Rules on Land Transport of Live Animals

Legal basis and governing framework

The Order is issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 8485 (Animal Welfare Act of 1998).
The Order provides that the penal provisions for violations are imposed in accordance with Republic Act No. 8485.
The Order provides coordination with national and local agencies that supervise, regulate, or control animal transport in the Philippines, to ensure consistency with Republic Act No. 8485.

Policy, objective, and guiding animal welfare

The Order adopts the five basic freedoms of animals during transport: freedom from thirst, hunger, and malnutrition; freedom from physical discomfort and pain; freedom from injury and disease; freedom to conform to essential behavior pattern; and freedom from fear and distress.
The Order’s objective is to promote, ensure, and protect animal welfare during land transport.
Responsibility for animal welfare during land transport is treated as the joint responsibility of all people involved in animal transport.

Key definitions for transport rules

An Animal Caretaker is a person who takes care of dogs and cats, whether as the owner or as someone employed by the owner.
An Animal Handler (or Livestock handler) is a person licensed by the Bureau of Animal Industry–Marketing Development Division as a livestock handler.
An Animal Handler on Wildlife refers to persons trained to handle wildlife.
An Animal Hauler is a person or juridical person who hauls live animals from source to destination.
Cages, Container Vans and crates are enclosed structures with appropriate ventilation and shelter used for keeping animals while being transported.
A Carrier is the person, partnership, corporation, association, or government agency or instrumentality hauling or handling live animals for transport; carriers are also known as haulers.
Disinsecting or Disinfecting refers to procedures to kill vectors of diseases and pathogenic agents present in the land transport vehicle.
A Driver is every licensed operator of a motor vehicle.
Expressways are limited-access facilities as defined under RA 2000.
Loading and Unloading Equipment includes a ramp, chute, box, or other apparatus used for loading or unloading animals.
A Loading Bay is a permanent loading area.
A Motor Vehicle is any vehicle propelled by power other than muscular power, self-propelled, or pulled by tractor head.
A Receiver is the authorized person at the end of the destination in charge of receiving the animals; also known as the consignee.
Restraining Devices include muzzles, collars, halters, ropes, and similar gadgets used to physically control or contain animal movement.
Traders (also known as Viajerosa or Livestock Dealers) are persons in the business of buying, selling, and transporting live animals for commercial purposes.
A Trailer is any number of wheels propelled or intended to be propelled by attachment to a motor vehicle.
Ventilation refers to openings that provide aeration or exposure to air (e.g., holes, slots, louvers, mesh).

Responsibilities for animals in transit

Owners, managers, and subcontractors are responsible for the animals’ general health, fitness for the journey, and welfare, including compliance with required veterinary or other certifications during the journey.
Owners, managers, and subcontractors must ensure the presence of at least one animal caretaker or animal handler competent for the species and must ensure appropriate equipment is provided for the species and journey.
Animal caretakers/animal handlers must provide humane handling and care during loading, unloading, and transport.
The animal caretaker or animal handler may also serve as the driver of the vehicle transporting the animals.
The carrier must choose the appropriate vehicle, ensure properly trained staff for loading, unloading, and caring, develop and keep up-to-date contingency plans for emergencies to minimize stress, and produce a Journey Plan containing a loading plan, journey duration, and resting place locations.
Drivers must ensure the safety and roadworthiness of vehicles used in transporting animals and comply with traffic rules and regulations during travel.
Owners and operators of animal facilities must provide suitable premises and appropriate facilities for loading, unloading, and securely holding animals; provide appropriate facilities with water and feed; and provide facilities for disinfecting and disinsecting vehicles after unloading.
Concerned authorities perform inspection before, during, and after travel and issue certifications and maintain records including:
- Livestock Handlers License (LHL),
- Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC),
- Rabies vaccination and health certificate for dogs, cats, and monkeys,
- Shipping Permit,
- For wildlife, a DENR Wildlife Transport Permit,
- Identification of animals and their abode,
- Ownership of animals pursuant to PD 533 (Anti-Cattle Rustling Law),
- Negative Coggins test for horses.

