 
parameters. 
39 
40 
Section 32. Mandatory Vaccination - To prevent, control, and eradicate 
41 
emerging or re-emerging, communicable and exotic diseases, all animals 
42 
shall have to be vaccinated in accordance with the implementing rules and 
43 
regulations of this Act. 
44 
45 
Section 33. Emergency Preparedness - The NL VSA shall draft the National 
46 
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Plans in response to animal health, 
47 
welfare and animal production food safety. Measures shall also be developed 
48 
to mitigate the effect of climate change in the livestock industry. 
49 
21 


Section 34. Animal Welfare Practices - All animal producers, owners, 
2 
operators, farm managers, farm veterinarians, animal facility operators and 
3 
farm consultants who have in their possession or care, animals shall adopt 
4 
and observe animal welfare regulations and practices. 
5 
6 
Section 35. Animal Health, Welfare and Animal Production Food Safety 
7 
Information System - The NL VSA shall develop a more effective animal 
8 
health information system involving agencies and other stakeholders on 
9 
animal health, welfare and animal production food safety including 
10 
establishment of an effective information network. 
11 
12 
Section 36. Risk Analysis - Principles of risk analysis shall be incorporated 
13 
in all policy formulation and standard setting. 
14 
15 
Section 37. Veterinary Public Health - The NL VSA shall take the lead role 
16 
in the formulation and implementation of veterinary public health programs 
17 
and activities particularly in the prevention and control of zoonoses and food 
18 
safety. 
19 
20 
Section 38. Mandatory Engagement of the Professional Services of a 
21 
Veterinarian - All animal establishments such as but not limited to farms, 
22 
zoos, kennels, apiaries, aviaries, livestock markets, animal race tracks and 
23 
cockpits shall engage the professional services of a veterinarian based on 
24 
minimum number of animals and other parameters to be prescribed by the 
25 
NL VSA, in consultation with concerned sectors. 
26 
27 
Section 39. Farm Inspection and Certification -
The NL VSA in 
28 
consultation with stakeholders shall establish standards and parameters on 
29 
farm inspection and certification. 
30 
31 
32 
33 
Chapter VIII 
34 
COMPENSA nON TO SUPPORT DISEASE ERADICA nON 
35 
36 
Section 40. Creation of a Disease Compensation and Eradication Trust 
37 
Fund - A Disease Compensation and Eradication Trust Fund shall be 
38 
provided for in the General Appropriations Act annually and be held by the 
39 
Authority. It shall not be reduced and shall not revert to the General Fund 
40 
even if the same is not used for a current fiscal year. An initial amount of 
41 
Five Hundred Million Pesos (P 500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to 
42 
start the seed fund for the Disease Compensation and Eradication Trust Fund. 
43 
44 
Section 41. Fund Utilization - The Fund shall be applied for the payment of 
45 
compensation to the owner of animals. It shall also be utilized for the 
46 
payment of expenses directly connected with controlling, eradicating or 
47 
preventing, the spread of any animal disease that is notifiable or emerging or 
48 
re-emerging, exotic and zoonotic including administrative expenses. 
49 
22 


Section 42. Coverage of Compensation - Only those animals that were 
2 
stamped out pursuant to the Depopulation Order issued by the Director 
3 
General, as recommended by NAC-ADE and as approved by the Secretary 
4 
of Agriculture, to prevent further spread of the disease should be 
5 
indemnified. Dead animals due to notifiable and emerging or re-emerging, 
6 
exotic and zoonotic diseases are not compensable. 
7 
8 
Section 43. Compensable Amount -The amount of compensation payable 
9 
shall not be more than Sixty Percent (60%) of the market value of the 
10 
identified animals that are ordered depopulated on account of a disease. 
11 
12 
Section 44. Issuance of Compensation Guidelines - Guidelines for the 
13 
payment of compensation shall be prescribed by the NL VSA in consultation 
14 
with stakeholders. 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
Chapter IX 
QUARANTINE MEASURES 
22 
Section 45. Border Post Entry -
The importation of animals, animal 
23 
products, animal by-products, animal feeds and feed ingredients, veterinary 
24 
drugs, biologicals, cosmetics and devices, and other potential vectors of 
25 
animal diseases shall be subjected to close veterinary inspection, quarantine 
26 
and test as may be deemed appropriate and necessary, and examination of 
27 
required document such as, but not limited to, (I) an Authority to Import 
28 
duly issued by the NL VSA and secured prior 10 the importation, and (2) a 
29 
Veterinary Health Certificate and/or Sanitary Phytosanitary (SPS) Clearance, 
30 
or its equivalent, and such other documents as may be required by the 
31 
NL VSA to be obtained from the proper authorities of the country of origin. 
32 
33 
Section 46. Release from Customs Zone - The Bureau of Customs or its 
34 
representative shall not allow the release of any article of importation that is 
35 
subject to veterinary inspection, quarantine and examination procedures 
36 
unless the NL VSA or its duly authorized representative has issued a 
37 
Veterinary Quarantine Compliance Certificate or Lifting of Quarantine for 
38 
the patiicular shipment, as the case may be. 
39 
40 
Section 47. Prohibited Importation - No impoliation of animals, animal 
41 
products, animal by-products, animal effects and other related products such 
42 
as but not limited to fodder crops and forage shall be allowed from countries 
43 
known or declared to be infected with a dangerous communicable animal 
44 
disease or diseases which has been banned to export the said products to the 
45 
Philippines and where there is a possible danger of spreading or introducing 
46 
such disease or diseases into the Philippines by the importation of such item. 
47 
All in-transit shipments at the time of the occurrence of the foreign disease 
48 
or contagion shall be subjected to strict quarantine and laboratory testing, or 
49 
automatically denied entry and/or confiscation and disposal, and as the 
23 


