Question & AnswerQ&A (NMIS D.A. Administrative Circular No. 12, S. 2015)
The primary objective is to protect the country's borders and territories from the entry, establishment, and spread of animal diseases that may come through the importation of disease-carrying, contaminated, or adulterated meat and meat products which endanger public health and safety, and cause serious economic consequences.
An Accredited Meat Importer Processor (MIP) is an accredited meat importer which operates a NMIS-accredited meat processing plant to produce meat products utilizing buffalo meat from India strictly for their own processing requirements and not for trading purposes.
FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock characterized by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue, lips, mouth, teats and between hooves, causing severe production losses and leaving animals debilitated. It affects cattle, swine, and other cloven-hoofed animals.
The meat must be heat-treated to an internal temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius for a minimum of 30 minutes, or any equivalent treatment demonstrated to inactivate the FMD virus.
Only Meat Importer Processors (MIPs) duly accredited by the NMIS and with an Eligibility Certificate to Import IBM recommended by the IATC and approved by the Office of the Secretary are authorized to import IBM.
Violating MIPs shall be denied importation of IBM for two succeeding years and may also be subject to administrative fines and confiscation as provided under RA 10536 and related regulations.
Violations include: importation of IBM in excess of approved requirement, importation without complete requirements, selling IBM in the domestic market, and withdrawal from CSWs without proper IWR issuance by NMIS-PO.
An International Veterinary Certificate (IVC) issued by the Veterinary Officer or authorized representative of the exporting State, bearing the official seal, certifying the shipment passed veterinary quarantine and inspection.
The certificate is valid for six months, subject to compliance with regulations, and noncompliance may lead to revocation.
Labels must be stamped or stick-on on the immediate container and outer box, rectangular shaped (3x5 inches), printed in bold letters with font size 18, and must be resistant to defacement by any solution.
The Interagency Technical Committee (IATC) and the Interagency Technical Working Group (IATWG) are responsible for monitoring and evaluation of MIP eligibility and utilization of IBM.
No, only MIPs duly accredited by NMIS are allowed to import and utilize IBM.
The NMIS-PO issues an Inventory Withdrawal Receipt (IWR) upon IBM withdrawal and submits a consolidated monthly report of withdrawals to the IATWG every 5th of the succeeding month.
Such disparity is subjected to validation by the IATWG to ensure compliance and accurate reporting.
Buffaloes must be slaughtered within 72 hours upon arrival at accredited slaughterhouses, pass ante- and post-mortem inspection including clinical evidence of FMD, and be fed feed certified from FMD-free areas while in lairage.