WHEREAS, Memorandum Order No. 18, requiring the inspection by SGS of all buffalo meat for export to the Philippines, was issued on 4 October 1999 and was to be effective immediately.

WHEREAS, the inspection is to begin at the source: i.e. where the animal come from, and proceeds through the slaughter, the stamping of carcass, supervision of processing/freezing, tagging of cartons, sealing of containers and verification of seals at port of loading. The certificate clearing the export can be issued only after this process.

WHEREAS, at the time the MO was issued, buffalo meat produced and processed prior to 15 October were already kept as inventory in warehouses of Indian exporters to serve orders of Philippine importers.

WHEREAS, these products could not be covered by the SGS inspection having been produced before the SGS arrangement took effect.

NOW, THEREFORE, I EDGARDO J. ANGARA, Secretary of Agriculture, do hereby issue the following guidelines to cover buffalo meat for export to the Philippines produced on or before 15 October 1999.

1.      All meat produced for the Philippines and kept as inventory should be segregated, inspected and placed under the custody of SGS.

2.      All records pertaining to the production of the aforementioned meat shall be submitted to the SGS, who shall then conduct an audit of the production plants to verify that the goods were indeed produced in accredited meat plants.

3.      SGS shall certify that the meat was indeed produced on or before 15 October 1999 in the accredited plant. Only then can the meat be favorably considered for export.

4.      Volume should be limited only to those orders made before 15 October 1999 that are supported by corresponding Purchase Orders (P.O.) or similar documents.

This amendment covers only buffalo meat produced on or before 15 October 1999. All other provisions of MO 18 remain valid and in effect.

Adopted: 09 Nov. 1999

(SGD.) EDGARDO J. ANGARA
Secretary