NL VSA may determine, in the overriding interests of protecting the animal 
2 
and public health of the country. 
3 
4 
Section 48. Wildlife and Endangered Species - In accordance with Section 
5 
2 of Article 14 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
6 
Species (CITES) on effect on domestic legislation and international 
7 
conventions, all kinds of wildlife that are subject to veterinary quarantine 
8 
regulations shall be under NL VSA jurisdiction. 
9 
10 
Section 49. Exportation Clearance or Certificate - No animals, animal 
11 
products, animal by-products animal effects, animal feeds, veterinary 
12 
drugs/products and biologics shall be allowed to be exported and loaded on 
13 
board ships and airplanes or any vehicle unless it is accompanied by a 
14 
Veterinary Health Certificate and/or Commodity Clearance duly issued by 
15 
the NL VSA and it has complied with the quarantine requirements of the 
16 
country of destination. 
17 
18 
Section 50. Transhipment- In the transhipment of live animals, animal 
19 
products, animal by-products, animal effects, animal feeds, and veterinary 
20 
products, all importer/shippers shall comply with the health and welfare 
21 
rules and regulations prescribed by the NL VSA. 
22 
23 
Section 51. Domestic Shipping - All inland and inter-island shipments of 
24 
animals, animal products, animal by-products, animal effects, veterinary 
25 
drugs and biologics from one province or region to another shall be 
26 
accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate or Shipping Permit duly 
27 
issued by the Director General or his duly-authorized representatives. 
28 
29 
Section 52. Illegal or Unauthorized Shipments - Shipments of animals, 
30 
animal products, by-products, veterinary drugs, biologics and feeds which 
31 
are found to be in violation of this Act or rules and regulations issued 
32 
thereunder, or orders of the Director General or his veterinary quarantine 
33 
officers shall be confiscated and disposed of in a manner prescribed by the 
34 
Director General. 
35 
36 
Section 53. Registration of Commercial Livestock Traders and Shippers -
37 
All commercial livestock trader and shippers or handlers who are engaged in 
38 
the inter-provincial and regional shipment/transportation of livestock shall 
39 
register with the RL VSO in order to maintain disease free areas and achieve 
40 
safe, clean and orderly handling of commodities through the various stages 
41 
of marketing or distribution channels. 
42 
43 
Section 54. Prescribing Standard Operating Procedures for Veterinary 
44 
Quarantine Services in all Seaports and Airports - The NL VSA shall 
45 
establish a standard operating procedure for the Veterinary Quarantine 
46 
Services at the different seaports and airports in the country 
47 
48 
Section 55. Rendering of Underguarding and Overtime Services -
49 
Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors and other duly designated 
24 


personnel are authorized to render underguarding and overtime work when 
2 
the interest of the service so requires and the services performed outside 
3 
office hours and other expenses shall be chargeable to the party or parties 
4 
served at the rates to be prescribed by the Director General and approved by 
5 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
6 
7 
Section 56. Declaration of Infected Areas, Premises or Zones - If the 
8 
Director General has reasonable grounds to believe that any premises, place 
9 
or area is infected with a Notifiable Disease, he may, by a written order, 
10 
declare an area to be infected. In case of an outbreak of communicable 
11 
animal and zoonotic diseases, the Director General has the power to declare 
12 
the area, region, province or specific farm or establishment under quarantine. 
13 
14 
Section 57. Movement in Infected Areas - Movement of animals, animal 
15 
products, animal by-products, animal effects, veterinary drugs, biologics, 
16 
and transport vehicles reasonably suspected to be exposed or contaminated 
17 
with a Notifiable Disease shall be restricted in areas, region, province or 
18 
specific farm or establishment that are declared infected, unless authorized 
19 
by the Director General or his duly-authorized representative. In the event of 
20 
a disease outbreak, zones shall be established to restrict the movement of 
21 
animals between zones. Notices declaring the areas under quarantine shall be 
22 
posted in a conspicuous place in the Municipal andlor Barangay Hall, as the 
23 
case may be. 
24 
25 
Section 58. Lifting of Order of Quarantine - The Director General shall 
26 
issue an order lifting the quarantine where the areas, region, province or 
27 
specific farm or establishment declared to be infected are eventually 
28 
determined to be safe and out of danger from such infection. This shall 
29 
authorize the resumption of shipments within the affected places. 
30 
31 
Section 59. Duty of Owner or Holder - A person who owns or is in charge 
32 
of, or has in his or her possession or control, an animal or animal product 
33 
which the person has reasonable grounds to suspect is infected with a 
34 
notifiable disease must as far as practicable, keep that animal or animal 
35 
product separate from non-infected animals or animal products. 
36 
37 
Section 60. Controlled Shipments - It shall be unlawful for any person to 
38 
possess, administer or use infectious disease agents, for scientific, laboratory 
39 
or other purposes, unless duly authorized by a special permit by the Director 
40 
General to handle hazardous materials. 
41 
42 
Section 61. Depopulation Order - The Director General or his duly 
43 
authorized representative may, by a written Depopulation Order require the 
44 
stamping out of healthy animals in declared infected areas, premises or 
45 
zones to prevent further spread of the disease. 
46 
47 
Section 62. Destruction Order - The Director General or his duly authorized 
48 
representative may, by a written Destruction Order require the proper 
49 
disposal of (1) any animal, animal product, fodder which is infected, or 
25 


