Law Summary
International Standards and Disease Management
- Compliance with OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (TAHC) for FMD risk
- Importation from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) infected zones controlled
- Imported meat heating requirement: 70°C for 30 minutes minimum to inactivate FMD virus
Food Safety and Certification
- Mandatory HACCP certification for products using Indian Buffalo Meat (IBM)
- Food safety regulations strictly enforced to facilitate safe trade
Unauthorized Distribution
- Presence of IBM in local markets without authorization violates DA rules
- DA Inter-Agency Team established to regulate importation and utilization
Key Definitions
- Accreditation: DA authority granting eligibility based on criteria
- Accredited Meat Importer Processor: importer and processor authorized to use IBM for own processing
- Indian Buffalo Meat: deboned, deglanded fresh frozen buffalo meat from India
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP): science-based food safety control system
- Foreign Meat Establishment (FME): accredited foreign slaughter and meat processing plant
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures: protective health measures against biological risks
- Veterinary Quarantine and Meat Inspection Certificate: certification confirming inspection and lab clearance
Scope and Veterinary Requirements
- Buffalo must originate from FMD-controlled zones with no outbreaks within 10 km for 60 days
- Buffalo vaccinated at least twice, with last vaccination 1-12 months before slaughter
- Animals transported cleanly and slaughtered within 72 hours at accredited plants
- Ante-mortem and post-mortem veterinary inspections mandatory
- Feed in lairage must be from FMD-free certified sources
Meat Processing and Handling Standards
- Carcasses matured at 0-4°C for 24 hours with pH below 6.0
- Meat deboned, deglanded, blast-frozen, stored at or below -18°C
- Microbial and chemical contamination testing mandatory with certification
- Meat packaging stamped with export and manufacturing information;
- Clear labeling requirements including size and format specifications
Conditions for Foreign Meat Establishments (FME)
- Only DA accredited FMEs participating
- Annual HACCP and GMP audits mandatory, non-conformities require follow-up audits
- Importer costs cover audit expenses
Importer Eligibility and Import Procedures
- Only accredited Meat Importer Processors (MIP) approved by IATC and OSEC allowed
- HACCP certification required for all IBM-utilizing meat products
- Import shipments undergo quarantine inspection and sampling
- Non-compliant shipments are confiscated
Meat Processing Utilization Controls
- Processing to meet OIE-TAHC heat-treatment or drying standards to inactivate virus
- Canning/thorough cooking requires 70°C for 30 minutes minimum internal temp
- Drying after salting demands proper deboning and salt-to-protein ratios
Eligibility Certification Procedures
- Semiannual applications with required documentation: letter, forms, certifications
- On-site inspection by IATWG with detailed reporting
- Certificates valid for six months, revocable upon non-compliance
- Additional import quotas may be granted on justifiable grounds
Utilization and Monitoring
- Monthly withdrawal receipts (IWR) issued for IBM from cold storage
- Monthly utilization reports from importers mandatory
- Discrepancies between NMIS and importer reports investigated
- Utilization Clearance Certificates required for renewal
- Unused allocations forfeited
Monitoring and Evaluation
- IATC and IATWG responsible for continuous compliance monitoring
- Reports submitted to Secretary of Agriculture
Violations and Penalties
- Importing IBM beyond approved volumes or without requirements
- Unauthorized sale or improper withdrawal from storage
- Penalties include fines, confiscation, and import bans up to two years
- Confiscated IBM disposed of properly
Repealing and Separability
- Conflicting existing issuances modified or repealed
- Invalidity of any provision does not affect others
Effectivity
- Effective 15 days after publication in two national newspapers and official gazette
- Filed with UP Law Center for public record