Loading, travel, and humane handling requirements

Every ramp and gangway used in loading or unloading must have sidings of sufficient height and strength to prevent animals from falling.
Transport prohibits moving animals by suspension using mechanical means (sling or cable), and prohibits lifting or dragging by the head, horns, legs, nose, ears, eyes, tail, or fleece.
Transport must provide appropriate restraint and containment depending on animal type: halters for cattle, carabaos, and horses; leashes for dogs; proper cages for cats; cages for poultry and ducks; and ropes for goats and sheep.
The use of electric prods is prohibited.
Dogs must be placed in proper cages when transported on open beds of trucks or pick-ups.
Animals must not be made to jump from the transport vehicle.
Loading and unloading equipment must be maintained and used to prevent injury or undue suffering.
Only dogs are allowed to jump at a height appropriate to their size.
Expressway operators must provide Public Safety Guidelines on Stray Animal Control approved by the DA-Committee on Animal Welfare, including installation of an animal control facility, training personnel, and implementing procedures on stray animal detection, impounding, adoption, and disposition of unredeemed and sick animals.
Expressway operators must give paramount consideration to public safety and prevention of damage to life and property in implementing the stray animal guidelines.
Upon detection of stray animals inside the right of way (ROW) or carriageway, the responsible units must report to the Central Control the type of animal, its last-seen classification, kilometer or station of last sighting, and direction.
The Central Control must record the report and dispatch a team to assess whether the animal poses imminent danger to motorists’ life or limb.
Animals in custody or in transit must not be subjected to torture, neglect, inadequate care, or maltreatment.
Collecting teams must be equipped with suitable and appropriate restraining equipment; animals must be turned over to the Animal Control Facility with proper care; and the Animal Control Officer (ACO) must follow applicable animal welfare standards under Republic Act No. 8485.
When necessary, extermination may be carried out through shooting using appropriate firearms by authorized personnel if the animal poses imminent danger to a human’s life or limb.
Killing under imminent danger situations must be done through shooting by a shooter deputized by the Bureau of Animal Industry–Animal Welfare Division.
The use of high-powered rifles such as M-14 or caliber 308 is recommended for large animals (including cattle, carabaos, and horses), while caliber 30 is recommended for small animals (including goats, pigs, and dogs).
Restraining and containment methods must be appropriate to the species involved.
Animals must be protected against harm from extreme hot or cold conditions during travel.
In warm and hot weather, the duration of journey stops must be minimized and vehicles must be parked under shade with maximum ventilation.
Urine and feces must be removed from vehicle floors and disposed of properly.
Only DENR-issued wildlife transport, import, or export permits are acceptable for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) purposes.
Animals must be unloaded into appropriate facilities immediately upon arrival.
Sufficient time for unloading animals must be provided.
Unloading must proceed quietly without unnecessary noise, harassment, or force.
After transport, vehicles, cages, container vans, and crates must be thoroughly cleaned by physically removing manure and bedding, followed by disinfection and disinsection before reuse.
Small animals (including goats, sheep, and pigs) must be unloaded using a ramp at an incline of not more than 30 degrees with floor grids, or carried one by one from the transport vehicle to the ground.
No animal may be unloaded by throwing the animal from the transport vehicle to the ground.
No animal may be thrown about within the transport vehicle during unloading.

Journey planning and operational equipment rules

The loading and unloading points must be indicated, and the municipalities to be traversed must be specified.
Animals must be provided with an appropriate journey diet and sufficient water supply.
The maximum continuous travel time for animals is 12 hours.
There must be three (3) copies of the Journey Plan accomplished by the carrier before and after the journey.
A Journey Plan must be accomplished in triplicate by the carrier and hauler before and after a journey: the first copy is kept by the carrier, the second copy by the driver, and the third copy by the receiver.
The Journey Plan must be submitted to a person of authority.
A copy of the Journey Plan must be treated as Annex 1, and a copy of the Standard Space Allowance for Transport by Land must be treated as Annex 2.

Vehicle and containment design standards

Vehicles and containers must have working telecommunication equipment; a mobile phone is preferred with at least 30 minute load and sufficient battery charge.
Vehicles and containers must be designed, constructed, and fitted as appropriate to the species, size, and weight of animals being transported.
Vehicles and containers must use secured smooth fittings to avoid injury to animals from sharp protrusions, and must emphasize avoidance of injury to drivers and animal caretakers/handlers.
Vehicles and containers must include a basic first aid kit and a working heavy duty flashlight.
Vehicles and containers must be designed to provide protection from adverse weather conditions and minimize the opportunity for animals to escape.
Vehicles and containers must permit thorough cleaning, disinfection, disinsection, and containment of feces and urine during the journey to minimize spread of pathogenic agents.
Vehicles and containers must be designed so feces or urine from animals on upper levels cannot soil animals, nor soil their feed and water, on lower levels.
Vehicles and containers must be maintained in good mechanical and structural condition to meet variations in climate.
Vehicles and containers must have facilities for adequately securing the vehicle on board ferries.
Vehicles and containers must include suitable bedding added to vehicle floors to absorb urine and feces, minimize slipping, and protect animals (especially young) from hard flooring surfaces and adverse weather.
Vehicles and containers must have reflectorized “Live Animals” labels with specified dimensions:
- At least 2.5a width x 26a length for cars, or at least 5a width x 52a length for vans and trucks.
All vans and trucks must have labels on top and both sides, with labels having a white background, black letters, and a red border.
Labels must be positioned at each side equidistant from top to bottom of the vehicle so they are clearly visible by a patrol officer.
For cars or vans carrying a dog or cat, the label must be placed in the rear windshield.
The reflectorized Live Animals label requirement applies to air and sea transport as well.
Vehicles and containers must carry documents containing contact information, including the name, address, and phone number of the carrier and hauler.

Roll-on/roll-off vessel and ferry transport rules

Vehicles and containers used must have a sufficient number of adequately designed, positioned, and maintained securing points so they can be securely fastened to the vessel.
Roll-on/roll-off vessels must have adequate ventilation to meet variations in climate and thermo-regulatory needs of the animal species being transported, especially when animals are transported in a secondary vehicle/container in enclosed decks.

Relationship with other DA rules and coordinated agencies

The Order applies DA-AO 08, Series of 2004 (Revised Guidelines on the Registration and Licensing of Livestock, Poultry and By-Products Handlers and Livestock Transport Carriers).
The Order applies DA-AO No. 10, Series of 2005 (Rules and Regulations Governing the Apprehension and Prosecution of Persons Transporting and/or Trading Dogs and Cats).
The Order applies Republic Act No. 2000 (Limited Access Act).
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) must coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army (PA), DILG, DENR, DOTC, the concerned Local Government Unit (LGU), and other government agencies supervising, regulating, or controlling animal transport in the Philippines.
Coordination must ensure that other agencies’ rules and regulations align with the intent and spirit of Republic Act No. 8485.

Penalties, separability, and repealing clause

Any violation of provisions of these Rules and Regulations is penalized under Republic Act No. 8485.
Separability clause: If any provision is declared contrary to law or unconstitutional, the remaining unaffected provisions continue in force.
Repealing clause: All Administrative Orders, rules, regulations, and other administrative issuances or parts thereof issued by the Department of Agriculture inconsistent with the Order are repealed or modified accordingly.