Legal basis and relationship
- The circular is promulgated pursuant to Sections 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 of Republic Act No. 8485.
- The rules are designed to implement Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the “Animal Welfare Act of 1998.”
- The circular incorporates zoning and environmental requirements by reference to Presidential Decree No. 1586 and DENR environmental clearances.
- The circular’s penal treatment for violations is governed by Republic Act No. 8485 as amended.
Policy, purpose, and regulatory intent
- The circular establishes registration requirements for animal control facilities and enumerated animal establishments to support compliance with animal welfare requirements under Republic Act No. 8485.
- All concerned parties must use the circular for information, guidance, and compliance in registration and renewal of covered facilities.
Key definitions for regulated facilities
- Animal Boarding and Recreation Facility means a facility where animals are housed and cared for temporarily, usually for a fee, while their regular caretakers are away or busy.
- Animal Control Facility means a facility that accepts and/or seizes animals for caring for them, placing them through adoption, or carrying out law enforcement, whether or not operated for profit; it includes pounds, shelters, animal rescue centers, airport and seaport animal quarantine, and animal holding facilities.
- Animal Welfare refers to the health and safety of the animals.
- Aviary means any structure/building/land/premises housing birds where the temperature cannot be controlled within set limits.
- Cattery means any facility/land/premises/shed/barn/building/trailer/structure/area housing domestic felines, including Primary Enclosure, Indoor Housing Facility, Outdoor Housing Facility, and Sheltered Housing Facility.
- Circus/Carnival Animal Show means a temporary establishment and/or temporary activities where animals are kept and exhibited to perform behaviors for entertainment and education of the public.
- Corral means an enclosure for holding/capturing animals, including holding corral, paddock stables, stockyards, and chutes.
- Crocodile Farm means any structure/building/land/premises housing crocodiles where the temperature cannot be controlled within set limits.
- Grooming Facility means a facility specializing in hygienic and cosmetic care of dogs, cats, or other domestic or partner animals (including fur trimming, shampooing/bathing, nail trimming, and other procedures).
- Hog Farm means any structure/building/land/premises housing hogs where the temperature cannot be controlled within set limits.
- Kennel means any facility housing domestic canines, including Primary Enclosure, Indoor Housing Facility, Outdoor Housing Facility, and Sheltered Housing Facility.
- Laboratory Animal Facility means any structure/building/land/premises housing laboratory animals where the temperature cannot be controlled within set limits.
- Licensed Veterinarian means a person with an accredited veterinary degree (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and duly registered at the Professional Regulation Commission.
- Livestock means documented or otherwise domesticated, captive-bred animals intended for breeding or fattening, including horses, cattle, carabao, deer, sheep, goat, swine, and crocodile acquired locally or through importation under existing government rules.
- Mobile Veterinary Clinic means an ambulant clinic for small animal patients that are not confined, with specific equipment and limitations (no surgical procedures by the Veterinary Clinic; cases treated only by a duly licensed veterinarian).
- Pet Animals means documented or otherwise domestic animals intended for companionship, therapy, seeing and hearing guides, recreation and values formation, and breeding, including dogs, cats, fishes, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, and birds (pigeons, parrots, love birds, finches) acquired locally or through importation under existing government rules.
- Pet Shop means an establishment that offers pet animals for sale (wholesale or retail).
- Poultry means domesticated, captive winged birds intended for breeding or fattening, including farmed domesticated chicken, turkey, geese, duck, pigeon, guinea fowl/bengala, ostrich, and quail.
- Poultry Farm means any structure/building/land/premises housing poultry where the temperature cannot be controlled within set limits.
- Racetracks and Equestrian Establishment means any structure/building/land/premises where horses are kept for racing or equestrian/polo activities.
- Registration means approval for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of listed animal facilities secured from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for purposes of breeding/treatment/sale/trading/training or transport of animals.
- Slaughterhouse/Abattoir/Poultry Dressing Plant means an establishment that slaughters and dresses animals for human consumption, including cattle, carabao, hogs, horses, goat, poultry, and game animals and game birds.
- Stock Farm, Stockyard, and Stud Farm define breeding centers/temporary livestock yards/horse housing premises for production or breeding purposes.
- Treatment means management and care of sick animals by administering proper medicine.
- Veterinary Clinic means an establishment where veterinary medical cases are managed and handled by a duly licensed veterinarian with facilities for diagnosis and treatment, and includes Non-surgical Veterinary Clinic, Surgical Veterinary Clinic, and Mobile Veterinary Clinic.
- Veterinary Hospital means an establishment with complete facilities for diagnosis, treatment, and surgical operation, managed by a duly licensed veterinarian and employing a Medical Technologist or equivalent.
- Veterinary Practitioner means one who practices veterinary medicine and is duly licensed by the Professional Regulation Commission.
- Wildlife Rescue Center means an establishment where sick, injured, confiscated wildlife are temporarily kept and rehabilitated prior to release based on government disposition.
- Zoo means an establishment (private or government owned/operated/managed) maintaining a collection of animals for recreational, educational, research, and scientific purposes.
