Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10536)
Hot meat is defined as the carcass or parts of carcass or food animals slaughtered from unregistered or unaccredited meat establishments, which have not undergone the required inspection. It also includes undocumented, illegally shipped, and unregistered carcass, parts of carcass, and meat products from other countries classified as hot meat by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
The President of the Philippines appoints the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, and Regional Technical Directors III of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
The NMIS has the following divisions: Plant Operation and Inspection; Accreditation and Registration; Enforcement and Food Defense; Meat Import and Export Assistance and Inspection; Meat Science and Technology; Laboratory Services; Consumer Information, Education and Assistance; Legal Affairs; Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation; Engineering and Climate Change; Administrative; and Finance.
The Plant Operation and Inspection division is responsible for the inspection and certification of meat and meat products and the technical supervision of local government units (LGUs).
Within two (2) years from the effectivity of the Act, functions of NMIS-RTOC in accredited meat establishments shall be transferred or devolved to the provincial government where such meat establishments are located, provided the Provincial Meat Inspection Service is certified compliant with national standards.
The MISDTF finances laboratory equipment upgrades, training facilities, development of technical personnel, research on meat standards, indemnification of condemned animals, accreditation and food safety audits, enforcement programs, disposal facilities for seized items, benefits and insurance for NMIS personnel, and assistance to LGUs and the meat industry.
Any person convicted of selling or transporting hot meat shall face imprisonment from six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years, or a fine ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to One million pesos (P1,000,000.00), or both, at the court's discretion. The offender is also obliged to pay damages to affected consumers.
All officers responsible such as presidents, managers, or heads of office shall be criminally liable, and the certificates of accreditation and/or registration of the juridical person shall be canceled.
The penalty shall include perpetual disqualification from holding public office in addition to criminal and other penalties.
For the first offense under Section 48 (a) and (b), the administrative fine is Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) plus confiscation as provided in Section 58 of the Act.