Dear PAO,

The meat products being sold in our local grocery store have a fishy and rotten smell. When I asked my brother, who works there, whether these meat products were inspected by the government, he answered in the negative. Is our local grocery store allowed to sell meat products that were not inspected and did not pass quality control?

Allaine

Dear Allaine,

Please be informed of Sections 13 and 48 (c) of Republic Act 9296, otherwise known as “The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines,” which states that:

“Section 13. Scope of Application. – This Code shall apply to all meat establishments where food animals are slaughtered, prepared, processed, handled, packed or stored or sold. All slaughterhouses and poultry dressing plants shall ensure adequate protection and welfare of food animals while awaiting slaughter in order to avoid mishandling or the infliction of unnecessary pain or distress during the slaughtering process. (Emphasis supplied)

“Section 48. Prohibited Acts. – No person, firm or corporation shall:

“a) slaughter any food animal or prepare meat or meat product in any meat establishment except in compliance with the requirements of this Act;

“b) slaughter or handle in connection with slaughter, any food animal in a manner not considered humane;

“c) sell, transport, offer or receive for sale or transportation in commerce carcasses or parts thereof, meat or meat product required to be inspected under this Act unless they have been so inspected and passed;

“d) do any act while they are being transported in commerce or held for sale, which is intended to cause or has the effect of causing such articles to be adulterated or misbranded.” (Emphasis supplied)

According to the law, all meat establishments where food animals are sold are within the scope of meat inspection by the government, particularly the National Meat Inspection Service. The law also states that no person, firm, or corporation shall sell, transport, offer, or receive for sale or transportation in commerce carcasses or parts thereof, meat, or meat products required to be inspected under The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, unless they have been so inspected and passed the said inspection.

In other words, the local grocery store in your area is an establishment under the scope of The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, and thus it is not allowed to sell meat or meat products unless these products were inspected and passed the said inspection. Note that violations may result in administrative fines, the issuance of a cease and desist order, and/or confiscation of meat products pursuant to Sections 56 to 58 of Republic Act 9296.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated on.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to [email protected]