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(NAR) VOL. 12 NO. 2 / JANUARY - MARCH 2001
[ BFAD BUREAU CIRCULAR NO. 01, s. 2001, March 08, 2001 ]
GUIDELINES ON THE TEMPORARY BAN ON THE IMPORTATION OF PROCESSED MEAT PRODUCTS FROM CATTLE, SHEEP AND GOAT, AND OTHER FOOD INGREDIENTS CONTAINING SUBSTANCES DERIVED FROM THESE ANIMALS
In order to clarify the implementation of the Temporary Ban on European Meat and Meat Products under Memorandum Order No. 19, s. 2000 issued by the Department of Agriculture, the following guidelines for the importation of processed meat and meat products from Europe are hereby promulgated.
1. The processed meat products that shall not be permitted for importation and sale are products that may contain specified risk materials derived from animals (cattle, sheep and goat) that may be contaminated with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or “mad cow disease” and are identified as follows:
3. Importers seeking BFAR Clearance for shipments under the above specified H.S,. Codes, must submit appropriate documents such as bill of lading, packing list, product labels or declaration of ingredients from the manufacturer (if the ingredients are not declared on the product label). In order to avoid delays in processing of clearances, the required documents should be submitted before the arrival of the shipment.
4. The DA memorandum identified thirteen member countries of the European Union covered by the temporary ban which are the countries where sources of imported meat have been accredited. However, there are other countries which have been identified as possible sources of processed meats products and these are included in the BFAD watch list of European Countries identified below.
5. Shipments with the prohibited processed meat products and food ingredients shall be returned to the country of origin or recommended for proper disposal at the expense of the importer.
These guidelines shall take effect immediately and shall be enforced until such time that the situation warrants the lifting of the temporary ban on meat and meat product from European countries.
Strict compliance is hereby enjoined in the interest of public health and safety.
Adopted: 8 March 2001
(SGD.) WILLIAM D. TORRES, PHD.
Director
1. The processed meat products that shall not be permitted for importation and sale are products that may contain specified risk materials derived from animals (cattle, sheep and goat) that may be contaminated with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or “mad cow disease” and are identified as follows:
— Canned meat containing meat/offals from cattle, sheep and goat such as corned beef and other meat preparations including frankfurters, liver paste, pate, goulash, soups and broths if one or more of its ingredients are derived from said animals.2. In order to verify if the imported meat products do not contain the specified risk materials from BSE affected animals,. BFAD Clearance shall be required prior to the release of shipments from Ports of Entry by the Bureau of Customs for products covered under the H.S. Codes of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, June 2000, listed in the following table:
— Other processed meat products that may or may not be stable at ambient conditions like sausages, pasta filled/stuffed with meat derived from cattle, sheep and goat.
— Food ingredients containing substances of bovine origin such as beef flavors, animal protein preparations or protein concentrates.
| Table 1. H.S. Codes of Products under Alert | |||
| 1601.0000 | 1602.4191 | 1602.9091 | |
| 1601.1010 | 1602.4192 | 1602.9092 | |
| 1602.1020 | 1602.4910 | 1902.2000 | |
| 1602.2010 | 1602.4920 | 2103.9000 | |
| 1602.2020 | 1602.5000 | 2104.1000 | |
| 1602.4111 | 1602.9011 | 2106.1000 | |
| 1602.4112 | 1602.9012 | 2106.9010 | |
3. Importers seeking BFAR Clearance for shipments under the above specified H.S,. Codes, must submit appropriate documents such as bill of lading, packing list, product labels or declaration of ingredients from the manufacturer (if the ingredients are not declared on the product label). In order to avoid delays in processing of clearances, the required documents should be submitted before the arrival of the shipment.
4. The DA memorandum identified thirteen member countries of the European Union covered by the temporary ban which are the countries where sources of imported meat have been accredited. However, there are other countries which have been identified as possible sources of processed meats products and these are included in the BFAD watch list of European Countries identified below.
Albania | Germany | Poland | |
Austria | Greece | Portugal | |
Belgium | Hungary | Romania | |
Bosnia & Herzegovina | Ireland | Slovak Republic | |
Bulgaria | Italy | Slovenia | |
Croatia | Liechtenstein | Spain | |
Czech Republic | Luxembourg | Sweden | |
Denmark | Macedonia | Switzerland | |
Finland | The Netherlands | United Kingdom | |
France | Norway | Yugoslavia |
5. Shipments with the prohibited processed meat products and food ingredients shall be returned to the country of origin or recommended for proper disposal at the expense of the importer.
These guidelines shall take effect immediately and shall be enforced until such time that the situation warrants the lifting of the temporary ban on meat and meat product from European countries.
Strict compliance is hereby enjoined in the interest of public health and safety.
Adopted: 8 March 2001
(SGD.) WILLIAM D. TORRES, PHD.
Director