Veterinary Quarantine and Inspection Procedures in the Philippines

1. Veterinary Quarantine and Inspection Procedures in the Philippines Dr. Norodin A. Kuit Regional Vet. Quarantine Officer ARMM CP# 09263431462 Email Add: drkuit@yahoo.com

2. Organizational Structure -The National Veterinary Quarantine Service is under the direct supervision of the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry thru the Chief of the NVQS. - In each region of the country, a Regional Veterinary Quarantine Officer was deputized by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, upon the endorsement of the Regional Executive Director of DA-RFU or Regional Secretary of DAF-ARMM and thru the recommending approval of the Director of BAI.

3. Mandate The main mandate of the Veterinary Quarantine Service is to safeguard animal health against any hazardous or zoonotic diseases of animals that jeopardized human health and the livestock and Poultry Industry of the country.

4. Qualifications of a Vet. Quarantine Officers and Vet. Quarantine Inspectors -VQO must be a licensed or registered Veterinarian and a regular govt. employee of still in serviceable age. Must be trained on Vet. Quarantine training conducted by NVQS. Training abroad is of advantage. -VQI must be a regular or permanent govt. employee preferably in the Department of Agriculture or its attached bureaus. Must be trained or attended several orientation seminars on Vet Quarantine.

5. List of Quarantinable Items (Carrier of infectious matter/pests) • a)Live animals • b)Raw meat and poultry • c)Processed semi processed meat • d)Meat and poultry products • e)Packaging materials • -E.g. creates, vans, boxes • g)Transport Vehicles • h)People movement • i)By-products in livestock and poultry production • -E.g. manure, used sack, etc. • j)Semen • k)Feedstuff and raw mats • l)Dog food • m)Veterinary drugs and biologics • n)Lab specimens / samples

6. Standard Operating Procedures Pursuant to the Provision of Sec. 1765, Sub-Section (a), (b) and (c) and Sec. 1770 of the Revised Administrative Code, as amended by Act No. 3639and implemented by Animal Industry administrative Orders No. 2, 5, 5-1, 6, 7, 7-1, 7-2, 24, 33, 33-A, 34 and 36, all vessels, aircraft and other means of conveyance involved in foreign trade calling at any Philippine Port, coming from either foreign of domestic ports shall be boarded, inspected and placed under surveillance by the Quarantine Veterinary Officer duly appointed or designated by the Director or his duly authorized representative.

7. Boarding formalities vessels/aircrafts International Voyages: Two (2) hours before the estimated time of arrival (ETA), the Quarantine Veterinary Officer /VQI shall be on “stand-by” and shall constantly contact the Pilot House or the Customs House Tower by phone. The VQO/VQI goes with the rest of the boarding party and secures from the Master, Chief Steward, Purser or any of the Officers of the vessel who attends to the formalities, a copy of the following ship’s documents: 1) STORE LIST- all animal products intended for the crew’s consumption . 2) ANIMAL LIST – all animals on board 3) CREWS PERSONAL LIST- this is the declaration of the crews personal belongings which may include animal products and by-products like sausages, egg, cheese, decorative items of animal origin like horns, hooves, etc.

8. 4)INWARD FOREIGN CARGO MANIFEST- bulk cargoes of animal by-products like meat and bone meal, m eat meal, feather meal and similar products imported for use on animal feeds, if any, are listed here. 5) SHIP’S VOYAGE MEMO- this is a list of the Ports of Call of the vessel. This is needed so the VQO will have an idea of the origin of the frozen meat and meat products intended for crew’s consumption. 6) VETERINARY QUARANTINE CLEARANCE- this is often times absent if the vessel comes from a foreign port but it should be demanded for if the last port of call is a Philippine Port.

