Regulation of Importation, Bringing or Introduction into the Philippine Islands of Living Animals

November 26, 1930

ACT NO. 3767

AN ACT REGULATING THE IMPORTATION, BRINGING, OR INTRODUCTION INTO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, OF LIVING ANIMALS, SUCH AS INSECTS, BIRDS, CRUSTACEANS, BATS, MOLLUSKS, REPTILES, MAMMALS, AND OTHER ANIMALS NOT FALLING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE TERM "DOMESTIC ANIMALS" AS PROVIDED AND DEFINED IN SECTION FOUR OF ACT NUMBERED THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF THIS COUNTRY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Agricultural Pests Quarantine Act."

SECTION 2. Subject to the general executive supervision and control of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Director of Plant Industry shall have the immediate direction and administration of the enforcement of the provisions of this Act, and shall, with the prior approval of said Secretary, make and prescribe such administrative orders, rules and regulations as may be deemed convenient or necessary to govern and regulate the importation, internal movement or control of any insects or animals treated of in this Act.

SECTION 3. The importation, bringing, or introduction into the Philippine Islands, for curiosities or pets, for controlling agricultural pests, or for any other purpose, of any living insects in any stage, or any birds, bats, reptiles, crustaceans, mollusks, mammals or other animals not falling within the scope of the term "domestic animals" provided and defined in section four of Act Numbered Thirty-six hundred and thirty-nine, is hereby prohibited, except upon a written permit from the Director of Plant Industry and through such ports as may be designated by the said official.

SECTION 4. The importer or importers shall file an application with the Director of Plant Industry, at least one month in advance, on a form provided by the Bureau of Plant Industry for the purpose, stating the animal or animals falling under the scope of this Act that he wants to import, the country of origin, the date and port of embarkation, the registered name of the vessel that will probably bring the animal or animals, the date and port of arrival, their final destination, object for which the importation is made, and the party or person who will take charge of their breeding or propagation, care or disposal in this country.

SECTION 5. Upon arrival of the animal or animals so imported, the importer or his agent shall make a declaration on a regular form provided for the purpose to the Collector of Customs, and such declaration shall show the name and number of the animals imported, the name and address of importer, the country of origin and the number of permit issued by the Director of Plant Industry. In the absence of such permit, the Director of Plant Industry through his authorized agents shall have the importation held for the purpose of determining whether or not same may be allowed entry. If it is believed that the importation might be detrimental to the best interest of the country, same shall be ordered returned to the country of origin or destroyed at the option of the importer who shall bear all expenses incurred therein.

SECTION 6. It shall be the duty of the Collector of Customs to notify the Director of Plant Industry or his authorized agents of the arrival of any of the living animals included within the scope of section three hereof.

SECTION 7. It shall be the duty of the Director of Plant Industry to have all animals imported in accordance with this Act inspected promptly and if feasible have them quarantined, or if necessary, destroyed or returned to the port of origin as provided in section five hereof.

SECTION 8. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or association or their agents in any manner or by any means to remove or carry any imported animal or animals from the place of landing until such animal or animals shall have been duly inspected and passed by the Director of Plant Industry or his duly authorized agents.

SECTION 9. Any person, firm, corporation or association that shall violate any of the provisions of this Act, or who shall forge, counterfeit, alter, deface or destroy any certificate or any paper issued by virtue of this Act, shall be liable to prosecution and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand pesos or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or by both, in the discretion of the court.

SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect on its approval.

Approved, November 26, 1930.