WHEREAS, the 12-year old bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) - positive cattle did not enter the food and feed chain;

WHEREAS, only one cattle has been tested BSE-positive out of the nearly 400,000 cattle tested since June 2004;

WHEREAS, quarantine has been imposed on cattle considered to be at risk (birth cohort, feed cohort, progeny);

WHEREAS, the Philippines finds the surveillance and monitoring system, including the initiatives undertaken by the US Department of Agriculture acceptable;

WHEREAS, the Philippine imports live cattle, beef and their products from the USA;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DOMINGO F. PANGANIBAN, Secretary of Agriculture, by the powers vested in me by law do hereby issue this order lifting the precautionary measures imposed on the importation of live cattle, beef and their products from the USA, subject to the following conditions:

1. Only deboned, and deglanded beef from cattle not older than thirty (30) months, devoid of any nerves and other ESE-specified risk materials (SRM) shall be imported.

2. The beef should come only from healthy ambulatory and not downer cattle.

3. The age of the slaughter cattle shall be certified by the USDA or a third party accreditation certification company to be accredited by the Philippine Department of Agriculture.

4. The production date or slaughter date of the beef shall be included in the packaging label.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) may issue guidelines on the importation of live cattle. All importation of the abovementioned commodities are subject to existing DA-BAI-NMIS rules and regulations.

All shipments of beef into the country originating from the USA not complying with these conditions shall be confiscated by all DA Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major ports.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 20 July 2005

(SGD.) DOMINGO F. PANGANIBAN
Secretary