WHEREAS, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) through its National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division (NVQSD) is mandated to set up a quarantine inspection  system  relative  to  inter-regional  and  international  movement  of animals, and animal products and by-products pursuant to Section 5, Act No. 3639 and Section 26, Executive Order No. 338, Series of 2001, in order to prevent the entry of exotic diseases and the spread of endemic diseases in the country;

WHEREAS, the risk of introduction of potentially infectious disease pathogens such as African Swine Fever (ASF) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) through catering food wastes/left-overs collected from international and domestic airports and seaports that are used for swill feeding posed a grave threat to the local swine industry. Animal disease pathogens are quite resistant to high and low temperatures in meat-based food preparations thus, swill feeding is considered to be one important route of disease introduction in the country;

WHEREAS, the collection, handling, monitoring and disposal of catering food wastes/left-overs from international and domestic ports are covered by Republic Act 9003 series of 2001, a law governing ecological solid waste management. These facilities are also equipped with their own sewage treatment plants which properly treat effluents in accordance to Philippines standards. A waste disposal log is kept by the accredited waste collector for monitoring purposes.

NOW,  THEREFORE,  I,  EMMANUEL  F.  PINOL,  Secretary of  Agriculture,  by virtue of the powers vested in me by law do hereby issue this Order prohibiting the  use  of  catering  food  wastes/left-overs  from  international  and  domestic airports and seaports for swill feeding of local swine throughout the country. Further,   the  Veterinary   Quarantine   Officers   (VQOs)  assigned  at   various Veterinary Quarantine Stations are directed to oversee and monitor that the airports  and  seaports  both  domestic  and  international  follow  the  proper disinfection and disposal of catering food wastes and left-overs including catering garbage.

This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force until officially revoked. All orders and memoranda inconsistent herewith are deemed revoked or amended accordingly.