9. The VQO/VQI shall fill up a CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION in duplicate. One copy shall be supplied to the Master of the vessel to be presented to the VQO of the next Philippine Port upon demand. The other copy shall be submitted to the foreign vessel that had called at the Port. The Inspection Proper -DATE OF INSPECTION -NAME OF VESSEL -FLAG AND REGISTRY OF VESSEL -VOYAGE NUMBER -PORT OF CALL- at least the last three (3) foreign Ports of Call -ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL -ANCHOR TIME

10. -TIME BOARDED- this is the time when formalities start. -LIVE ANIMALS ON BOARD -MEAT POULTRY AND DAIRY PRODUCTS -BULK CARGOES( Feed ingredients,animal by products etc) -HATCHING EGGS. -PARCEL LISTED ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND BY -PRODUCTS -ARTICLES ACCOMPANYING ANIMALS. -GARBAGE FACILITIES -SIGNATURE OF MASTER

11. Surveillance All vessels, aircraft and other conveyance involved in foreign trade calling at any port shall be placed under surveillance for a proper implementation of the Veterinary Quarantine Rules and Regulations.

12. RE-INSPECTION AND ISSUANCE OF VETERINARY CLEARANCE: Two hours before ETD, the VQO/VQI shall board the vessel for re-inspection. Outward Foreign Manifest shall be demanded for from the Master of the vessel. Veterinary Quarantine Clearance will be issued only when upon re-inspection found that all papers are in order and corresponding inspection fee shall be collected from the importer or his/her representative.

13. RELEASE OF ALL INCOMING MEAT, MEAT PRODUCTS, DAIRY PRODUCTS, FEEDS AND FEED PRODUCTS Shipment shall be accompanied by an IVC or Health Certificate written/translated in English issued by the Veterinary Administration at the country of origin.

14. The shipment shall only be released by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) upon accomplishment of the following: -Presentation by the Importer of the VQC (original), IVC or Health Certificate (original), Bill of Lading/Airway Bill, and Packing List to the DAVQO for verification and evaluation; -Initiation and completion of the mandatory veterinary quarantine inspection done by random sampling and /or documentation and clearance ( all meat products shall be inspected at the port of entry); -Payment of veterinary quarantine inspection fee. -Resealing (BAI Seal) of the container van/s with the inspected goods; and -Issuance of a VQIC and stamped “Inspected and Passed”mark on the original copies of the BOC import documents/entries from the initiation of the quarantine inspection

15. AIRPORT FORMALITIES( INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS) All cargo aircraft carrying live animals upon landing shall be boarded by the VQO/VQI to physically examine the animals, animal products and by-products.

16. Inspection The VQO or VQI shall stay in the inspection area together with the representatives of the various government agencies concerned with the formalities. A Certificate of Inspection shall be accomplished and the flight Captain shall be made to affix his signature supplying him the duplicate copy together with a copy of the Administrative Order no. 7-1 for his future reference.

17. SURVEILLANCE All aircraft shall be placed under surveillance especially when there are no animals, animal products and animal by-products for loading, unloading or transshipment.

18. ISSUANCE OF VETERINARY CLEARANCE: Two hour before the ETD, the VQO/VQI shall be at the Inspection Area together with the representatives of the other government agencies concerned. A copy of the Outward Foreign manifest, animal List and General Declaration List shall be demanded for. Only after all the papers are found to be in order shall a Veterinary Quarantine Clearance be issued.

19. Transhipment The VQO or his representative shall see to it that live animals intended for transshipment shall be loaded directly to the trucks which have been previously disinfected. Under no circumstances shall the animals be allowed to touch the ground. The VQO/VQI or his representative shall supervise the loading of the shipment and shall be at the airport until departure of the aircraft

20. CLEARANCE AND RELEASE OF INCOMING ANIMALS , ANIMAL-BY- PRODUCTS AND BIOLOGICS -VQO /VQI shall examine all incoming live animals for any signs of illness. The passenger/importer shall present Import Permit and Health Certificate issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry and a Veterinarian from the country of origin, respectively. - For meat and meat products, the VQO/VQI shall notify the NMIS immediately of their date of release and their cold storage of destination. Veterinary Quarantine Clearance issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry, a Health Certificate and payment of corresponding inspection fees are also required before clearance shall be issued.

21. For cats and dogs, in the absence of Import Permit, a corresponding Permit Fee aside from the Inspection fee shall be collected. Likewise, the owner/importer shall be advised to have their dog or cat vaccinated against the prevalent diseases in the area, i.e., rabies, distemper, parvovirus, feline panleukopenia, etc. For antibiotics, vaccines, feed ingredients and other veterinary products, same procedures shall be followed.

