QuestionsQuestions (BFAD BUREAU CIRCULAR NO. 13, S. 1999)
BFAD Circular No. 13 further issues an advisory and, in view of foreign government certifications, it rescinds the order to remove from commerce and trade outlets the specified meat, poultry, eggs, and milk products when they are from countries other than Belgium (as explained in the circular).
BFAD acted on a certification received from the Netherlands government authorities and similar assurance relayed to the Secretary of Health from authorities in France and Germany that the exported products from those countries are not contaminated with dioxin.
No. The circular rescinds the removal order for products exported from the Netherlands, France, and Germany, but it explicitly keeps the recall requirement for Belgian products manufactured from January 15, 1999.
The circular covers meat, poultry, eggs, and milk products (dioxin-contaminated food products) being monitored by BFAD.
Supermarkets, duty free shops, and drug outlets must recall such Belgian-produced products manufactured from January 15, 1999.
Manufacturers must identify the sources of the raw materials used for their products and must refrain from distributing the products if the source is Belgium.
All shipments in transit from those countries must be covered by the certification requirements issued on June 11, 1999 by the Department of Agriculture, as signed by the Acting BAFPS Director Ma. Concepcion C. Lizada.
The Department of Agriculture issued certification requirements on June 11, 1999 (signed by Acting BAFPS Director Ma. Concepcion C. Lizada) which must be complied with for shipments in transit.
They must submit to BFAD a list of products from Belgium withdrawn from trade, indicating the volume of products, for BFAD’s advice on proper disposition.
The recall order remains effective for Belgian products produced from January 15, 1999.
It implies BFAD will review the submitted list and provide guidance on how the withdrawn products should be handled or disposed of properly.
It is signed by WILLIAM D. TORRES, PH.D., identified as Director. This suggests it was issued under the authority of the BFAD Director at the time.
It rescinds the order for products from the Netherlands, France, and Germany based on non-contamination assurances, but it retains the recall and raw material restrictions for Belgium-produced products made from January 15, 1999.
The circular requires manufacturers to refrain from distributing the products if the raw material source is Belgium; thus, non-distribution is the compliance action.
They would be non-compliant with the explicit recall order retained by the circular; the text also shows BFAD expects lists of withdrawn products, implying enforcement and accountability for failure to withdraw.
“Rescinded” indicates the earlier command (removal from commerce and trade outlets) is withdrawn or nullified for the specific scope affected, as opposed to being modified or merely clarified.