QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 10536)
“Hot Meat” refers to carcasses or parts of carcasses or food animals slaughtered from unregistered/unaccredited meat establishments and not subjected to the required inspection; it also covers undocumented, illegally shipped, unregistered carcass/parts/meat products from other countries, and those classified as hot meat by the NMIS.
The NMIS is headed by an Executive Director and a Deputy Executive Director, and Regional Technical Directors III. All are appointed by the President.
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 “Meat; Import and Export Assistance and Inspection” division.
That is the “Enforcement and Food Defense” division.
The functions of the NMIS-RTOC in accredited meat establishments shall be transferred or devolved to the provincial government where the establishments are located, provided the Provincial Meat Inspection Service is certified by the NMIS to be compliant with national standards.
No. Certification of meat and meat products from “AA(A)” meat establishments intended for international trade remains with the NMIS.
The Secretary prescribes reasonable fees by regulation, after public hearing, and may revise fees after due notice and public hearing.
They must be deposited with the National Treasury and accrue to the General Fund.
It is an independent and separate trust fund established under the Act and administered by the Meat Inspection Board.
Not less than fifty percent (50%) for the first five (5) years, accrued from fees, fines and charges.
Examples include upgrading laboratory equipment to international standards; establishing training facilities; capability development of technical personnel and field enforcers; conducting R&D on meat standards; indemnification for condemned animals during ante-mortem inspection; accreditation and food safety audits of foreign meat plants; enforcement/food defense programs; establishment of disposal facilities for seized/condemned items; and assistance/support to LGUs and the livestock sector.
Any person who violates the Act or sells/transport/offers/receives for sale or transportation in commerce hot meat, upon conviction, faces imprisonment from not less than 6 years and 1 day to not more than 12 years, or a fine from P100,000 to P1,000,000, or both, at the court’s discretion. The offender must also pay the concerned consumer damages.
If juridical: officers responsible (e.g., president/manager/head) are criminally liable in addition to cancellation of certificates of accreditation/registration. If public official: the penalty includes perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
Suspension of six (6) months for the first offense, and dismissal from government service for the second violation.
After fifteen (15) days from publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.