Whereas, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures are established to protect animal or plant life or health within the territory of the Member from risks arising from the entry, establishment or spread of pests, diseases, disease-carrying organisms or disease-causing organisms [World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement), Annex A, 1 .a];

Whereas, the SPS Agreement recognizes the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as the relevant international organization responsible for the development and promotion of international animal health standards, guidelines, and recommendations affecting trade in live animals and animal products (Article 5.3.1, Terrestrial Animal Health Code of 2010);

Whereas, it is the policy of the Department of Agriculture (DA)/Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to encourage breeding establishments for live captive birds to voluntarily submit themselves to government accreditation and monitoring on SPS measures affecting animal health standards, procedures and practices following OIE recommended guidelines to achieve a smooth flow in the marketing of export products and further develop competitive growth in domestic and international trade for the livestock industry;

Whereas, there is a need to prescribe guidelines on SPS measures for the accreditation of breeding establishments for live captive birds for the guidance and compliance of all concerned.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PROCESO J. ALCALA, Secretary of Agriculture, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby issue this Order prescribing specific guidelines on the accreditation of breeding facilities of captive birds in compliance to SPS measures.

Section 1
Requirements and Conditions for Accreditation

In order to be granted accreditation, a breeding establishment must comply with the following requirements and conditions:

A. Legal

Submission of all legal documents required in the operation of the facilities such as, but not limited to Wildlife Farm Permit and Environmental Clearance Certificate from the UbNR, and Accreditation by the BAI Animal Welfare Division.

B. Facilities

1. Observance of clear demarcation and separation of establishment from its surroundings;
2. Suitable arrangements on site facilities for the appropriate disposal of bodies of birds which are euthanized or die of disease, or of any other cause or are euthanized;
3. Adequate means of catching, confining, and isolating birds;
4. Provision for adequate quarantine facilities; and
5. Arrangement with a competent laboratory to perform post-mortem examinations or have provision for appropriate premises to where such examinations may be performed by a competent person under the supervision of the facilities' veterinarian.

C. Protocols

BAI shall have the approval of the following:

1. Procedures on traceability, breeding and rearing of birds;
   
2. Procedures for birds under quarantine;
   
3. Disease surveillance and prevention and control measures;
   
4. Compliance with animal welfare regulations; and
   
5. Such other measures as may be required by circumstances.

D. Health Status

1. Negative presence on the establishment of Avian Influenza (Al), Newcastle Disease (ND), Chlamydia psittacosis, or any emerging notifiable disease;

2.Assesment of records on the animal health status of the breeding establishment for the last three years before the date of the application for approval or accreditation, including all clinical and laboratory tests carried out on the birds in the establishment for determination of disease free status of establishment; and

3. Conduct clinical and laboratory tests on birds of new establishments subject to repeat  tests whenever necessary.

E. Documentation and Record Keeping

1. Maintain updated health records which should contain the following information:

a. Age, species, sex and individual identification number of birds arriving or leaving the breeding establishments and information of origin or destination, transport from or to the breeding establishment and the bird health status;
b. Age, species, sex and individual identification number of animals hatched and bred at the breeding establishments and the bird health status;
c. Results of blood tests and other diagnostic procedures;
d. Cases of diseases and treatments;
e. Result of post-mortem examinations on birds that have died in the breeding establishment, including dead in the shell birds;
f. Observations made during any isolation or quarantine period; and
g. Submission of monthly production

 
2. Keeping of records following the date of approval of accreditation, for a period of at least 10 years.

F. Veterinary Services

1 Engagement of the services of a licensed veterinarian by the breeding establishment who shall be under the technical supervision of BAI.

2. The responsibilities of the veterinarian shall be as follows:

a. Ensure the application of, but not limited to the following measures:

i. An Annual disease surveillance plan including appropriate zoonoses control of the birds;
ii. Clinical, laboratory and post-mortem testing of birds suspected to be affected by transmissible diseases;
iii. Vaccination of susceptible birds against infectious diseases as appropriate, in conformity with the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE);

b. Ensure that BAI is notified without delay of any suspected deaths or the presence of any other symptoms suggesting that birds have contracted Al, ND or Chlamydia.psittacosis;
c. Ensure that birds entering the breeding establishment have been isolated as necessary, and in accordance with the requirements under Section 2 of this Order and the instructions, if any, given by the BAI; and
d. Be responsible for compliance with the day-to-day documentary requirements in accordance with this Order and on animal welfare regulation during transport of birds.

Section 2
Quarantine Provisions on the Movement of Birds

Birds introduced from other approved establishment shall be quarantined for at least thirty (30) days in an approved holding facility following the sets of guidelines below:

A. Quarantine Facilities.

The quarantine facilities must have satisfied the following requirements and have approved by BAI prior to the introduction of birds to be quarantined:

1. The quarantine area must be isolated;

2. There must be a dedicated personnel who will handle the operation during the quarantine period, and the facilities must be restricted to visitors and other unauthorized person and/or vehicles;

3. There must be no stray animals in the quarantine facility;

4. It must have provisions for animal food and other veterinary supplies for maintenance during the quarantine period;and

5. Strict hygiene, sanitation, and other biosecurity measures must always be practiced in the quarantine area to prevent the possible contamination of animal diseases.

