AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9296, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE MEAT INSPECTION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 10536 Amending the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines

Definition of Terms (Section 1):
- Defines "hot meat" as carcass or parts of carcass from unregistered/unaccredited meat establishments without inspection, undocumented, illegally shipped, and unregistered carcass from other countries.

Composition of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) (Section 2):
- NMIS headed by an Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, and Regional Technical Directors appointed by the President.
- NMIS has the following divisions:
    a) Plant Operation and Inspection (Section 2a)
    b) Accreditation and Registration (Section 2b)
    c) Enforcement and Food Defense (Section 2c)
    d) Meat Import and Export Assistance and Inspection (Section 2d)
    e) Meat Science and Technology (Section 2e)
    f) Laboratory Services (Section 2f)
    g) Consumer Information, Education and Assistance (Section 2g)
    h) Legal Affairs (Section 2h)
    i) Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (Section 2i)
    j) Engineering and Climate Change (Section 2j)
    k) Administrative (Section 2k)
    l) Finance (Section 2l)

Regional Technical Operation Centers (RTOC) (Section 3):
- Existing regional offices of NMIS to consist of meat laboratories, technical, administrative and finance services.
- Within 2 years, functions of NMIS-RTOC in "AA" accredited meat establishments shall be transferred/devolved to provincial government where said meat establishments are located, provided Provincial Meat Inspection Service is certified by NMIS as compliant with national standards.
- Certification of meat and meat products from "AAA" meat establishments intended for international trade shall remain with NMIS.

Unified Fees and Charges (Section 4):
- Secretary shall prescribe reasonable fees to be charged by NMIS and LGUs for services rendered after public hearing.
- Amounts collected from fees, fines and other charges by NMIS shall be deposited with National Treasury and accrue to General Fund.

Meat Inspection Service Development Trust Fund (MISDTF) (Section 5):
- Independent trust fund administered by Meat Inspection Board.
- At least 50% of fees, fines and charges for first 5 years shall be used for MISDTF.
- MISDTF shall be used for:
    a) Upgrading laboratory equipment and facilities (Section 5a)
    b) Establishing training facilities (Section 5b)
    c) Capability development of technical personnel and field enforcers (Section 5c)
    d) Research and development on meat and meat products standards (Section 5d)
    e) Indemnification of condemned animals during ante-mortem inspection (Section 5e)
    f) Accreditation and food safety audits of foreign meat plants (Section 5f)
    g) Enforcement, food defense program and collaborative activities (Section 5g)
    h) Disposal facilities for seized/condemned items and prevention/control programs (Section 5h)
    i) Benefits for NMIS personnel (Section 5i)
    j) Assistance and support to LGUs, livestock sector and meat industry (Section 5j)

Fines and Penalties (Section 6):
- Violation of provisions or prohibited acts shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than 6 years and 1 day but not more than 12 years or a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P1,000,000, or both.
- If offender is a juridical person, officers responsible shall be criminally liable and certificates of accreditation/registration shall be cancelled.
- If offender is a public official, penalty shall include perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
- Administrative fines and penalties:
    a) For Sections 48 a) and b) - confiscation and fines from P50,000 to P100,000 plus prohibition from conducting business for 2 years for third and succeeding offenses.
    b) For Sections 48 c) and d) - confiscation and fines from P200,000 to P500,000 plus prohibition from conducting business for 2 years for third and succeeding offenses.
    c) For Sections 49, 50, 51, 52, 54 and hot meat - confiscation and fines from P200,000 to P500,000 plus prohibition from conducting business for 3 years for third and succeeding offenses.
    d) For Section 53 - suspension of 6 months for first offense, and dismissal from government service for second violation.

Separability Clause (Section 7)
Repealing Clause (Section 8)
Effectivity Clause (Section 9)