22. For endangered species, this includes all species of birds, aside from Import Permit and Health Certificate the VQO/VQO should require the importer or his/her representative to present a CITES (Convention on International Trade on Endangered Specie) prior to their veterinary clearance. In ports where an Officer from the Parks and Wildlife Bureau is present, the VQO should refer the importation to the PWB Officer prior to their release.

23. Confiscation Confiscation of veterinary products shall be done in coordination with the Bureau of Customs. Confiscated items shall be under the custody of the BOC until such time they are properly turned over to the Veterinary Quarantine Service for proper disposal. Disposal shall be witnessed by representatives from the BOC and COA Auditor assigned at the airport.

24. CLEARANCE AND RELEASE OF OUTGOING ANIMAL AND ANIMAL-BY PRODUCTS For dogs and cats, a Health Certificate issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry is required. After examining the animal, the VQO should sign the original copy of the Health Certificate and retain the duplicate copy. In the absence of the Health Certificate, the passenger should be advised to bring with them all vaccination certificates of the animals.

25. For passenger going to the USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, they should not be allowed to bring with them any poultry, meat and meat products, unless they have an Import Permit from their country of destination. Passengers carrying endangered specie should be referred to an Officer from the Parks and Wildlife Bureau. However, if there’s no Officer from the PWB, the VQO /VQI should require the passenger to present CITES permit/clearance issued by the PWB, Import Permit from the country of destination and a Health Certificate issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry or any Veterinarian. Without these documents, the passenger should not be allowed to bring out the endangered specie.

26. AIRPORT FORMALITIES(Local Movement) OUTGOING SHIPMENT: Veterinary Quarantine Inspector (VQI) on duty shall stay at the baggage inspection area together with the other government agencies concerned with baggage inspection. Valid shipping permits for all animals, animal effects intended for shipment shall be demanded for. Only items specified in the shipping permit shall be allowed to be loaded. However, all item intercepted without the necessary papers shall be referred to the VQO. If upon inspection of the items not covered with shipping permits, the VQO finds said items to have met the BAI requirements he shall issue a shipping permit.

27. PARCEL LISTED ITEMS- all parcel listed items without shipping permits shall be confiscated. Five copies of the Certificate of confiscation shall be prepared. The original copy goes to the shipping company concerned, the duplicate copy goes to the airlines manager’s office, the triplicate copy goes to the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the quadruplicate copy goes to the Aviation Security Command and the last copy shall be retained for file.

28. The Veterinary Quarantine Office shall see to it that the shipping agency concerned shall be notified within three hours. Said items shall be released to the shipping agency only after five copies of the Certificate of Release shall have been prepared providing a copy each to the above-mentioned offices. The disciplinary action to be taken against the erring shipping agency shall be as per suggestion of the VQO/VQI.

29. INCOMING SHIPMENTS: The VQI shall on duty shall stay at the incoming baggage area. All incoming shipments of animals, animal products, animal by-products and animal effects shall be inspected. Only items specified in the shipping permits shall be issued landing permits. Items not covered by the necessary papers shall be confiscated. Five copies of the Certificate of Confiscation shall be prepared providing copy each the owner/shipper, the Office of the Airline Manager, the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the AVSECOM and a copy shall be retained for the office file. Disposal of the item shall be left to the discretion of the VQO. The disciplinary action to be taken against the erring Airline Company shall be as per the suggestion of the VQO.

30. PARCEL LISTED ITEMS- all parcel listed items not covered with shipping permits shall be confiscated. Five copies of the Certificate of Confiscation shall be prepared. The original goes to the shipping agency, the duplicate goes to the office of Airline Manager, etc. The disposal of the said items shall be left to the discretion of the VQO. In case of destruction, five copies of the Certificate of Destruction shall be prepared, providing a copy each to the above-mentioned offices. The disciplinary action to be taken against the erring shipping agency shall be as per suggestion of the VQO/VQI.

31. LOCAL TRANSHIPMENT: Live animals, meat and meat products coming from areas declared under quarantine shall in no instance be allowed outside the airport premises. The VQO/VQI shall see to it that animal shall never touch the ground.

