Republic of the Philippines 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
Elliptical Road, Diliman 
1100 Quezon City
MEMORANDUM ORDER  
No: Z l 
Series of 2021
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MEMORANDUM
WHEREAS, it is the utmost priority of the Government to protect its borders and 
territories from the entry, establishment and spread of animal diseases that may be 
introduced by the importation of disease-carrying, contaminated, or adulterated meat 
and meat products, which may endanger the lives, safety and health of the consuming 
public, pose risk to animal health, and potentially cause serious economic consequences;
WHEREAS, Department of Agriculture (DA) Memorandum Order (MO) No. 03 series of 
2021 imposed temporary ban on the importation, of domestic and wild birds and their 
products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and due to the widespread 
outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in several areas of Netherlands;
WHEREAS, appeals have been made by the meat processing sector for DA to reconsider 
on the acceptance of regionalization of countries which have been recently suspended by 
DA due to the presence of HPAI, in order to address the shortage of affordable 
Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM) in the country;
WHEREAS, regionalization or zoning surveillance measures are accepted practices 
recognized by the World Organisation of Animal Health and the World Trade 
Organisation;
WHEREAS, the veterinary authorities of Netherlands have submitted documents to the 
Philippine Government reflecting their ongoing disease control measures and the 
different countries that continue to accept poultry products from them;
WHEREAS, a joint team composed of technical members of the Bureau of Animal Industry 
and National Meat Inspection Service will be created to conduct evaluation of selected 
Meat Processing Plants with available thermal processing equipment in the facility;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM D. DAR, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, by 
the powers vested in me by law, do hereby issue this Memorandum Order granting the 
request of the meat importer processors (MIP) with thermal processing equipment to 
import MDM for processing from OIE declared free zones from HPAI virus iiORDER NO. 03 SERIES OF 2021 TO ALLOW IMPORTATION OF  
MECHANICALLY DEBONED POULTRY MEAT ONLY FROM  
NETHERLANDS
■with empowered andprosperous farmers andfisherfoCkJAfood-secure and resident Thidppines
as per provisions of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 10.4.5 to 10.4.24 subject to 
the following conditions:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
I. General requirements
A. A composite team of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National 
Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) will be created to conduct evaluation of Meat 
Processing Plants with available thermal processing equipment in the 
facility, in coordination with the Food and Drug Authority (FDA).
B. Only accredited MIPs that were evaluated and have complied with the 
requirements shall be allowed to import MDM from HPAI-free zones in 
Netherlands.
C. Each shipment shall be subject to a desktop review prior to Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) issuance. All authorized MIPs must 
enclose in their attached invoice their proposed source meat establishment 
number, including its complete address (village, town, province) for easier 
evaluation.
D. The poultry meat shipment must be sourced out from one (1) meat 
establishment only. Multiple sources of meat establishments for each poultry 
shipment SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED.
II. Pre-departure Requirements
A. Attestation from the Competent Veterinary Authority (CVA) that the poultry 
were sourced from a HPAI-free zone or compartment in the Netherlands 
since they were hatched. The HPAI-free zone or compartment should follow 
the definition in Article 10.4.4 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 
(TAHC) 2019 Chapter 10.4.
B. Attestation from the CVA that the poultry has been slaughtered in an 
approved abattoir located in a HPAI-free zone or compartment and have 
been subjected to ante- and post-mortem inspections in accordance with OIE 
TAHC Chapter 6.3 and have been found free of any signs suggestive of Avian 
Influenza.
C. Attestation from the CVA that the MDM was produced in a HPAI-free zone or 
compartment
D. Attestation from the CVA that each consignment of MDM meets the 
conditions provided in Chapter 10.4 of the OIE TAHC 2019.
^ p  AfoocC-secure ancCresident Thidjojyines
' ^  with empowered andprosperous farmers andfisherfoOk
E. Each poultry meat shipment must test negative for HPAI using Real-Time 
Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) from an accredited laboratory in the 
country of origin. The test result must be attached to the Veterinary  
Health Certificate issued by the CVA.
Requirements from Meat Importers and Processors (MIPs)
A. All MIPs shall identify one DA-accredited CSW which will be dedicated purely 
to the storage of MDM from Netherlands, as stated in their SPSIC. Transfer of 
MDM to another CSW shall not be allowed.
B. The MIPs will ensure that the MDM will only go to FDA licensed meat 
processing plants which have thermal processing facilities. Compliance to 
this will be monitored through submission of a monthly utilization report 
submitted by the MIPs to the BAI. Non-submission of this report will result 
to non-issuance of SPSIC for the following month.
C. If MDM products of Netherlands are found to be sold online or in wet 
markets, the issuance of SPSIC shall be put on hold.
D. The MDM shall only be used for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point 
(HACCP)-certified products meeting the thermal process recommended by 
the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Article 10.4.26:
Core temperature of meat Time
60.0 °C 507 seconds
65.0 °C 42 seconds
70.0 °C 3.5 seconds
73.9 °C 0.51 seconds
E. If authorized MIPs were found to use MDM on non-heated processed products, their 
accreditation with BAI and NMIS shall be revoked. The DA shall also endorse the 
revocation of their license-to-operate issued by FDA.
F. Unannounced visit to meat processing plants may also be conducted by veterinary 
authorities to ensure compliance with government’s regulations on this Order and 
other food safety policies.
G. Random sample collection of MDM shall be conducted by NMIS plant officers 
for detection of the presence of HPAI.
JA food-secure and resident Tddipjyines
with empowered andprosperous farmers andfisherfoCk
H. The MIPs will implement proper disinfection of the packaging material and 
condemnation of the meat products and other wastages. The procedure must 
be clearly written and included in their Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) 
manual. The prescribed disinfectants and condemnation process as seen in 
the Annex 1  and 2 of the DA BAI Avian Influenza Protection Program Manual 
of Procedures 2019 shall be followed.
ACTIONS IN CASE OF DISEASE OUTBREAK IN IDENTIFIED ZONES OR REGIONS  
AND/OR IN CASE OF NON-CONFORMITY TO THE ABOVE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
A. Any non-conformities or non-compliance to the above stated conditions shall 
automatically be dealt with as per DA AO No. 9 series of 2010 Section VII, D, 
which provides the following options for disposition:
1. Confiscated and destroyed
2. Returned to the country of origin
3. Shipped to a third country
B. Further, if authorized MIPs were found to use MDM on non-heated processed 
products, their accreditation with BAI and NMIS shall be revoked. The DA shall 
also endorse the revocation of their license-to-operate issued by DOH-FDA.
C. SPSICs approved for shipment of MDM may be suspended or revoked at any 
time as per DA AO No. 9 series of 2010 Section III.I.6 if there is a risk to the 
health of the local poultry population. Shipments with revoked SPSICs shall  
automatically be dealt with as per DA AO No. 9 series of 2010 Section  
VII.D.
This ORDER shall take effect immediately and shall remain enforced for one [1] year 
unless earlier revoked due to worsening disease situation in the country of origin or due 
to the lifting of the temporary ban on poultry from Netherlands.
Done this day of ___________ 2021.
WILLIAM D. DAR, Ph
Secretary ^
In replying pis cits this c o d ' :
For Signature: 8-04-21-0046
R 'C tlv td  :  04/06/2021 02:34 PM
with emptrweredand[prosperous farmers andfisherfoCkJA food-secure and resident Thidppxnes
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE  
RECORDS DIVISION  
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