reasonably suspected to be infected with a Notifiable Disease; (2) 
2 
confiscated expired, banned, unregistered, counterfeit, veterinary biologics, 
3 
drugs and products. 
4 
5 
Section 63. Disinfection Order - The Director General or his duly 
6 
authorized representative may, by a written Disinfection Order, likewise, 
7 
require the owner or person in charge or in apparent control of an area which 
8 
is infected, or reasonably suspected to be infected with a Notifiable Disease, 
9 
to clean and disinfect said area, including vehicles or any material found 
10 
therein. 
11 
12 
Section 64. Disease-Free Areas - Declaration of any area as disease-free 
13 
shall be made by the NL VSA Director General upon the recommendation of 
14 
concerned animal health authorities of said office. The declaration of an area 
15 
as disease-free shall be subject to the guidelines set by concerned NLVSA. 
16 
17 
Section 65. Expenses of Quarantine and Authority to Auction - The owner, 
18 
consignee or possessor of the animals placed under quarantine shall 
19 
reimburse the NL VSA for the expenses incurred during the quarantine 
20 
period of such animals. In case of his failure to do so after a Lifting Order of 
21 
Quarantine has been issued and duly served upon him, the NL VSA shall 
22 
have the right to auction off his animals to recover such expenses made. 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
Chapter X 
QUARANTINE FACILITIES 
29 
Section 66. Establishment of Veterinary Quarantine Stations -
The 
30 
NL VSA shall establish and maintain quarantine stations for the detention, 
31 
treatment and observation of domestic animals in such places as may be 
32 
approved from time to time by the Secretary of Agriculture, and to place all 
33 
animals arriving from foreign and domestic ports or interior places in 
34 
quarantine for such time as he may deem necessary to prevent the 
35 
introduction and spread of dangerous communicable animal diseases. 
36 
37 
Section 67. National Veterinary Quarantine Station - The pasture reserve 
38 
known 
as 
the Government Cattle Breeding/Grazing Reserve and 
39 
Experimental Station at Busuanga and Coron, Palawan pursuant to 
40 
Proclamation No. 1387, dated February 13, 1975 and Presidential Decree No. 
41 
1593 is hereby reclassified as alienable and disposable lands of the public 
42 
domain and hereby reserved for the National Veterinary Quarantine Station 
43 
and Busuanga Stock Farm of the NL VSA. 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
49 
Chapter XI 
SPS FACILITATION & HARMONIZATION 
26 


Section 68. International Harmonization - The NL VSA shall study and 
2 
review national standards on animal health, animal welfare and farm feed 
3 
and food safety, participate in international for a relative to formulation and 
4 
adoption of international standards and harmonize our national standards 
5 
with relevant international standards. 
6 
7 
Section 69. Certification Systems - The NL VSA shall in consultation with 
8 
stakeholders develop certification systems including third paJiy certifications 
9 
on animal health, animal welfare, farm feed and food safety products, 
10 
services and production in accordance with national and international 
11 
standards. 
12 
13 
Section 70. Equivalence and Other Types of Sanitary Agreements - The 
14 
NL VSA in consultation with other agencies and stakeholders shall develop, 
15 
negotiate and implement appropriate level of protection (ALOP) in relation 
16 
to human and animal life and health in its territory, based on the principle of 
17 
equivalence and other types of sanitary and trade agreements with trading 
18 
partners such as but not limited to, the application of Sanitary and 
19 
Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures ofthe World Trade Organization (WTO). 
20 
21 
Section 7J. Transparency - The NL VSA shall have the responsibility to 
22 
notify the OIE and/or the WTO SPS Committee of the country's animal 
23 
health, animal welfare and animal production food safety sanitary and 
24 
phytosanitary status and other relevant matters and inform stakeholders on 
25 
the changes in the regulations and decisions. 
26 
27 
Section 72. Zoning - The NL VSA shall have the authority to apply for 
28 
recognition to the OIE the disease free zones and shall implement relevant 
29 
measures and practices to establish and maintain these disease-free zones as 
30 
based on physical boundaries. 
31 
32 
Section 73. Compartmentalization - The NL VSA shall establish and 
33 
maintain disease-free areas within its territory in accordance with OIE 
34 
recommendations. 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
Chapter XII 
VETERINARY LABORATORIES 
41 
Section 74. Cert~fication/Accreditation - The NLVSA shall be responsible 
42 
for controlling both government and non-government veterinary diagnostic 
43 
laboratories in the field through the Center for Animal Disease Diagnosis. 
44 
Only duly certitled laboratory facilities are allowed to do diagnostic services. 
45 
The 
NL VSA 
shall 
develop 
guidelines 
and 
standards 
in 
the 
46 
certification/accreditation of various veterinary laboratory facilities and 
47 
establish quality systems towards international certification. 
48 
27 