Who must register and what is covered
- Any person or partnership, firm, cooperative, corporation, association, or any government agency/instrumentality that desires to establish, operate, and maintain covered facilities must first be registered in the Office of the Director, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
- Covered establishments include animal control facility, aviary, cattery, cattle farm, corral, crocodile farm, game fowl farm, goat farm, grooming facility, hog farm, kennel, laboratory animal facility, monkey farm, ostrich farm, pet shop, poultry farm, pound, racetrack and equestrian establishment, shelter, slaughterhouse, stock farm, stockyard, stud farm, veterinary clinic, veterinary hospital, wildlife rescue center, and zoo, including circus/carnival animal show and other related animal facilities.
- An applicant must use the BAI registration process for breeding/treatment/sale/trading/training or transport of animals within the scope of the defined Registration.
- Applications for registration or annual renewal must be submitted by the person/entity or its accredited agent.
- Facility licensing is tied to BAI approval secured through the registration process for the covered establishment categories.
Application requirements and standard compliance
- An application must include a standard petition form containing the petitioner’s name, age, citizenship, and a passport size picture, and other pertinent circumstances pertaining to the establishment including the place where it will be established.
- An application must be supported by proof of registration/creation as an establishment:
- For single proprietorship: an authenticated photocopy of the Certificate of Business Name Registration from BDT (DTI).
- For partnership, corporation, and other juridical personas: authenticated photocopies of the Certificate of Registration from SEC.
- For cooperatives: Certificate of Registration from CDA.
- For renewal registration, the application must include a valid Mayoras Permit.
- For veterinary-related requirements, the application must include a valid Certificate of Registration of the establishment as Filipino Veterinarian issued by PRC and a valid Professional Tax Receipt and S2 License from PDEA if applicable.
- The application must include a Notarized Employment Contract/MOA of the Veterinarian when applicable.
- The application must include a certificate of attendance from an accredited seminar on animal welfare presented by the owner manager and the hired veterinarian.
- The application must include an Affidavit of Undertaking that requires:
- The applicant to change the establishment’s name if there is already a validly registered name similar to it.
- The applicant to display the duly approved Registration Certificate in a conspicuous place within the establishment.
- The applicant to notify BAI in case of changes in application circumstances, including change of location or change of veterinarian.
- The application must include a Location Plan/Sketch of the establishment.
- The application must include an Environmental Clearance Certificate from DENR.
- For wildlife facilities, the application is subject to appropriate permits issued by DENR.
- The facility specifications require compliance with minimum structural, operational, and welfare measures, including:
- Sufficiency of space for free movement and exercise.
- Use of suitable materials for housing (wood, fiberglass, stainless steel or plastic).
- Protection from exposure to the elements and adverse climatic conditions.
- Containment, security, and safety from harm or injury.
- Structural design ensuring easy removal of animals during emergencies.
- Adequacy of ventilation, light and water supply, and drainage and waste disposal systems.
- An effective recording system including an identification technique for each animal.
- Maintenance of cleanliness, sanitation, and pathogen and pest control.
- Accessibility to roads all throughout the year (national, provincial, barangay, or private).
- Adequacy of quarantine facilities to segregate newly arrived or sick animals.
- Functional hospital or clinic facilities for treating wounded/injured animals and for diagnostic and laboratory procedures.
- BAI may require additional documentation or evidence to evaluate an application’s capability to meet animal welfare objectives and the standards under the circular.
- Specific category standards apply in addition to general requirements:
- Cattery/Kennels/Laboratory Animal Facilities/Pet Shops must have handouts on care of the animals accompanying every sale of every animal.
- Veterinary Clinic/Veterinary Hospital must:
- Have a duly licensed veterinarian managing/handling/treating veterinary medical cases.
- Have functional and adequate facilities for treating wounded/injured and/or diagnosing sick animals.
- Have laboratory equipment or access to a laboratory facility to aid diagnosis.
- Aviary/Corral/Crocodile Farm/Hog Farm/Monkey Farm/Poultry Farm/Race Track and Equestrian Establishment/Stock Farm/Stockyard/Stud Farm must be managed by a number of qualified staff knowledgeable in animal production who:
- Provide management procedures and treatment.
- Undertake behavioral observation ensuring no pain and/or suffering while confined.
- Be situated in areas conforming to zoning regulations.
- Provide enough area for physical structures, farm roads, and future expansion.
- Be located in well-drained, level or moderately sloping areas and not inundated at any time of the year.
- Circus/Carnival Animal Show must:
- Use training/behavioral modification on cue/command without causing injury or suffering.
- Provide display enclosures with access to sunlight.
- Keep enclosures of potentially dangerous animals locked at all times.
- Provide double doors for enclosures of non-domestic circus/show animals.
- Ensure easy cleaning/washing of display housing away from cage floor; or use good quality absorbent substrate replaced regularly.
- Provide a retreat area away from public view.
- Install safety barriers and safety warning signs for potentially dangerous animals.
- Provide dry resting/sleeping areas with appropriate bedding.
- Locate sleeping and feeding areas away from defecation areas; otherwise raise food containers and bedding; for birds, do not place water and food containers under perches.
- Place holding pens where there is minimum disturbance from human activities.
