In order to clarify the implementation of the Temporary Ban on European Meat and Meat Products under Memorandum Order No. 19, s. 2000 issued by the Department of Agriculture, the following guidelines for the importation of processed meat and meat products from Europe are hereby promulgated.

1.         The processed meat products that shall not be permitted for importation and sale are products that may contain specified risk materials derived from animals (cattle, sheep and goat) that may be contaminated with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or œmad cow disease  and are identified as follows:

-      Canned meat containing meat/offals from cattle, sheep and goat such as corned beef and other meat preparations including frankfurters, liver paste, pate, goulash, soups and broths if one or more of its ingredients are derived from said animals.

-      Other processed meat products that may or may not be stable at ambient conditions like sausages, pasta filled/stuffed with meat derived from cattle, sheep and goat.

-      Food ingredients containing substances of bovine origin such as beef flavors, animal protein preparations or protein concentrates.

2.         In order to verify if the imported meat products do not contain the specified risk materials from BSE affected animals,. BFAD Clearance shall be required prior to the release of shipments from Ports of Entry by the Bureau of Customs for products covered under the H.S. Codes of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, June 2000, listed in the following table:

	Table 1. H.S. Codes of Products under Alert
	1601.0000	1602.4191	1602.9091
	1601.1010	1602.4192	1602.9092
	1602.1020	1602.4910	1902.2000
	1602.2010	1602.4920	2103.9000
	1602.2020	1602.5000	2104.1000
	1602.4111	1602.9011	2106.1000
	1602.4112	1602.9012	2106.9010

3. Importers seeking BFAR Clearance for shipments under the above specified H.S,. Codes, must submit appropriate documents such as bill of lading, packing list, product labels or declaration of ingredients from the manufacturer (if the ingredients are not declared on the product label).  In order to avoid delays in processing of clearances, the required documents should be submitted before the arrival of the shipment.

4.         The DA memorandum identified thirteen member countries of the European Union covered by the temporary ban which are the countries where sources of imported meat have been accredited.  However, there are other countries which have been identified as possible sources of processed meats products and these are included in the BFAD watch list of European Countries identified below.

	Albania	Germany	Poland
	Austria	Greece	Portugal
	Belgium	Hungary	Romania
	Bosnia & Herzegovina	Ireland	Slovak Republic
	Bulgaria	Italy	Slovenia
	Croatia	Liechtenstein	Spain
	Czech Republic	Luxembourg	Sweden
	Denmark	Macedonia	Switzerland
	Finland	The Netherlands	United Kingdom
	France	Norway	Yugoslavia

5.         Shipments with the prohibited processed meat products and food ingredients shall be returned to the country of origin or recommended for proper disposal at the expense of the importer.

These guidelines shall take effect immediately and shall be enforced until such time that the situation warrants the lifting of the temporary ban on meat and meat product from European countries.

Strict compliance is hereby enjoined in the interest of public health and safety.

Adopted: 8 March 2001

(SGD.) WILLIAM D. TORRES, PHD.
Director