Question & AnswerQ&A (BAI DA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 26)
The main objective is to protect the Philippines from the entry, establishment, and spread of animal diseases through the importation of meat and meat products by issuing comprehensive rules, regulations, and standards to ensure safety, quality, and prevent economic losses to local industries.
An Accredited Importer refers to any natural or juridical person accredited by the Department of Agriculture as eligible to import meat and/or meat products for own use, processing, wholesale, and/or retail distribution.
A Foreign Meat Establishment is a DA-accredited facility in a foreign country engaged in slaughtering, processing, packing, and storing meat and meat products, recognized by the National Veterinary Administration to export meat products to the Philippines.
The VQC is issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry before importation, certifying that the meat source is free from diseases and contaminations, and that both importer and exporter establishments are accredited and in good standing. It prescribes conditions and risk management measures to be observed during importation.
Meat Product refers to meat that has undergone physical change and/or treatment such as cooking, drying, salting, brining, or smoking.
It refers to an accredited importer whose compliance with relevant DA rules, meat handling, distribution, and storage facilities is maintained in line with the terms under which accreditation was granted.
RMP is a set of overall measures based on international standards to ensure the country's acceptable level of protection against the introduction and spread of foreign diseases and contaminations through meat imports, covering all aspects from documentation, certification, handling, marketing, to disease control.
A used VQC shall be marked or stamped as 'USED' to avoid recycling and prevent its reuse for another shipment.
The AO references standards from the World Trade Organization (WTO), Codex Alimentarius Commission for food safety, and the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) for veterinary health standards.