Key Definitions
- Animal Welfare Officer: Authorized BAI official handling animal welfare.
- Captive Bolt Stunner: Device using kinetic energy for stunning animals.
- Emergency Slaughter: Immediate slaughter to prevent suffering from injury.
- Food Animal Welfare Officer (FAWO): Official appointed by NMIS or LGU to oversee welfare.
- Humane Slaughter: Rapid, minimally distressing slaughter away from public view.
- Livestock and Poultry: Defined as domestic animals or birds intended for food.
- Stunning: Render animals insensible via reversible or irreversible methods before bleeding.
- Other technical terms include restrainer, sticking/bleeding, suspect animals, and religious slaughter.
Slaughterhouse Facilities
- Must provide holding pens near but separate from slaughter halls.
- Space requirements established: 2.23 m²/head for large animals, 0.6 m²/head for small, and 1.0 m²/head for culled sows/boars.
- Facilities must be roofed, drained, with non-slip floors, adequate ventilation and clean water.
- Separation of animal classes to avoid injury; designs to reduce stress and encourage natural animal movement.
- Required equipment includes hog restrainers and large animal knocking boxes.
General Handling of Slaughter Animals
- Operators responsible for humane handling and supervision by competent animal handlers.
- Monitoring by Food Animal Welfare Officers ensures compliance.
- Animals separated by species and incompatible groups to prevent injuries.
- Permitted instruments for moving animals are limited to soft flappers, pipes, plastic brushes, pig boards (blocking only).
- Prohibited instruments include clubs, electric prods, whips, sharp objects, and ropes.
- Inhumane acts such as kicking, tail twisting, harsh poking, and marking with blades are forbidden.
Handling Injured, Disabled, or Suspect Animals
- Injured or disabled animals must be humanely removed under competent supervision.
- An authorized officer inspects and may order emergency slaughter without delay if suffering is severe.
- Humane transport to sticking area or immediate sticking if transport not feasible.
Handling Escaped Animals
- Operators must use humane methods to retrieve escaped animals.
- Use of firearm allowed if animal poses danger.
- Injured retrieved animals must be stunned before slaughter.
- Uninjured escaped animals returned to holding pens for slaughter.
Stunning Requirements
- Stunning mandatory before sticking/bleeding.
- Proper restraint required; restrainers must fit animal type and not hold animals during breaks.
- Stunning devices must render animals insensible effectively; electric, mechanical, or controlled atmosphere devices recommended.
- Stunning devices must be maintained, cleaned, and operators trained.
- Stunning to sticking interval (SSI) stipulated, varying by species and stunning method, e.g., 10-30 seconds.
- Precise recommended electric currents listed for different species.
- Re-stunning mandatory if initial stun is ineffective.
- Specific operational procedures ensure animals do not regain consciousness before bleeding.
Stunning Personnel
- Specifically trained personnel must operate stunning devices.
- Operators must understand equipment and effects of improper stunning on animal welfare and meat quality.
Prohibited Acts
- Marking live animals with sharp instruments forbidden.
- Forced oral administration of fluids prohibited.
- Sticking and bleeding without prior stunning is illegal.
Penal Provisions
- Violators face imprisonment (6 months to 2 years), fines (P1,000 to P5,000), or both.
- Administrative sanctions include license cancellation and revocation of accreditation.
- Aliens violating provisions are subject to immediate deportation post-sentence.
Non-Exclusivity, Repealing, and Separability Clauses
- Existing consistent rules remain effective.
- Inconsistent rules are repealed or modified.
- Invalid provisions do not affect the remainder of the order.
Effectivity
- The order takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a widely circulated newspaper, whichever comes first.