"Given our FMD free status, let us continue to work together towards promoting the Pinoy pork and other livestock commodities. This meeting aims to create an advisory body which will come up with the mechanics on the promotion and marketing of pork products within the country and throughout the world"
This statement was made by the Bureau of Animal Industry Director Efren C. Nuestro during the June 8 consultative meeting with the hog industry stakeholders and inter-government agency collaborators at the Office of the Director�s Conference Room. This was done immediately upon his arrival from his trip to Paris, France to attend the 79th General Session of the Office International des Epizooties(OIE) also known as World Organisation for Animal Health. During this session, a certificate for a Philippine Foot and Mouth Disease Free Zone was awarded to the Philippine government dated 26 May 2011. The said certificate, signed by OIE President Carlos A. Correa Messuti and Director Bernard Vallat was received by the Director together with Assistant Secretary Davinio P. Catbagan in behalf of the Agriculture Secretary. It states that " being free from foot and mouth disease(FMD), vaccination is not practiced in accordance with the provisions of Article 8.5.4 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code." Such recognition is based on the documentation submitted to the OIE by the Official Veterinary Services of the Philippines in 23 November 2010. It comes with the obligation to immediately notify the OIE of any significant epidemiological event in relation to FMD in the country and to annually confirm that the situation has remained unchanged. This certification has cleared the country�s FMD Affected regions and provinces referred to as Zone 2 (regions I, III, IV-A and NCR). Earlier certification cleared other parts of the country referred to as Zone 1, 3, Visayas and Mindanao Zones. FMD Free status paves the way to export opportunities for the Philippine livestock industry.
Among the concerns discussed in the stakeholders meeting are as follows: 1) livestock industry and inter-government agency collaborators to form advisory body with the primary objective of promoting local pork, beef, goat and other livestock products within the country and to the rest of the world; 2) the possibility of seeking the cooperation of the advertising experts 3) the status and capability of slaughterhouses in the country for possible export opportunities.
In an earlier media release, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said that negotiations are ongoing to export pork products to Singapore and Malaysia. Swine farms, abbatoirs and meat processing establishments initially from Mindanao are being accredited by the Department of Agriculture through its concerned agencies, the National Meat Inspection Service(NMIS) and the bureau. The country has been exporting poultry products mostly to Japan given its bird flu (avian influenza) free status. Data obtained from the National Veterinary Quarantine Services (NVQS) showed the Philippines has been exporting broiler day old chicks (DOC)/ parent stocks(PS) to Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Brunei and Cambodia. Moreover, the country has been exporting processed meat products to Saudi Arabia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Cambodia and Australia.
Asec Catbagan said that the country�s FMD free status works well for the domestic livestock industry because livestock and swine raisers, along with meat processors can now freely transport and trade livestock and pork products within the country. He said the free movement and transport will enhance productivity, particularly in improving, upgrading, and increasing current livestock herd and swine population.
Relative to this, Assistant Director and FMD Task Force Chairman Victor C. Atienza instructed the regional task force coordinators and animal quarantine staff to be vigilant in maintaining and monitoring the epidemiological situation that the country currently enjoys. To enhance public awareness, a celebration for an FMD Free Philippines is scheduled on July 26, 2011 the highlight of which will be scientific paper presentations featuring international speakers from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and OIE.
Tiendesitas Pet Village Receives Registration Certificates
A pet shop owner receives her registration certificate from BAI Director Nuestro
Tiendesitas petshop and veterinary clinic establishment owners pose with their certificates
Thirty(30) pet shops and a veterinary clinic of Pet Village in Tiendesitas, recently received their Certificates of Registration for Animal Facility . The said certificates were handed by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Efren C. Nuestro and Animal Welfare Division Officer-in Charge Dr. Angel B. Mateo during the turn over ceremonies held at People�s Village, Tiendesitas en Frontera Verde in Ortigas, Pasig City. Registration of animal facilities is implemented by the bureau pursuant to the Republic Act(RA) 8485 otherwise known as "The Animal Welfare Act of 1998" and Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2005-01.
The said turn over ceremonies is the result of previous dialogues with Mr. Henry G. Babiera, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Las Islas Tiendesitas and The Ortigas Group of Companies about the necessity of complying with the regulation. During the ceremonies, Mr. Babiera said that the awarding of certificates is a part of creating awareness to establishment owners, referred to as "locators" and the community that the facilities are registered for animal welfare. This is a continuation of his advocacy to comply with government regulations, as he has previously done with his kennel in Tagaytay City and zoo facility in Guimaras.
The Animal Welfare Division is tasked to implement the Animal Welfare Act with the objective of protecting and promoting the welfare of animals in the country by supervising and regulating the establishment and operation of all facilities used for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or training animals either as objects of trade or as household pets. Under the said act, all animal facilities should secure a certificate of registration from the Bureau of Animal Industry. Further inquiries in relation to this can be obtained by calling (02) 924-79-51 or visiting the Animal Welfare Division, Bureau of Animal Industry, Visayas Ave. Diliman, Quezon City. Outside Metro Manila, application forms can be obtained from the DA RFUs Regulatory and Licensing Division.
OIE Scientific Commission recommends Zone 2 application for FMD freedom
The long awaited recognition for the whole country may be within the grasp of the country as the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Scientific Commission concluded its meeting with a recommendation to recognize Zone 2 of Luzon as foot and mouth disease (FMD) free zone where vaccination is not practiced.
The Scientific Commission which held its meeting earlier in February has concluded that Zone 2 has fulfilled the conditions set by the OIE to be considered as distinct candidate for FMD free zone without vaccination as stipulated in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Dr. Bernard Vallat, OIE Director General, has reportedly endorsed this recommendation along with a letter that permits other member countries to contest the Scientific Commission�s decision should they wish to do so during the 60-day filing period which began on February 10, 2011. If objections were not made during this period, the Scientific Commission will submit the recommendation to recognize Zone 2 of Luzon to the World Assembly of Delegates for approval during it General Session on May 2011.
Zone 2 of Luzon is the last area in the Philippines with pending recognition from the OIE as FMD free zone where vaccination is not practiced. It is the last area to conduct FMD vaccination even after the passing of Administrative Order No. 12 Series of 2009 which prohibits the vaccination and possession of FMD vaccines in the country. Zone 2 is comprised of Region III except the province of Aurora, the National Capital Region, Region IV-A, and the province of Pangasinan in Region I.
National Newcastle Disease Control Program(by Dr. Leonilo R. Resontoc 9/30/2011)
Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Animal Industry
SPECIAL ORDER NO. 55 SERIES OF 2003
RATIONALE:
Newcastle disease (ND) caused by Paramyxovirus I, remains an important constraint to the health and productivity of domestic poultry characterized by gastrointestinal, respiratory and nervous signs. Also known as Avian Pest, Avian Pneumoencephalitis, Peste (Tagalog), and classified as first priority disease in the order of A.O. 17 Series of 2004 in Amendment to DA-BAI No. 12 s. 1992; ND is transmitted through: a) direct contact with sick bird, b) inhalation, c) indirect contact through contaminated feeding and watering equipment, man’s clothing and footwear, feed sacks, trucks and respiratory discharges, d) through the feces, e) through the eggs l
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OIE Scientific Commission recommends Zone 2 application for FMD freedom (3/6/2011) - The long awaited recognition for the whole country may be within the grasp of the country as the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Scientific Commission concluded its meeting with a recommendation to recognize Zone 2 of Luzon as foot and mou . . .