Section 75. Biosafety and Biosecurity -
Standards and guidelines for 
2 
laboratory biosafety and biosecurity shall be established and practiced by 
3 
veterinary and feed analysis laboratories per national and international 
4 
recommendations. 
5 
6 
Section 76. Proficiency Testing - A system of quality assurance shall be 
7 
developed and implemented to 
ensure continuing proficiency and 
8 
competency of certified/accredited diagnostic and assay laboratories. 
9 
10 
11 
12 
Chapter XIII 
13 
REGULATIONS ON ANIMAL FEEDS AND VETERINARY PRODUCTS 
14 
15 
16 
Section 77. Implementing Rules and Regulations - In consonance with RA 
17 
1556, as amended by PD No.7, RA 1071, and Act 3101, the NLVSA shall 
18 
provide the necessary rules and regulations on the manufacture, production, 
19 
handling, storage, sale and use of veterinary biological products, drugs and 
20 
products, devices, mixed feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements, feed 
21 
additives, concentrates, base feeds, base mixes, specialty feeds, special feed 
22 
nutrient preparations, other feed products and their establishments which 
23 
have to be followed and complied with for registration. 
24 
25 
Section 78. Registration and Licensing -
Each class, type, brand or 
26 
trademark of veterinary biological products, drugs, devices, cosmetics, 
27 
mixed feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements, feed additives, concentrates, 
28 
base feeds, base mixes, specialty feeds, special feed nutrient preparations, 
29 
and other feed products, inclusive of the establishments shall be registered 
30 
individually and shall be assigned separate registration numbers. A 
31 
permanent Book of Records on the registration number, codes assigned on 
32 
each product and indicated therein the class, type, brand or trade mark, 
33 
technical description and manufacturer/importer of each product registered 
34 
shall be kept. 
35 
36 
Section 79. Importation of Animal Feeds, Veterinary Biologics, Drugs and 
37 
Related Products - Importation of Animal Feeds, Veterinary Biologics, 
38 
Drugs and Related Products without valid SPS and permits shall not be 
39 
allowed entry. All in-transit shipments at the time of the occurrence of the 
40 
foreign disease or contagion shall be subjected to strict quarantine and 
41 
laboratory testing, or automatically denied entry and/or confiscation and 
42 
disposal, as the NL VSA may determine, in the overriding interests of 
43 
protecting the animal and public health ofthe country. 
44 
45 
Section 80. Warning and Temporary Revocation and Su~pension of 
46 
License or Permit - Failure of any grantee of license or permit to comply 
47 
with any of the requirements provided in this Act or its implementing rules 
48 
and regulations without justifiable or valid reason, as motu propio 
49 
determined by the Director General, shall be sufficient ground for the initial 
28 


issuance of warning, or immediate temporary suspension or revocation of 
2 
such license or permit for not more than sixty (60) days, subject to the 
3 
institution of formal proceedings within the said period. 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
Chapter XIV 
ANIMAL AND LIVESTOCK TRADE PROMOTION 
11 
Section 81. Animal Industry Market Profiles - The NL VSA shall maintain 
12 
a database of national, regional and local animal industry market profile to 
13 
support in the business development of animal industries and allied 
14 
industries and shall integrate marketing information and develop a 
IS 
knowledge management system of the different commoditieslindustries from 
16 
national to local level. 
17 
18 
Section 82. Country Animal Products Export Strategies - The NL VSA 
19 
shall formulate country animal products export strategies, conduct research 
20 
and benchmark export/import protocols, prepare industry analysis and 
21 
reports of potential export market of the different animal food commodities, 
22 
and spearhead in the promotion of exportable products and by-products to 
23 
improve the performance of local agribusiness establishments producing 
24 
these tradable products and by-products. 
25 
26 
Section 83. Contracting and Subcontracting Arrangement - The NL VSA 
27 
shall facilitate 
and coordinate any 
contracting and 
subcontracting 
28 
arrangement between local and foreign investors, as necessary to boost and 
29 
improve the animal, animal products and by-products export and local 
30 
trading performance of the animal industry stakeholders. 
31 
32 
Section 84. Export Incentives Programs - The NL VSA shall formulate and 
33 
implement the guidelines and policies for the registration and certification of 
34 
bona fide and eligible exporters and facilitate and coordinate applicants and 
35 
stakeholders that would like to avail the different export incentives programs 
36 
of the NL VSA, Department of Agriculture and other government agencies 
37 
that are also providing related services to stimulate international marketing 
38 
of Philippine-made products. 
39 
40 
Section 85. Livestock Business and Industry Strategic Development - The 
41 
NL VSA shall formulate and regularly update short, medium and long-term 
42 
livestock business and industry strategic development plan which will serve 
43 
as guide and roadmap for the development of the different industries in the 
44 
livestock sector cut across the agribusiness supply chain. 
45 
46 
Section 86. Livestock Marketing Information System - The NL VSA shall 
47 
strengthen the livestock marketing information system through the 
48 
development of database systems, printed and online publications of 
49 
marketing information which could be readily accessible to the input 
29 


