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WHEREAS, the use of Chloramphenicol in food animals may lead to residue build up in the animal tissues which may lead to aplastic anemia and/or resistance when ingested by humans, considering that it is valued as an antibiotic for life-threatening infections in humans; while Carbadox, Olaquindox, and Nitrofurans have been recognized as mutagenic and carcinogenic drugs possessing genotoxic potentials;

WHEREAS, veterinary drugs such as, but not limited to, Chloramphenicol, Carbadox, Olaquindox and Nitrofurans which are being used as antimicrobials have been banned in food animals such as livestock, poultry and aquaculture production, whether through feeds, water or other means;

WHEREAS, beta-agonist drugs such as, but not limited to, Clenbuterol, Salbutamol, Terbutalin and Pirbuterol, which are being used as tocoiytic agents for humans but used as lean meat - enhancing agents in animals promoting reduction in body fats are banned for use in food animals whether through feeds, water or other means considering that the safety profile of these products have not been established;

WHEREAS, the presence of the above-named banned veterinary and beta-agonist drugs have been found and identified in livestock, poultry and aquaculture feeds and in their tissues;

WHEREAS, residues of the above-named banned veterinary and beta-agonist drugs "i meat, fishery products, milk and eggs have been detected, analyzed and identified;

WHEREAS, mycotoxins such as, but not, limited to, aflatoxin, ochratoxin, zearalenone, fumonisin and vomitoxin, which are produced as secondary metabolites by molds or fungi, were identified in animal feeds and were found to be potent liver toxins and active carcinogens that cause liver damage, liver necrosis and hepatic tumors in animals which eventually may lead to death of the animals resulting to significant economic and commercial impact in the livestock and poultry industry;

WHEREAS, mycotoxins may enter the food chain through contaminated feeds that are ingested by animals and can then be carried over to milk or edible animal tissues thereby causing harmful effects to humans;

WHEREAS, there is a strong public clamor and demand in the strict monitoring and surveillance of banned, misbranded, counterfeit, unregistered, unsafe, unlabelled, tampered, and/or altered veterinary and beta-agonist drugs; presence of mycotoxins in feeds; and in the strict implementation of the withdrawal period of prescription or ethical veterinary drugs in livestock, poultry and aquaculture production;

WHEREAS, there is a global concern on feed and food safety and quality, thus, Codes of Good Practices, Quality Assurance Programs, Herd Health Surveillance Programs, and education programs are important parts of good husbandry practices;

WHEREAS, in order to effectively address the above, it is the responsibility of the government to issue comprehensive and strengthened program governing these issues and concerns;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARTHUR C. YAP, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, in accordance with the powers vested in me, do hereby issues this Administrative Order governing the strict monitoring and surveillance of banned, misbranded, counterfeit, unregistered, unsafe, unlabelled, tampered, and/or altered veterinary and beta-agonist drugs, the presence of mycotoxins feeds, and in the strict implementation in the rational use of prescription or ethical veterinary drugs in livestock, poultry and aquaculture production to protect human life and health.

This Order shall take effect immediately upon approval and shall supersede all other orders inconsistent herewith.

Adopted: 16 April 2008

(SGD.) ARTHUR C.YAP
Secretary

Recommending Approval:

(SGD.) DAVINIO P. CATBAGAN, DVM
Officer-in-Charge
Bureau of Animal Industry