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WHEREAS, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) remains a serious threat to the livestock industry of the country particularly in the endemic areas of Luzon;

WHEREAS, FMD continues to deter the competitiveness of the Philippine meat and meat products in the global market;

WHEREAS, the different government agencies, regional field offices and local government units have been working tirelessly to monitor and control FMD cases;

WHEREAS, the private sector and the entire populace must cooperate in the implementation of the different components of the FMD National Program to achieve the main objective of totally eradicating FMD in the Philippines

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LUIS P. LORENZO, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The National Program to Control and Eradicate FMD in the Philippines is on its Eradication Phase, necessitating the need to strengthen the implementation of the different components of the Program such as Monitoring and Surveillance; Communication Management; Animal Movement Management and Strategic Vaccination.

SECTION 2. The Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Animal Industry, shall coordinate and supervise the implementation of the FMD National Program, its components and would serve as the central point for data collection, processing and coordination of activities pertaining to FMD eradication.  The National Meat Inspection Commission, on the other hand, shall assure that all slaughterhouses and other related facilities comply with the control and prevention measures against FMD.

SECTION 3. The DA-Regional Field Units shall execute the components of the FMD National Program at the Regional level; strengthen their Regional Inter-Agency FMD Task Forces; provide financial and technical assistance to the different local government units to control/prevent FMD; coordinate at all times with the Bureau of Animal Industry regarding the activities and other matters in conjunction with FMD; and provide necessary assistance to the DA-BAI Inspection Team in their area of jurisdiction.

SECTION 4. Each region shall forge a memorandum of agreement between the regional field office, provincial/city veterinarians, different local government units, BAI and other agencies that would have a relevant role in the control, prevention of FMD in their area.  Regions that have been declared FMD free by OIE shall likewise forge a memo of agreement among similar entities that will ensure the maintenance of their FMD free status.

SECTION. 5. The Local Government Units are encouraged to enact ordinances regarding the eradication of FMD in their locality as well as allocate ten percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment (for those with cases of FMD in their area) to procure vaccines, drugs, biological and other expenses that will be incurred in controlling FMD in their area as stated in the Executive Order 251.

SECTION 6. Provincial/City/Municipal Veterinary Offices and in the absence thereof, Agricultural Offices shall have authority over the livestock premises in their area. Livestock owners shall report immediately to the proper authority any suspected cases of FMD in their premises.  Except for the backyard farms, livestock owners must implement the control/prevention measures at their own expense.  The following are the regulations in the control of FMD in the different livestock premises:

6.1    Commercial/backyard farms must not move FMD infected and exposed animals from their premises as well as introduce new stock of susceptible animals without consent from the proper authority.

6.2    FMD cases in the slaughterhouses require the outright condemnation of the infected animal, and the immediate slaughter of exposed animals.  The said premises will be temporary closed for operation until such time that cleaning/disinfection have been instituted.

6.3    Stockyards and holding yards with cases of FMD must closed for operation and be put under quarantine until such time that the proper authority has approved the lifting of the said order.  FMD-infected animals in the stockyards shall be condemned while the exposed animals shall be immediately slaughtered.

6.4    Auction, livestock markets with FMD cases would call for outright condemnation of the suspected animal.  The said premises will be put under quarantine and will be temporarily closed for operation until such time that cleaning/disinfection have been instituted.

6.5    Animals found with FMD during transit would necessitate condemnation of the infected animals and transport vehicles shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

SECTION 7. Transport of animals outside the farm must be accompanied by the necessary shipping documents such as Veterinary Health Certificate and Shipping Permit issued by the proper authority.  The Veterinary Health Certificate must indicate that the animals were vaccinated twice against FMD.  Absence of the said documents would require for the shipment to be returned to its origin (if possible), temporary quarantine, confiscation or immediate slaughter as the case may be depending on the decision of the proper authority.

SECTION 8. All livestock handlers are required to apply for a Livestock Handlers License issued at the BAI or DA-RFU's.  Livestock vehicles must be disinfected before and after transport of animals.

SECTION 9. FMD susceptible animals in the remaining endemic areas must be vaccinated against FMD. The proper schedule for vaccination, storage, handling and administration must be strictly followed to prevent vaccination failure.

SECTION 10. Livestock quarantine checkpoints shall be installed in the strategic areas of the region or provinces to control and prevent the entry of FMD.  Livestock shipments shall be inspected upon arrival to the final destination.

SECTION 11. If any provision of this Administrative Order is declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall remain in force.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. This administrative order shall take effect immediately upon approval and shall remain in effect until the Foot and Mouth Disease shall have been officially declared by the DA-BAI as totally eradicated in the country.

Adopted: 22 Dec. 2003


(SGD.) LUIS P. LORENZO, JR.
Secretary

Recommending Approval:

(SGD.) JOSE Q. MOLINA, DVM, MVS
Director
Bureau of Animal Industry