REPUBLIC ACT NO.

9296 The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines An act strengthening the meat inspection system in the country, ordaining for this purpose a "meat inspection code of the Philippines" and for other purposes Date of Implementation: May 12, 2004 Who are the concerns? The health of the people, Local health Authority, National Meat Inspection Service, Bureau of Animal Industry Penalty of the Law: Section 56. Administrative Fines. - The Secretary, by way of regulation, shall issue a schedule of administrative fines for violations of any provisions of this Act. Section 57. Cease and Desist Order. - The Secretary is authorized to issue after proper notice and hearing which shall be summary in nature except in instances when the continued operation causes imminent danger to public health, a ''Cease and Desist Order'' to any person, firm, or corporation engaged, in the business of slaughtering food animals, or preparing, freezing, packaging, storing or labeling any carcasses or parts or products of carcasses for use as human food, found to be in violation of any of the provisions of this Act, should the continued operation of said entity, pose risk to public health and endanger the animal population. Section 58. Confiscation. - Any carcasses, parts of carcasses or products of carcasses found to have been prepared, handled, packed, stored, transported or offered for sale as human food not in accordance with any provisions of this Act shall be confiscated and disposed of as provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations at the expense of the person, firm or corporation found to be in violation thereof.

Policy
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - it is hereby the policy of the State: a) to promulgate specific policies and procedures governing the flow of food animals, meat and meat products through the various stages of marketing and the proper preservation and inspection of such products; b) to ensure food security and provide safety and quality standards for consumer products related to agriculture to assure the protection of the public against unreasonable risks of injury and hazards to health; c) to support local government units in their endeavor to be self - reliant and to continue exercising the powers and discharging the duties and functions currently vested upon them; d) to strengthen and harmonize various issuances on meat establishment operations and meat inspection and at the same time create a favorable climate of investment to encourage the meat and poultry industry to put up world class meat establishments; e) to promote the application of risk analysis based on accepted scientific methodology on applied food safety standards so as to assure a safe and wholesome meat supply. f) to support the development of the livestock and poultry industry and promote animal health by preventing the entry of disease - carrying animals, and surveillance of zoonotic and reportable diseases in meat establishments; and g) to strengthen existing rules and regulations governing meat importation to make them comprehensive, clear and transparent and ensure the safety and quality of imported meat and meat products through inspection and documentation.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8550 The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998

An act providing for the development, management and conservation of the fisheries and aquatic resources, integrating all laws pertinent thereto, and for other purposes.

Date of Implementation: February 25, 1998 Who are the concerns? The health of the people, BFAR Penalty of the law: Section 86. Unauthorized Fishing or Engaging in Other Unauthorized Fisheries Activities. - No person shall exploit, occupy, produce, breed, culture, capture or gather fish, fry or fingerlings of any fishery species or fishery products, or engage in any fishery activity in Philippine waters without a license, lease or permit. Section 87. Poaching in Philippine Waters. - It shall be unlawful for any foreign person, corporation or entity to fish or operate any fishing vessel in Philippine waters. Section 90. Use of Active Gear in the Municipal Waters and Bays and Other Fishery Management Areas. - It shall be unlawful to engage in fishing in municipal waters and in all bays as well as other fishery management areas using active fishing gears as defined in this Code. Violators of the above prohibitions shall suffer the following penalties: (1) The boat captain and master fisherman of the vessels who participated in the violation shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment from two (2) years to six (6) years; (2) The owner/operator of the vessel shall be fined from Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (20,000.00) upon the discretion of the court. If the owner/operator is a corporation, the penalty shall be imposed on the chief executive officer of the Corporation. If the owner/operator is a partnership the penalty shall be imposed on the managing partner. (3) The catch shall be confiscated and forfeited.

Policy
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State: (a) to achieve food security as the overriding consideration in the utilization, management, development, conservation and protection of fishery resources in order to provide the food needs of the population. A flexible policy towards the attainment of food security shall be adopted in response to changes in demographic trends for fish, emerging trends in the trade of fish and other aquatic products in domestic and international markets, and the law of supply and demand;
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(b) to limit access to the fishery and aquatic resources of the Philippines for the exclusive use and enjoyment of Filipino citizens;

(c) to ensure the rational and sustainable development, management and conservation of the fishery and aquatic resources in Philippine waters including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and in the adjacent high seas, consistent with the primordial objective of maintaining a sound ecological balance, protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment; (d) to protect the rights of fisherfolk, especially of the local communities with priority to municipal fisherfolk, in the preferential use of the municipal waters. Such preferential use, shall be based on, but not limited to, Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) or Total Allowable Catch (TAC) on the basis of resources and ecological conditions, and shall be consistent with our commitments under international treaties and agreements; (e) to provide support to the fishery sector, primarily to the municipal fisherfolk, including women and youth sectors, through appropriate technology and research, adequate financial, production, construction of post-harvest facilities, marketing assistance, and other services. The protection of municipal fisherfolk against foreign intrusion shall extend to offshore fishing grounds. Fishworkers shall receive a just share for their labor in the utilization of marine and fishery resources; (f) to manage fishery and aquatic resources, in a manner consistent with the concept of an integrated coastal area management in specific natural fishery management areas, appropriately supported by research, technical services and guidance provided by the State; and (g) to grant the private sector the privilege to utilize fishery resources under the basic concept that the grantee, licensee or permittee thereof shall not only be a privileged beneficiary of the State but also active participant and partner of the Government in the sustainable development, management, conservation and protection of the fishery and aquatic resources of the country. The state shall ensure the attainment of the following objectives of the fishery sector: 1. Conservation, protection and sustained management of the country's fishery and aquatic resources; 2. Poverty alleviation and the provision of supplementary livelihood among municipal fisherfolk; 3. Improvement of productivity of aquaculture within ecological limits; 4. Optimal utilization of offshore and deep-sea resources; and 5. Upgrading of post-harvest technology.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394 THE CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES Date of Implementation: July 22, 1991 Who are the concerns? Consumers Penalty of the Law:
ARTICLE 164. Sanctions - After investigation, any of the following administrative penalties may be imposed even if not prayed for in the complaint: a) The issuance of a cease and desist order, Provided, however, That such order shall require him to submit a report of compliance therewith within may include any or all of the following terms and conditions: b) The acceptance of a voluntary assurance of compliance or discontinuance from the respondent which may include any or all of the following terms and regulations; 1) an assurance to comply with the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations; 2) an assurance to refrain from engaging in unlawful acts and practices or unfair or unethical trade practices subject of the formal investigation; 3) an assurance to comply with the terms and conditions specified in the consumer transaction subject of the complaint. 4) an assurance to reimburse 5) an assurance to reimburse the complaint, including expenses in making or pursuing the complaint, if any and to file a bond to guarantee compliance therewith a) restitution or rescission of the contract without damages; b) condemnation and seizure of the consumer found to be hazardous to health and safety unless the respondent files a bond to answer for any damages or injury that may arise from the continued use of the product ; c) the imposition of administrative fines in such amount as deemed reasonable by the Secretary, which shall in no case be less than Five hundred pesos (P500,00) nor more than Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000,00) depending on the gravity of the offence, and an additional fine of not more than One thousand pesos(P1,000,00) or reach each day of continuing violation.
Policies: Declaration of Basic Policy -It is the policy of the State to protect the interest of the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry. Towards this end, the State shall implement measures to achieve the following objectives: a. protection against hazards to health and safety; b. protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices; c. provision of information and education to facilitate sound choice and the proper exercise of rights by the consumer; d. provision of adequate rights and means of redress; and e. involvement of consumer representatives in the formulation of social and economic policies.