suppliers, 
producers, 
marketers, 
processors, 
industry 
associations, 
2 
government and other stakeholders. 
3 
4 
Section 87. Socio-economic and Marketing Research - The NL VSA shall 
5 
strengthen the utilization of social-economic and marketing research to 
6 
maximize the benefit of the different methodologies and strategies of these 
7 
interdisciplinary researches for the sustained growth and development and 
8 
the trade promotion of the country's animal industry's products and services, 
9 
considering the social and economic factors that contributes to the increase 
10 
in income, employment generation, improvement of standard of living and 
11 
quality of life of livestock farmers, traders, processors, consumers, and in 
12 
incorporating the socio-economic impact assessment, as an integral part of 
13 
any project, program and policy implementation by the NL VSA and DA on 
14 
the different industries/commodities. 
15 
16 
Section 88. Marketing Information Governance -
The NL VSA shall 
17 
support the development of marketing information governance to achieve a 
18 
more transparent, effective exchange and higher coverage of marketing 
19 
information dissemination in a national scale, to boost the competitive 
20 
advantage, strategic and supply chain management of local livestock farmers, 
21 
traders, processors and other relevant stakeholders, considering the different 
22 
bilateral and multilateral trade agreements in which the country is already a 
23 
part of and continually complying with national commitments to efficiently 
24 
compete in the local and in the international market. 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
Chapter XV 
UTILIZATION OF GOVERNMENT FARMS 
32 
Section 89. Private Sector Participation - The NL VSA shall maximize the 
33 
economic potential of its various animal stock and research farms for the 
34 
benefit of the animal industry through joint government and private sector 
35 
initiative and participation in the utilization and development thereof. 
36 
37 
Section 90. Use of Government Lands for Quasi-Public Purposes - All 
38 
lands of the government which have been reserved, donated, leased or 
39 
acquired for animal stock farms or breeding purposes are hereby reclassified 
40 
or allowed for quasi-public purposes. The Secretary of Agriculture upon the 
41 
recommendation of the NL VSA in coordination with LGUS shall have the 
42 
authority to enter into joint venture agreements over such lands with private 
43 
individuals, corporations and cooperatives with the end in view of 
44 
maximizing their full potential for livestock production purposes, processing 
45 
and marketing in achieving the accelerated development of the livestock 
46 
industry in accordance with the currently approved zoning ordinance. 
47 
48 
49 
30 


2 
3 
4 
Chapter XVI 
PROHIBITIONS AND PENAL TIES 
5 
Section 91. Failure to Report Notifiable Diseases - All animal producers, 
6 
owners, operators, farm managers, farm veterinarians, and farm consultants 
7 
who fail to report notifiable diseases to the LGU Veterinary Office or to the 
8 
NL VSA or to the RL VSO immediately within 24 hours by the quickest 
9 
means possible shall be fined for the first offense, the amount of Twenty 
10 
Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) and for succeeding offenses, imprisonment of 
11 
Ten (10) days. 
12 
13 
Section 92. Disobedience, Evasion, Obstructing and Hindering the 
14 
Director General and his Representatives in the Performance of their 
15 
Duties - The farm or establishment owner, transport operator, animal facility 
16 
operator or any person acting on his behalf who disobeys, evades, obstructs 
17 
or hinders the NL VSA Director General, or any of his enforcement officers 
18 
or deputized officers to perform his duty shall, upon conviction, be penalized 
19 
by a fine of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00). A repetition of the same 
20 
offense shall be punished by imprisonment of Six (6) Months, and 
21 
cancellation of the registration, permit or license of such person, farm or 
22 
establishment owner, transport operator whichever is applicable. 
23 
24 
Section 93. False Statements - Any person who knowingly makes false 
25 
declaration or misleading statements in his application for license, certificate 
26 
of product registration or permit; claim or use of recycled or counterfeit 
27 
licenses, certificate of product registrations, permits shall upon conviction, 
28 
be penalized by a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) and 
29 
imprisonment of Six (6) months. 
30 
31 
Section 94. Failure to Register Vessels, Vehicles and Equipment - Failure 
32 
of the owner to register vessels, vehicles, and equipment related to transport 
33 
of animals, animal products and by-products, animal feeds and feedstuffs, 
34 
veterinary drugs, biologics, devices and other products shall upon conviction 
35 
be penalized by a fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) and/or 
36 
imprisonment of Sixty (60) days. 
37 
38 
Section 95. Failure to Observe NLVSA Procedures -
Any person or 
39 
establishment operator which ( a) during the course of regular operation fails 
40 
to observe NL VSA approved procedures, or (b) during seizure, detention or 
41 
quarantine fails to seek clearance from NL VSA on the handling, disposal, or 
42 
destruction and removal of live or dead animals, animal products, animal by-
43 
prOducts, animal effects, veterinary biological products, drugs and devices, 
44 
animal feeds and feed ingredients, shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a 
45 
fine of Fifty Thousand pesos (P50,000.00) and imprisonment of Thirty (30) 
46 
Days. 
47 
48 
Section 96. Operating Without a License - Establishment operators/owners 
49 
found without a valid License to Operate from NL VSA or unlawfully using 
31 