- Provide adequate facilities suitable for animals, working technical staff, and the visiting public.
- Maintain records/documentation showing the source and condition of animals.
- Wildlife Rescue Center/Zoos must:
- Be managed by qualified staff (including veterinarian, biologist, animal husbandry expert, and zoo keepers/caretakers) to provide veterinary medical procedures, treatment, rescue/retrieval operations, and behavioral observation ensuring no pain and/or suffering; the number depends on establishment size and animal population.
- Have adequate facilities for animals and visiting public.
- Be designed with environmental enrichment facilities to minimize risk of neurotic behavior.
- Limit public access to minimize disease transmission risks.
- Employ a minimum period of stay for each confined animal so the facility is not used as a lifetime care facility.
- Have an Environment Impact Assessment required under Presidential Decree No. 1586.
- Be located at least five kilometers from existing farms such as poultry, piggery, and livestock farms to prevent disease transmission risks.
- Animal Control Facility/Slaughterhouse must comply with the facility specifications and requirements in Section 3.
Renewal, approval process flow, and director action
- Registrations have different validity periods by category:
- Initial period (Initial Application): 1 year.
- Subsequent application (Renewal Application): 3 years.
- At least one month prior to registration expiration, the establishment must apply for renewal.
- BAI must ascertain continued compliance with the standards under Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 when considering renewal.
- The Director of BAI may suspend registration when, after proper investigation and subject to Animal Welfare Act implementation rules, an establishment is found not to conform with the Animal Welfare Act requirements.
- After suspension, the Committee on Animal Welfare conducts a formal investigation.
- The action of the Director of Animal Industry is appealable to the Secretary of Agriculture.
- The circular directs that a registration process flow exists for the steps of registration (represented in a referenced image).
Fees, surcharges, and category changes
- Registration applications must be accompanied by a registration fee under the Scheduled Fees in the circular.
- Fees are non-refundable and must be charged for each application.
- If an establishment engages in activities belonging to more than one category, the applicant must apply for registration for each category and pay the corresponding fees.
- Applications are processed only upon payment of application fees.
Schedule of fees (initial and renewal)
- Animal Boarding and Recreation Facility: P300.00 (initial, one year); P900.00 (renewal, three years).
- Animal Show (Television): P1,000.00; P3,000.00.
- Animal Show (Movie/Film): P5,000.00; P15,000.00.
- Aviary: P500.00; P1,500.00.
- Canine Facility/Canine Security: P300.00; P900.00.
- Cattery/Kennel/Laboratory/Animal Facilities: P500.00; P1,500.00.
- Pet Shops: (fee values appear as paired items within the schedule line that includes Circus/Carnival/Animal Show).
- Circus/Carnival/Animal Show: P1,000.00; P3,000.00.
- Crocodile Farm: P1,000.00; P3,000.00.
- Grooming Facility: P300.00; P900.00.
- Hog/Poultry/Cattle/Goat Farm: P1,000.00; P3,000.00.
- Monkey Farm: P1,000.00; P3,000.00.
- Ostrich Farm: P300.00; P900.00.
- Pounds/Shelters: P200.00; P600.00.
- Racetrack/Equestrian Establishment: P500.00; P1,500.00.
- Slaughterhouse/Poultry Dressing Plant: P500.00; P1,500.00.
- Small Animal Show: P500.00; P1,500.00.
- Stock Farm/Coral/Stockyard/Stud Farm: P500.00; P1,500.00.
- Veterinary Hospital/Veterinary Clinic: P300.00; P900.00.
- Wildlife Rescue Center: P300.00; P900.00.
- Zoo: P1,000.00; P3,000.00.
- Other related animal facilities: P300.00; P900.00.
Expired registration surcharge and ownership changes
- For expired registration, an Annual Surcharge of 50% of the amount due is levied on every expired registration certificate.
- Any change in the category of the registrant or change of ownership requires a new application.
Administrative sanctions and penalties
- The circular establishes grounds for revocation/suspension of registration, including:
- Misrepresentation of any material fact in the application for registration and in documentation used as a basis for issuing the registration.
- Failure to take adequate remedial or corrective measures for deficiencies identified under BAI requirements.
- Failure to keep up to date, secure, orderly, and easily inspected records showing continued compliance with standards.
- Re-application after revocation: no establishment may apply within three years after revocation of its license.
- Violation of any provision of the rules and regulations is penalized in accordance with R.A. 8485 as amended.
Animal minimum numbers and final clauses
- Minimum numbers for facilities are set as follows:
- Large Ruminant Farm: minimum of 10 Head.
- Small Ruminant Farm: minimum of 30 Head.
- Hog Farm: minimum of 10 Sows/100 Head.
- Poultry Farm: minimum of 5,000 Birds.
- Game Cock Farm: minimum of 500 Birds.
- Dogs and Cats: minimum of 20 Dogs and Cats including Puppies & Kittens.
- Laboratory Animals: minimum of 30 Lab. Animals.
- If any provision of the circular is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining portions continue in full force and effect under the separability clause.
- All existing administrative orders, circulars, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the circular are repealed or modified under the repealing clause.