WHEREAS, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has already been eradicated in the entire Philippines;

WHEREAS, this has been internationally accepted with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recognition of the remaining zone (Zone 2) in Luzon as FMD Free Zone where vaccination is not practiced, and awarded the Philippines with the Certificate of Recognition last May 26, 2011 during its General Assembly held in Paris, France;

WHEREAS, Mindanao, Visayas, Palawan and Masbate, and Zones 1 and 3 of Luzon have been previously recognized as FMD Free Zone where vaccination is not practiced, in 2001, 2002 and 2010 respectively;

WHEREAS, there is a need to maintain the status of the Philippines as FMD Free country where vaccination is not practiced;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PROCESO J. ALCALA, Secretary of Agriculture, by the power vested in me by law, do hereby declare the lifting of all FMD related restrictions on the transport and movement of swine, cattle, carabao, sheep, goats and other cloven-footed animals, their meat and meat products, and by-products in and within Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and vice-versa, subject to the following conditions:

1. Maintenance and Use of FMD Buffer Stocks

a. As a National Policy to meet the requirements of the OIE on maintaining our status as FMD Free where vaccination is not practiced, the use of FMD vaccines is prohibited in the country reiterating Department of Agriculture AO No. 12 Series of 2009 Withdrawing Vaccination for Foot and Mouth Disease in the Philippines.

b. All Importation of FMD Vaccines will only be allowed through government intervention and only under the following circumstances; 1) as buffer stocks in case of emergency and 2) to augment possible needs in case of emergency where supplies provided for the buffer stock will not be sufficient.

c. The Department of Agriculture shall allocate funds yearly for the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to maintain yearly at least 2,000 bottles or 100,000 doses of FMD buffer stock.

2. FMD Montioring and Prepareness Plan

In accordance to the Foot and Mouth Disease Preparedness Plan of the National FMDTask Force, all Veterinary Quarantine Officers, Regional and LGU Veterinarians shall submit a monthly report on the negative status of FMD within their areas.

In case of an FMD outbreak, all infected animals shall be stamped out and exposed susceptible animals shall be vaccinated. Ring vaccination shall be instituted and strict quarantine of all susceptible animals within a 3km radius depending on the scale of the outbreak shall be monitored closely.

3. Continued Observance of General Requirements for Transport or Shipment of Animals, Their Meat and Meat Products, and by-products.

a. All intended shipment of live animals from one province to another within and between Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao must be accompanied by a written authority or permit from the BAI Director and his duly authorized representative.

b. In case of meat and meat products, a Certificate of Meat Inspection from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) shall be required before a written authority or permit can be issued by the BAI Director or his duly authorized representative.

c. Veterinary Health Certificate attesting that the animals are apparently healthy and come from areas free of an outbreak of diseases.

d. All shipments shall comply with health requirements prescribed for other specific diseases of animals.

4. Repealing Clause

All FMD related rules and regulations, and other issuances which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Adopted; 2 August 2011


(SGD.)PROCESOJ.ALCALA
Secretary

Recommending Approval:

(SGD.) EFREN C. NUESTRO, DVM, CESO 111
Director IV