the registration number of another feed, veterinary biologics, drugs and 
2 
products establishments shall, upon conviction be penalized by a fine of One 
3 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (PIOO,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of Thirty (30) 
4 
Days. 
5 
6 
Section 97. failure to Display Registration Certificate - Establishment 
7 
operators found not displaying the Registration Certificate or displaying fake 
8 
or expired certificates in the premises of the establishments shall, upon 
9 
conviction, be penalized by a fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (P 10,000.00) and 
10 
closure of said establishments for second offense. 
11 
12 
Section 98. Dealing with Banned, Substandard, Tampered, Adulterated 
13 
and Damaged Veterinary Biologics, Drugs and Other Products -
14 
Establishment operators engaged in the manufacture, trade, importation, 
15 
distribution, use or sale of banned, substandard, tampered, adulterated, 
16 
deficient, unlabeled or mislabeled, unbranded or misbranded, expired, 
17 
repacked, unregistered or damaged through improper handling of veterinary 
18 
biologics, drugs and products, devices, mixed feeds, feed ingredients, feed 
19 
supplements, feed additives, premixes, base feeds, base mixes, concentrates, 
20 
specialty feeds, special feed nutrient preparations and other feed products, in 
21 
any form shall, upon conviction be penalized by a fine of One Hundred 
22 
Thousand Pesos (PIOO,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of Thirty (30) Days. 
23 
24 
Section 99. Tampering, Altering, Mutilating, Destroying, Obliterating or 
25 
Removing Labelling Material Packages and Tags or Labels - Any person 
26 
or establishment operator found guilty of tampering, altering, mutilating, 
27 
destroying, obliterating or removing the whole or any part of the labelling 
28 
material packages and tags or labels of veterinary biological products, drugs 
29 
and devices, mixed feeds, feed ingredients, feed supplements, feed additives, 
30 
base feeds, base mixes, concentrates, specialty feeds, special feed nutrient 
31 
preparations and other feed products, in any form, shall be fined One 
32 
Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(PISO,OOO.OO) 
and punished with 
33 
imprisonment of Sixty( 60) Days. 
34 
35 
Section 100. Selling Unlawful Veterinary or Human Drugs - Any person/s 
36 
using or owner/s of establishments selling unlawful veterinary or human 
37 
drugs for animals raised for human consumption shall upon conviction, be 
38 
penalized by a fine of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P2S,000.00). 
39 
40 
Section 101. Refusal to Vaccinate Animals During Outbeaks of Notifiable 
41 
and Priority Diseases - Refusal of an owner or caretaker to have his animals 
42 
vaccinated during outbreaks of notifiable and priority diseases, emerging or 
43 
re-emerging diseases and exotic diseases shall, upon conviction, be 
44 
penalized by a fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (P 10,000.00) and/or 
45 
imprisonment of Ten (10) Days. 
46 
47 
Section 102. Other Penalties - Any person, officers of corporation, 
48 
association, organization or establishment found to be in violation of any of 
49 
the provisions of this Act, or rules and regulations issued thereafter that are 
32 


