In order to implement the eradication phase in the control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, in order to prevent further spread of FMD in Luzon and in order to control spread of other dangerous communicable animal diseases, the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry deemed it necessary to delegate its powers and duties to the Provincial/City veterinarians in the provinces of Regions I, II, III, IV, V, CAR and NCR.

The provincial/city veterinarians shall be deputized as Veterinary Quarantine Officers (VQO) and as such shall perform the following functions:

1. To inspect premises, any animal project, farm, zoo, pet shop, kennel, stockyard, slaughterhouse or any other place where animals are raised, bred or sheltered when it has been reported or there is a reasonable cause to believe that a dangerous communicable animal disease is present among the animals therein for the purpose of controlling the said infection and preventing its spread.

2. To order the quarantine of areas of premises and to issue hold or closure orders as the case may warrant for a maximum of seven (7) days. Extension of quarantine shall be subject to the approval of the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

3. To recommend to the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry the lifting of quarantine.

4. To require during an outbreak of an infectious animal disease the inspection, examination, test or vaccination of susceptible animals in the declared area of infection and to adapt necessary measures for the proper disposition of positive cases as a result of such examination and test.  The person having custody of the animal to be inspected, examined, tested or vaccinated shall render such assistance as the Bureau of Animal Industry representative may reasonably request to facilitate such inspection, examination, testing or vaccination as the case may be.

5. To order the disposal in any manner provided by existing laws of any expendable material such as litter, bedding, gunny sack, teed bag, chick carton, animal crates, cage, feed, etc. suspected of being contaminated with or exposed to dangerous communicable animal disease which are found in premises, any animal project, farm, zoo, pet shop, kennel, stockyard, slaughterhouse or any other place where animals are raised, bred or sheltered.

6. To order the destruction and proper disposal of animals affected or exposed to an exotic and/or dangerous communicable animal disease.

7. To order the cleaning and disinfection of any utensil, equipment, place, corral, yard, boat, car, vehicle or other conveyance deem by him to be contaminated with dangerous communicable animal disease and to prohibit its further use until it has been placed in a sanitary condition.

For strict compliance.

Adopted: 14 April 2004


(SGD.) JOSE Q. MOLINA, DVM, MVS
BAI Director