PHILIPPINES NEW MEAT INSPECTION LAWS.
The Quezon City government has passed a measure on meat inspection and slaughtering in which violators face a P5,000 fine or 30 days imprisonment, as well as the revocation of the permit to sell.
In an 11-page ordinance signed by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr, meat traders will be required to slaughter their meat for consumption at a city slaughterhouse accredited by the National Meat Inspection Service.
Likewise, illegally slaughtered carcasses found in the possession of traders and vendors will be confiscated and properly disposed of by the city government.
"The license of violators shall be revoked and they may be permanently banned from engaging in business without prejudice to the imposition of the penal provisions of this ordinance," it added.
The measure, authored by city councilors Allan Butch Francisco et al, aimed to protect the consumers who are in danger of illegally slaughtered or double dead meat in the city.
"The proliferation of stalls in various parts of the city selling various foodstuffs and products has raised concerns from consumers regarding the sanitary conditions of their products," it said.
Under the ordinance, the slaughtering of meat shall be done at the city slaughterhouse with a permit secured from the city market administrator.
Properly slaughtered meat can be only sold within the premises of public markets authorized by the market development and administration department.
Private wet markets can be also allowed to sell legal meat if they have the required business license from the Quezon City government.
Violators of slaughterhouse rules will be meted three days to 1 week suspension of the privilege to use the slaughterhouse, or a permanent ban in case of a third offense. The city government will also revoke the trader’s permit to operate.
Meanwhile, possession of carcasses which did not undergo meat inspection standards will mean a fine of P2,000 to P5,000 for the offending trader.
The measure also provides a penalty of 30 days and the permanent closure of the offending establishment, or both at the discretion of the court.
To curb the trade of double dead meat, any individual caught distributing, transporting or selling such meat will be penalized with a P5,000 fine and the confiscation of the condemned meat.
The ordinance added that the trader’s business permit and license to sell will be revoked, with a six month imprisonment and the closure of the establishment.