not covered by the foregoing provisions shall, upon conviction, be penalized 
2 
by a fine of Fifty Thousand (P 50,000.00) Pesos but not more than One 
3 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 100,000.00) and/or imprisonment of Six (6) 
4 
Months to One (1) Year, at the discretion of the coul1. 
5 
6 
Section 103. Failure to Comply with Animal Health and Welfare 
7 
Regulations and Rules - Failure or refusal of any person, owner or caretaker, 
8 
or handler, operators, officers of corporation, association, organization or 
9 
establishments to comply with animal health and welfare regulations and 
10 
standards as provided herein or by the rules hereinafter set by the NL VSA 
11 
and the local government units shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine 
12 
of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) but not more 
13 
than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 
150,000.00) and/or 
14 
imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
15 
16 
Section 104. Exceptions under Certain Conditions - Nothing in this 
17 
Chapter shall be construed as requiring the Director General to certify for 
18 
prosecution any first violation of this Act whenever he believes that 
19 
sufficient compliance and public interest will be adequately served by a 
20 
suitable written notice of violation and warning. 
21 
22 
Section 105. Repeated Violation - Any person found to have committed a 
23 
second violation of the same offense shall suffer the penalty of 
24 
imprisonment ofthe said offense. 
25 
26 
27 
Chapter XVII 
28 
29 
REVOCATION AND SUSPENSION PROCEEDINGS 
30 
31 
Section 106. Institution of Complaint - The Director General or upon the 
32 
instance of any interested party may file a complaint before the hearing 
33 
committee for the formal suspension or revocation of the license or permit 
34 
duly issued by the NL VSA for violation of its terms and conditions, or any 
35 
provisions of the rules and regulations applicable thereto. 
36 
37 
Section 107. Alternative Dispute Resolution - To achieve speedy and 
38 
impartial justice, as provided under RA 9285 known as the Alternative 
39 
Dispute Resolution Act of 2004, the Director General shall issue the 
40 
guidelines for the implementation of the NL VSA Dispute Resolution. 
41 
42 
Section 108. Adjudication - In the event that ADR shall not be resolved to a 
43 
favorable outcome for the complaint, it shall be raised for adjudication. 
44 
45 
Section 109. Hearing Committee - A hearing committee is hereby created to 
46 
hear any complaint filed under the preceding section. It shall be composed of 
47 
at least three (3) members. The Director General or in his unavailability, the 
48 
deputy head of the Center for Animal Products and Services Regulation shall 
49 
act as Chairman with the Division Chief of the commodity concerned and 
33 


any other Division Chief of NL VSA, as may be designated by the Director 
2 
General, as members thereof. 
3 
4 
Section 110. Powers and Functions - The Hearing Committee shall have 
5 
the following powers and functions: 
6 
7 
1. To conduct formal investigation and hearings on the cases before it and 
8 
make recommendations for appropriate actions thereon for approval of the 
9 
Director General; 
10 
11 
2. To administer oaths, issue summons and subpoenas requmng the 
12 
attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of such books, 
13 
papers, contracts, records, statement of accounts, agreements, and other 
14 
documents as may be material to a just determination of the matter under 
15 
investigation, and to testify in any investigation or hearing conducted in 
16 
pursuance to this Act. 
17 
18 
3. To hold any person in contempt, directly or indirectly, and impose 
19 
appropriate penalties therefor ranging from One Thousand (PI,OOO.OO) to 
20 
Ten Thousand (PIO,OOO.OO) Pesos. 
21 
22 
4. To enjoin any or all acts involving or arising from any case pending 
23 
before it which, if not restrained forthwith, may cause grave or irreparable 
24 
damage to any party or the government; 
25 
26 
5. The Committee shall use every and all reasonable means to ascertain the 
27 
facts, issues and applicable laws, rules and jurisprudence in each case 
28 
speedily and objectively and without regard to technicalities of law or 
29 
procedure, all in the interest of due process. In any proceeding before the 
30 
Committee, the parties may be represented by a legal counsel. 
31 
32 
The Committee report when approved by the Director General shall 
33 
be final and binding on the parties after the lapse of fifteen (15) days from its 
34 
date of receipt by said parties. Subject to execution pending appeal, any 
35 
aggrieved party may appeal to the Secretary of Agriculture within the same 
36 
period. 
37 
38 
39 
Chapter XVIII 
40 
41 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
42 
43 
Section 111. Protection of Sensitive Technical Information - The NL VSA 
44 
shall take such measures as may be necessary in order to protect trade, 
4S 
industrial and policy information of industry stakeholders, and researchers, 
46 
when disclosure of such information will injure the competitiveness or 
47 
viability oftheir business. 
48 
49 
Section 112. Regulatory Fees and Retention of Income: 
34 


1 
2 
1. The NL VSA shall have the power to impose charges and fees for the 
3 
services rendered subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture 
4 
such as 
farm accreditations, licensing of establishments, products 
5 
registration, laboratory tests, Import Permit Fees, Export Permit/commodity 
6 
clearance fees, Issuance of Landing Permit Fees, Quarantine Inspection Fees, 
7 
Feed and Veterinary Drugs and Product Production/Inspection Fees and the 
8 
like which are payable to the NL VSA. Special fee shall be collected from 
9 
slaughtered animals based on a collection scheme approved by the DA 
10 
Secretary. 
11 
12 
2. All income of the NLVSA shall be deposited in an authorized government 
13 
depository bank as a special regulatory fund. Any interest earned by such 
14 
fund shall form part of the retained income. Such fund shall be used 
15 
primarily for but not limited to the acquisition and expansion of office and 
16 
laboratory space, human resource development and expansion, purchase of 
17 
laboratory equipment and motor vehicles, the upgrading of its current 
18 
facilities and equipment, and maintenance, other operating expenses of the 
19 
central and regional laboratories, and other activities, services of the agency 
20 
in the performance of its mandate and suppOli enforcement and monitoring 
21 
activities. 
22 
23 
3. The special regulatory fund shall be allowed to accept grants, donations 
24 
and other endowments from local and external sources in accordance with 
25 
pertinent laws, rules and regulations. 
26 
27 
4. Any contribution, donation, bequest, subsidy or financial aid which may 
28 
be made to the NL VSA for the implementation of this Act shall constitute as 
29 
an allowable deduction from the taxable income of the donor/giver and shall 
30 
be exempted from donor's tax. 
31 
32 
5. The retention, use and application of this fund shall not be delayed, 
33 
amended, altered, or modified, or affected in any way by an order or 
34 
directive from any executive office, but will be subject only to the general 
35 
accounting rules and guidelines by the Commission on Audit (COA). The 
36 
primary purpose of the fund as herein stated shall prevail over any other 
37 
purpose that may be pursued by NL VSA on its own initiative or through an 
38 
order or directive by any higher office. The NL VSA shall submit annually to 
39 
the Secretaries of Agriculture and Budget & Management a report on how 
40 
funds were utilized including its accomplishments. 
41 
42 
6. There shall also be established a legal fund out ofthe interest earned from 
43 
the retained income for use in case of legal actions against the officials, 
44 
employees of the NL VSA in the course of the exercise of their official 
45 
functions and duties. 
46 
47 
Section 113. Disease Compensation Fund - The disease compensation fund 
48 
shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Agriculture. 
35 