32. PORT FORMALITIES( INTERISLAND VOYAGES) The VQO or his duly authorized representative shall inspect all shipment of animals, animal products, animal by-products and animal effects on board vessels docking at any port or sub-port of the Philippines. Shipping permits of these items shall be demanded from the Master, Purser or any of the vessels officer on duty.

33. LANDING PERMITS- under no circumstance shall said items be issued landing permits unless they are accompanied by shipping permits issued by the BAI at the port of origin. CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION- two copies of the Certificate of Inspection shall be prepared furnishing a copy to the Master of the vessel and one copy is retained for the office records. The Master, Purser or any of the vessel’s officer on duty shall be made to affix his signature on the Certificate of Inspection.

34. DEATHS AND ESCAPE OF ANIMALS IN TRANSIT- deaths and escapes of animals in transit shall be entered on the Certificate of Inspection. AUTOPSY REPORTS- the VQO may perform autopsy if he deems it necessary. Three copies of the autopsy report shall be prepared furnishing a copy to the Master of the vessel one copy to the owner/shipper and one copy shall be retained for office records. The carcass shall be applied with a BAI approved disinfectant prior to unloading and incineration.

35. OUTGOING VOYAGE: -Two hours before the ETD, the VQI shall board the vessel and see if all animals, animal products, animal by-products and animal effects on board are duly accompanied by shipping permits. -If upon inspection, it is found that there are items loaded in his port of responsibility without the relevant papers, the Philippine Coast Guard shall be requested to defer the issuance of clearance for the departure of the said vessels unless said items have been unloaded. - The Master of the vessel shall be called to remind him of his duties and responsibilities in the proper implementation of the Veterinary Quarantine.

36. TRANSSHIPMENT- shipment from other ports passing thru his port of responsibility without the relevant papers shall be immediately reported to the VQO. The VQO shall then inform by telegram the VQO of the port of destination regarding such shipments. Under no circumstance shall item destined for other port be unloaded in another port unless prior permission from the VQO of the latter port has been granted.

37. Foot Baths The VQI shall see to it that all vessels calling at the ports and sub-ports of his concern have footbaths and that they shall always be wet with a BAI approved disinfectant. ROUTINE INSPECTION OF SUB-PORTS: The VQO/VQI shall regularly inspect the sub-ports of his concern and should request assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Ports Authority and the Local Government for the proper implementation of veterinary Quarantine.

38. MOVEMENT OF ANIMAL FROM THE POINT OF LANDING TO THE QUARANTINE AREA: A representative of VQO shall accompany all shipments of animals from the point of landing to the quarantine site. Under no circumstance shall a shipment be diverted to another place other than the designated area. Items landed shall be loaded directly to the carrier which have been previously disinfected and the VQO or his duly authorized representative shall see to it that the said items will never touch the ground until they reach the quarantine area

39. QUARANTINE OBSERVATION PERIOD -All animals coming from foreign countries and landed in any port of the country shall be placed under quarantine for a period of thirty (30) days in a place chosen by the owner or consignee provided that such place meets the standard of the BAI. -The VQO or their duly authorized representative shall constantly check the condition of the animals. If the animals are intended for breeding they should be tested for Brucellosis and other diseases that might cause abortion. -If necessary the animals shall be subjected to laboratory or serological tests for diseases known to be present from their country of origin Said animals will be released only if after the lapse of thirty (30) days no symptom or symptoms of any dangerous communicable animal disease exhibited. Any other case such as FMD vaccination prior to their release is at the discretion of the VQO.

40. Overtime Pay Claim on overtime pay is case to case basis and must be shoulder by the private sector concerned on agreed basis. Based on AO #23, series of 1993, Boarding VQO or representative can claim Php 30.00 per hour after official working hours.

41. Recommended Facilities for a Vet. Quarantine Station I- Stable or paddocks for Horses with chute II- Ruminants(Large n Small) Hanger/yard with chute III-Aviary IV-Canine Quarters V-Admin. Office VI-Laboratory VII- Exotic Animals Quarter VIII- Silos IX- Incinerator The only 6-star Animal hotel in Asia @ Kuala Lumpur Int. Airport, Malaysia

42. Sukran and Wassalam