DA Conducts Comprehensive Review of Livestock and Poultry Transport Regulations

DA's Regulatory Review on Livestock and Poultry Transport

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday announced its efforts in reviewing regulations regarding the transport of livestock and poultry. This initiative aims to tackle ongoing supply challenges and ensure food safety in the Philippines.

Objectives of the Regulatory Review

• The review addresses supply bottlenecks for chicken and pork.
• It aims to enhance transportation protocols while ensuring public health safety.
• The DA is consulting with industry groups, including the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc..

Impact of Previous Regulations

The existing DA Administrative Order (AO) No. 5, Series of 2019, provides guidelines for the local transportation of animals and products to mitigate health threats. Key components include strict timelines for transport permits and special requirements for specific animals.

Control Measures for African Swine Fever

Additionally, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is evaluating DA Administrative Circular No. 2, Series of 2022, which addresses African Swine Fever (ASF). ASF has severely affected the hog sector since its outbreak in 2019. To combat this, the DA collaborates with the Food and Drug Administration to facilitate the availability of ASF vaccines.

Goals of the DA Review

According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., this review is part of the DA's 10-point agenda to balance development with regulation. The overarching goal is to stabilize supply chains and maintain reasonable pricing for pork, poultry, and other products while ensuring public health safeguards.