1 
For the LGUs, the requirements shall be taken from their Internal Revenue 
2 
Allotment (IRA). 
3 
4 
Section 114. Appointment of Veterinary Attaches - The Department of 
5 
Agriculture shall strengthen the international animal health, disease 
6 
surveillance, and information gathering capability by the appointment of 
7 
veterinary attaches in countries that are major livestock trading partners. In 
8 
other countries, the NL VSA, subject to the approval of the Secretary of 
9 
Agriculture, and in coordination with other government entities concerned, 
10 
may require Filipino representatives abroad and foreign- based personnel to 
II 
assist in the collection of data on animal health, disease surveillance, and 
12 
other related information. 
13 
14 
Section 115. Foreign and Local Grants and Aids - The NLVSA, in itself, 
15 
or in collaboration with other agencies shall receive grants and other funds 
16 
for its research activities and various programs. 
17 
18 
Section 116. Veterinary Education - The NL VSA in coordination with 
19 
CHED and PVMA shall regularly provide recommendations to make 
20 
veterinary medical curriculum responsive to the needs and imperatives of the 
21 
animal industry. 
22 
23 
Section 117. Mandatory Review. - The Congress of the Philippines shall 
24 
undertake a mandatory review of this Act at least once every five (5) years 
25 
and as often as it may deem necessary, to ensure that veterinary policies and 
26 
guidelines remain responsive to changing circumstances. 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
Chapter XIX 
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS 
33 
Section 118. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of 
34 
Agriculture, upon recommendation of NL VSA, shall promulgate the 
35 
necessary rules and regulations for the full implementation of this Act, 
36 
provided, however, that the formulated rules and regulations shall be 
37 
submitted to both Houses of Congress for information and guidance. Such 
38 
rules and regulations shall take effect upon publication in 2 newspapers of 
39 
general circulation and submission of three (3) certified copies thereof to the 
40 
National Administrative Register of the UP Law Center. 
41 
42 
Section 119. Creation and Reclassification of Positions - The NL VSA is 
43 
hereby authorized to create, upgrade, collapse or reclassify existing positions 
44 
to veterinary and related positions necessary to effectively implement the 
45 
provisions of this Act. 
46 
47 
48 
49 
36 


2 
3 
4 
5 
Chapter XX 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
6 
Section 120. Appropriations - The appropriations for the NL VSA included 
7 
in the budget of the Department of Agriculture under the current General 
8 
Appropriations Act shall be used to effectively carry out the implementation 
9 
of this Act. The appropriation may be augmented by the income which the 
10 
agency is authorized to use under this Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be 
11 
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual 
12 
General Appropriations Act. 
13 
14 
Section 121. Repealing Clause - Any provIsIOn of law or regulation 
15 
inconsistent with this Act shall be considered, modified or repealed 
16 
accordingly. However, the provisions of Act No. 3639, Republic Act No. 
17 
8435, as amended, otherwise known as the "Agricultural Fisheries 
18 
Modernization Act", Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the 
19 
"Administrative Code of 1987", Republic Act No. 1556, as amended by 
20 
Presidential Decree No.7, otherwise known as the "Livestock and Poultry 
21 
Feeds Act", Act No. 3101, Republic Act No. 1071, Republic Act No. 1578, 
22 
otherwise known as the "Livestock Promotion Fund", Batas Pambansa BIg. 
23 
97, Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the "Animal Welfare Act of 
24 
1998", Republic Act No. 9842, otherwise known as the "Anti-Rabies Act of 
25 
2007", and such other laws which are not consistent with this Act shall 
26 
remain valid and in full force and effect. 
27 
28 
Section 122. Separability Clause - If any portion or provision of this Act is 
29 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof, 
30 
which are not affected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
31 
32 
Section 123. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (IS) days after its 
33 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general 
34 
circulation. 
35 
36 
37 
APPROVED, 
38 
37