Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9296)
The short title of Republic Act No. 9296 is "The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines."
The policy of the State is to promulgate specific policies and procedures for the flow of food animals, meat, and meat products to ensure food security, safety, and quality standards, support local government units in meat inspection, promote risk analysis for food safety, and strengthen regulation on meat importation.
The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) is the sole national controlling authority on all matters related to meat inspection and meat hygiene.
The Meat Inspection Board is composed of key officials such as the Secretary of Agriculture (Chairperson), Executive Director of NMIS, and representatives from various bureaus. It assists in formulating policies and guidelines and advises the chairperson on meat inspection matters.
Adulterated meat refers to carcasses or meat products that are poisonous, filthy, decomposed, prepared under unsanitary conditions, from diseased animals, contain harmful substances, or have been tampered with to misrepresent quality or safety.
Only meat control officers, deputized meat control officers, meat inspectors, and deputized meat inspectors appointed by the NMIS or local government units who have undergone proper training are authorized to conduct meat inspection.
Prohibited acts include slaughtering food animals or preparing meat without complying with the Act, inhumane slaughtering or handling, selling or transporting uninspected or adulterated meat, forging official marks or certificates, and interfering with inspectors during their duties.
The Code applies to all meat establishments where food animals are slaughtered, prepared, processed, handled, packed, stored, or sold, ensuring welfare of animals and hygienic handling throughout the process.
All meat and meat products inspected and marked "Inspected and Passed" must have labels attached under supervision of an inspector, stating such inspection. Labels should not be false or misleading and must comply with standards prescribed by the Secretary.
Penalties include administrative fines as prescribed by the Secretary, issuance of Cease and Desist Orders, confiscation and disposal of adulterated meat, and other sanctions for unlawful acts such as interference with inspection or forgery of marks.
Local government units regulate construction, management, operation of slaughterhouses, and meat inspection within their jurisdiction, monitor meat transport and post-abattoir control, collect fees, and implement national meat standards. They also receive incentives to improve facilities to comply with these standards.
An ante-mortem inspection by authorized inspectors must be conducted on food animals before slaughter in any licensed abattoir. Animals showing disease or conditions warranting condemnation must be immediately isolated and disposed of under supervision.