B. Assignment and Duties of Veterinary Quarantine Officer:

1. The accredited breeding establishment must inform BAI of every arrival of new consignment of birds. BAI shall assign an official veterinary quarantine officer who will handle the quarantine operation;

2. The veterinary quarantine officer must ensure that the quarantine protocols/measures are fully complied with;

3. The veterinary quarantine officer shall observe the implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement with the DENR on the movement of endangered species;

4. The veterinary quarantine officer shall coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Protected Areas and Wild Life Bureau (DENR-PAWB) the necessary activities that have been performed and shall keep a record on wild captive bred birds to include but not limited to the following:

a. Identification of birds;
b. Date introduced to the approved establishment;
c. Source of birds;
d. Necessary marking applied by other government agencies;
e. Laboratory test done; and
f. Production record;

5. The veterinary quarantine officer shall conduct regular quarantine activities including but not limited to physical inspection of animals, collection of laboratory specimen, supervision of personnel in quarantine facilities, whenever necessary; and

6. The veterinary quarantine officer shall keep a record during the quarantine period and make a report of his findings and recommendations to the BAI Director. The owner of the establishment shall also be given a copy of the report.

C. Quarantine of Animals:

1. Newly introduced birds shall be quarantined for at least thirty (30) days or more depending on the animal health status of birds. During the quarantine period, no birds shall be removed from the place without proper authorization from the assigned veterinary quarantine officer;

2. Only birds sourced from certified farms free from Al, ND, Chlamydia psittacosis shall be allowed to enter the quarantine facility;

3. Each consignment must be isolated in an approved quarantine facility;

4. Birds under quarantine must at least be visited at the beginning and the end of each consignment. The veterinary quarantine officer shall carry out inspections more frequently if required by the disease situation;

5. The birds shall be tested by the competent authority to be free from Al, ND and Chlamydia psittacosis. Sampling size of animal to be tested should be:

a. 10 birds or less -All birds shall undergo testing
b. 11 -49 birds -15 birds shall undergo testing
c. 50-229 birds - 20 birds shall undergo testing
d. 300 and more - 30 birds shall undergo testing

6. Other quarantine measures may be imposed by the veterinary quarantine officer depending on the animal health situation.


Section 3
Monitoring of Compliance

To ensure continuous and effective compliance to all requirements and conditions for accreditation, breeding establishments shall at all times allow the entry of BAI authorized veterinarians, subject to reasonable farm biosecurity measures, to perform the following duties:

a. Ensure that the conditions set out in this guidelines are met;
b. Regularly visit the premises of the breeding establishment at least twice per year, or as often as maybe necessary;
c. Audit the activities of the farm veterinarian and the implementation of the annual disease surveillance plan, as well as prevention and control measures;
d. Verify that the results of the clinical, post-mortem and laboratory tests on the animals have revealed no occurrence of Al, ND or Chlamydia psittacosis;
e. Keep a copy of the updated record of the breeding establishment; and
f. Conduct import and export inspections of quarantine facilities together with assigned veterinary quarantine inspectors.

Section 4
Accreditation Fees, Renewal, and Use of Accreditation Funds

a. Accreditation Fees for Breeding Establishments of Live Captive Birds

BAI shall charge fees for their issuance and renewal for such certificate. The following are the fees to be collected:

1. Application Fee is P500.00, non-refundable and should be paid upon submission of the accomplished application form, which shall be inclusive in the Accreditation fee
2. Accreditation Fee is P10,000.00 per farm
3. Accreditation Fee shall be paid by the applicant upon issuance of the Certificate of Accreditation by BAI.

b. Renewal of Accreditation -The renewal for Accreditation shall be done annually.

Section 5
Administration Sanctions

The suspension and revocation of accreditation of breeding establishments shall be governed by the following conditions:

a. Where the competent authority finds that a breeding establishment no longer complies with any of the conditions set out in Sections 1,2 and 2, or there has been a change of use
so that it is no longer used exclusively for the breeding of birds, it shall revoke the accreditation of such establishment.
b. Where the competent authority has received notification of the outbreak of Al, ND, Chlamydia psittacosis, or any other emerging notifiable disease, the birds shall be subjected to appropriate quarantine measures and such movement shall be strictly prohibited, until the outbreak has been officially ruled out.
c. Where the disease is already under control, the quarantine measures of the breeding establishment may be lifted after compliance with the following requisites:

i. Eradication of the disease and the source of infection in the breeding establishment;
ii. Satisfactory cleaning and disinfection of the breeding establishment;
iii. Down time of the farm for at least three (3) months; and
iv. Compliance with all the requirements and conditions prescribed in this Order.

Section 6
Effectivity

This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and filing of three (3) copies thereof with the National Administrative Register at the UP Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City.


Adopted: 12 August 2011


(SGD.) PROCESO J. ALCALA
Secretary

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¹ Birds refer to all kinds of birds excluding poultry.