Question & AnswerQ&A (JOINT DA-NMIS AND DOH-FDA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 01, Series of 2009)
The main purpose is to delineate the functions and shared responsibilities between the Department of Agriculture-National Meat Inspection Service (DA-NMIS) and the Department of Health-Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA) in the regulation of meat products and establishments processing or distributing them.
The DA-NMIS has sole jurisdiction over establishments manufacturing, importing, exporting, selling, offering for sale, transferring, or distributing meat products defined under Republic Act No. 9296 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Meat Product is defined as any product capable of use as human food made wholly or in part from any meat or portion of the carcasses of any food animals, except those containing meat only in small proportion or historically not considered as meat products, which are exempted by the Secretary of Agriculture under prescribed conditions.
DOH-FDA has sole jurisdiction over establishments dealing with processed non-meat products or those with meat in small proportion historically not considered meat products. They also handle licensing of such establishments and share responsibilities with DA-NMIS in joint jurisdiction cases.
DA-NMIS issues certificates of accreditation while DOH-FDA issues licenses to operate for establishments under their respective jurisdictions. In cases of joint jurisdiction, both agencies coordinate closely for approval of operations.
They coordinate and collaborate to assure the safety and quality of meat products through harmonized programs, joint supervision, sharing information on violations, and collaborative enforcement of regulations.
DA-NMIS shall review and initiate standards of meat products in consultation with DOH-FDA and other relevant bureaus to ensure safety and quality, including reviewing existing standards and formulating new ones aligned with product responsibility delineation.
Sanctions and penalties are imposed by the agency with jurisdiction over the establishment or product, including fines, suspension, revocation or cancellation of accreditation, license, or registration. Agencies must notify one another of such actions in joint jurisdiction cases.
Consumer complaints within DA-NMIS and DOH-FDA jurisdiction are governed by the Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA No. 7394) and other applicable laws, with complaints previously filed under DOH being transferred to the Department of Agriculture's Consumer Arbitration Officer.
Initial applications submitted to DOH-FDA before this Order's effectivity shall be processed and endorsed to DA-NMIS, which will issue certificates and licenses. New applications must be submitted to DA-NMIS, and renewal applications must also be processed by DA-NMIS after surrendering the original certificates issued by DOH-FDA.