Promulgation of Regulations for the Preparation, etc. and Importation of Viruses, etc. Used for the Treatment of Domestic Animals

March 16, 1923

ACT NO. 3101

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS FOR THE PREPARATION, SALE, TRAFFIC IN, SHIPMENT, AND IMPORTATION OF VIRUSES, SERUMS, TOXINS OR ANALOGOUS PRODUCTS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS

SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to prepare, sell, traffic in or in any manner dispose of, in the Philippine Islands, for the treatment of domestic animals, any virus, serum, toxin, or analogous products that are of no value or the value whereof is inferior to that announced on the label, or which are contaminated or adulterated or dangerous or noxious. It shall likewise be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell, traffic in or in any manner dispose of any virus, serum, toxin, or analogous products prepared in the Philippine Islands and used for the treatment of domestic animals, unless such virus, serum, toxin or analogous products have been prepared in accordance with regulations to be promulgated by the Director of Agriculture, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, in an establishment licensed by said Director of Agriculture, such license being neither suspended nor revoked.

SECTION 2. It is hereby prohibited to import into the Philippine Islands, without permission of the Director of Agriculture, any virus, serum, toxin or analogous products for use in the treatment of domestic animals, and to import, for such treatment, any virus, serum, toxin or analogous products that are worthless or inefficacious or the value whereof is inferior to that announced on the label, or which are contaminated or adulterated or dangerous or noxious. The Director of Agriculture or his authorized agent are hereby empowered to examine and inspect all viruses, serums, toxins and analogous products imported or to be imported into the Philippines for use in the treatment of domestic animals, in order to determine whether they are worthless or inefficient, or whether their value is inferior to that announced on the label, or whether they are adulterated or contaminated or dangerous or noxious, and if they are, to prohibit their entry and order them destroyed or returned to their place of origin at the expense of the owner or importer.

SECTION 3. The Director of Agriculture is hereby authorized, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to draft and promulgate from time to time such regulations as he may deem necessary to prevent the preparation, sale, traffic in or shipment of any virus, serum, toxin or analogous products, intended for the treatment of domestic animals, that are worthless or inefficacious or the value whereof is inferior to that announced on the label, or which are adulterated or contaminated or dangerous or noxious, and, also, to issue, suspend and revoke licenses for the dispensing or the maintenance of establishment for the preparation for use in the treatment of domestic animals, of viruses, serums, toxins, and analogous products for sale, traffic or shipment. The Director of Agriculture is also authorized to issue licenses for the importation into the Philippine Islands, for the treatment of domestic animals, of viruses, serums, toxins, and analogous products when not in violation of the provisions of section two of this Act.

SECTION 4. The licenses provided for in this Act shall be issued to persons engaged in the preparation of viruses, toxins and analogous products for sale, traffic, or shipment, on the condition that the licensee shall permit the inspection of the same and their products and of the manner of preparing the same; and the Director of Agriculture may suspend or revoke any license issued under this Act after giving the licensee an opportunity to be heard, when, in the judgment of said Director, such licensee uses his license, or permits the same to be used, for facilitating or carrying on the preparation, sale, traffic in or shipment, or importation into the Philippines for use in the treatment of domestic animals, of any virus, serum, toxin or analogous products having no value or efficacy or the value whereof is inferior to that announced on the label, or adulterated, contaminated, or dangerous or noxious. Any officer, agent or employee of the Bureau of Agriculture, duly authorized by the Director of Agriculture, may enter any establishment licensed to prepare, sell, traffic in or ship virus, serum, toxin or analogous products for use in the treatment of domestic animals, at any hour of the day or night.

SECTION 5. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand pesos or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both, in the discretion of the court. SaCIAE

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on its approval.

Approved, March 16, 1923.