Coverage and who must comply
- The Order covers government and non-government establishments offering diagnostic services.
- Accreditation applies to veterinary diagnostic laboratories engaged in offering diagnostic services to the livestock industry.
- Accreditation is required as the standard that ensures only duly accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratories are allowed to render veterinary diagnostic services.
Legal requirements for applicants
- Applicants must be a registered business entity under SEC/DTI/ECC/Mayor’s Permit requirements.
- The laboratory building that will house the laboratory must have a prior Standards Compliance Certificate under DA-Administrative Order No. 6, s2004, Sections 1 and 3.
- Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories under the Department of Agriculture and laboratories of Government Universities and Colleges must be part of the organizational structure of the Department or their respective agencies.
- For Department of Agriculture and Government Universities and Colleges laboratories, the application must include the organizational structure and plantilla of personnel, and must include the Standards Compliance Certificate required under Section II-A.
- For private universities/colleges, private organizations, or individuals, the requirements under Section II-A apply.
Minimum technical standards and capabilities
- Accreditation is applied for the whole laboratory and for specified tests for Private Laboratories/Government and Non-government Universities.
- Applications must include: laboratory design/floor plan, personnel complement (including number, qualifications, and PRC License numbers), procedures (laboratory protocols), a list of equipment, provision for disposal of infectious materials, and laboratory services and service charge.
- For Department of Agriculture laboratories, existing DA-Regional Animal Diagnostic Laboratories are re-classified based on:
- performance for the last 3 years
- reports/records
- plantilla/organizational structure
- technical personnel compliment
- qualifications of personnel
- Department of Agriculture laboratories are re-classified as:
- Sub-national laboratories
- Regional laboratories
- Provincial/satellite laboratories
- Minimum capabilities by laboratory type require the following test capacities:
Sub-national laboratories minimum capabilities
- Post-mortem examination: Necropsy/Histopathology.
- Bacterial/Fungal Isolation.
- Antimicrobial Sensitivity Test.
- Agglutination tests for bacteria.
- Parasitologic Examinations.
- Agar Gel Precipitation Test.
- Hemagglutination/Hemagglutination-Inhibition Test.
- Immunofluorescence Assay.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay.
- Viral Isolation using Embryonated Eggs or Tissue Cultures.
Regional laboratories minimum capabilities
- Post-mortem examination: Necropsy/Histopathology.
- Bacterial/Fungal Isolation.
- Antimicrobial Sensitivity Test.
- Agglutination tests for bacteria.
- Parasitologic Examinations.
- Agar Gel Precipitation Test.
- Hemagglutination/Hemagglutination-Inhibition Test.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay.
- Viral Isolation using Embryonated Eggs or Tissue Cultures.
Provincial/satellite laboratories minimum capabilities
- Post-mortem examination: Necropsy/Histopathology.
- Bacterial/Fungal Isolation.
- Antimicrobial Sensitivity Test.
- Agglutination tests for bacteria.
- Parasitologic Examinations.
- Agar Gel Precipitation Test.
Equipment, staffing, and animal welfare compliance
- Equipment requirements depend on the accreditation being applied for.
- For DA-regional and satellite laboratories, the current listings at the Bureau of Animal Industry under BAI Circular No. 3, series of 1990 apply.
- Minimum personnel complement requires:
- 1 Veterinarian
- 2 Laboratory Technicians
- 1 Laboratory Aid
- 1 Utility Worker/Janitor
- Animal housing/environment must conform to the minimum standards under the Animal Welfare Act.
- Applicants must secure a Certificate of Registration from the Animal Welfare Division, BAI, under RA 8485 of 1998, Section 2.
Accreditation validity and compliance consequences
- Accreditation is valid for 3 years.
- Spot inspection may be done by the BAI anytime within the validity period.
- Accreditation may be suspended, withheld, or cancelled for failure to comply with the provisions of the Order.
Fees and renewal charges
- The application fee is PhP 100.00.
- The accreditation fee is PhP 2,500.00.
- The renewal fee is PhP1,500.00.
Implementation office
- The Philippine Animal Health Center of the Bureau of Animal Industry is tasked to oversee the implementation of the Order.
Accreditation procedure and required steps
- Applicants must submit a letter of intent to the Bureau of Animal Industry.
- Applicants must attach the required data under:
- Section II-A and B
- Section III-A-2a to f
- Section III-C, D, and E
- For existing Government/DA Laboratories and University/College Laboratories, applicants must attach data required under Section III-B, C, D, and E.
- For new laboratories, additional requirements include data required under Section IIIA-2a to f.
- The process includes ocular inspection/evaluation by representatives from the Bureau of Animal Industry.
- Applicants must pay the corresponding fee/s before accreditation proceeds.
Adoption
- The Order is adopted: 6 Oct. 2004.
- ARTHUR C. YAP, Secretary, signs the Order.