QuestionsQuestions (DA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 16, S. 2000)
The Order covers only “meat” and “meat products” defined under Section 1(A) and 1(B), as listed in Annex A (based on tariff headings). It excludes meat derived from marine animals and animals prohibited under CITES.
“Meat” means fresh, chilled, or frozen parts of carcasses including edible offal derived from specified land animals (cattle, buffalo, pig, poultry, goat, sheep, horse, etc.), excluding marine animal meat and meat from animals prohibited under CITES.
“Meat Products” are meats that have been subjected to treatment by cooking, drying, salting, brining, or smoking.
A “Qualified Importer” is any NMIC-accredited processor/trader/hotel/resort/restaurant/supermarket or similar entity dealing with such products, provided it has a valid Veterinary Quarantine Clearance (VQC) issued by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
A “Qualified Exporter” is the owner of the foreign meat plant accredited by the DA and recognized/accredited by the government veterinary authority of the exporting country.
It is issued by the authorized government veterinary authority in the country of origin and must attest that the goods conform to Philippine sanitary/veterinary requirements as prescribed in the DA Veterinary Quarantine Clearance (VQC). It is based at the minimum on the OIE format.
It is the DA-issued document setting quarantine and laboratory procedures/conditions for the meat/meat products before shipment. A qualified exporter may only ship after the approved VQC/SPS Import Permit is secured (Section III A), and the importer must apply prior to shipping.
The exporter must have an approved VQC/SPS Import Permit; the shipment must have an International Veterinary/Health Certificate; only frozen meat slaughtered within 3 months is allowed; the exporting government must submit monthly disease reports to BAI and report OIE-notifiable outbreaks to BAI within one week of confirmation.
The outbreak causes a temporary ban on exportation of affected meat/meat products into the Philippines. Lifting the ban follows OIE recommendations/advisories and consideration of measures taken by the exporting government veterinary authority and the exporter.
A qualified importer files a verified/notarized application with required documents to the Office of the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for consideration and approval of the Secretary of Agriculture prior to shipment. BAI evaluates (consulting NMIC if needed) and releases the approved VQC after payment of the required fee.
VQC is per container van and valid only for one shipment. It is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. If the shipment is already made but will arrive during expiration, a 30-day extension must be secured by surrendering the original VQC for evaluation and payment of the fee.
At least 3 days before arrival, the importer must inform the BAI through the accomplished Notice of Arrival, including kind of meat/product, volume/quantity, source/country of origin, carrier flight/voyage number, and port of entry.
A shipment without an approved VQC is deemed illegal and subject to the disposition provisions under Section VII (Disposition), including confiscation.
The imported volume (metric) must not exceed the volume indicated in the approved VQC. Excess volume shall be confiscated.
Upon arrival, after presenting documents (including original VQC and International Veterinary/Health Certificate), the shipment undergoes BAI veterinary quarantine inspection and clearance prior to BOC clearance. After transfer to storage/warehouse/processing plant, NMIC conducts meat inspection and laboratory analysis for diseases and residue/contaminant compliance. NMIC then issues a Foreign Meat Inspection Clearance after clearance and payment of fees.
The importer is prohibited from transferring to other facilities, modifying, using, distributing, or selling the goods without NMIC inspection and laboratory analysis and clearance. Violations render the shipment illegal and subject to disposition under Section VII.
Packaging and containers must be food-grade. Labels must include registered trade/brand name, general make/active ingredients, net quantity (metric, rounded to nearest tenths), country of origin, handling/storage instructions, product classification, marking “FOR EXPORT TO THE PHILIPPINES,” manufacturer/exporter names/address/plant number, slaughter/manufacture date and expiry date, lot/production number, and language in Pilipino or English.
Confiscation occurs if imported prior to issuance of VQC; no VQC upon arrival; missing/defective International Veterinary/Health Certificate or certificate not indicating the VQC number; the goods are injurious/unsafe; sourced from banned countries or disease outbreak/contaminated countries; sourced from unaccredited plants; volume exceeds VQC; goods are adulterated or substandard; mislabeled; or if the importer refuses inspection/access to records.
“Adulterated” focuses on poisonous/deleterious substances, filthy/putrid/decomposed state, unsanitary preparation/packing, meat from animals that died other than by slaughter, container materials that may be injurious, and similar health-risk conditions. “Substandard” focuses on omission/ substitution of valuable constituents, addition/substitution of other substances, concealment of damage/inferiority, or manipulation to increase bulk/weight or appear of better value. The distinction matters because both are explicit confiscation grounds and can also affect disposition and potential liability under penalties.
Violators are penalized according to Article 19 (Penalty), Chapter I, Title II of Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines).