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Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR
No. __________________________
Series of 2018

SUBJECT: RULES AND REGULATIONS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HALÂL FARMS

AND SLAUGHTERING PRACTICES

WHEREAS, Article 2 Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that the State
shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health of the people
and instill health consciousness among them.
WHEREAS, Section 2 of the Republic Act (RA) No. 10817 otherwise known as the Philippine
Halâl Export Development and Promotion Act of 2016, states the significance of promoting
the growth and ensuring the integrity of Philippine Halâl exports and to develop and
promote Halâl industries as a mode of achieving equity and justice among farmers and
producers;

WHEREAS, Section 11 of RA 10817 also provides that (a) All Philippine products that will
be exported as Halâl, and processes and services whose outputs or benefits shall accrue
or flow outside of the Philippine territory, shall (i) undergo certification from an
accredited Halâl certification body, (ii) comply with the appropriate Philippine National
Standards for Halâl as developed, or with international or foreign standards recognized,
by standard setting agencies identified or mandated under Section 10 of this Act, and (iii)
be registered with the national regulatory agency concerned;
WHEREAS, Section 12 of RA 10817 further highlights the role of the Department of
Agriculture in enhancing the capabilities and global competitiveness of existing and
potential exporters of Halâl products, processes and services;
NOW THEREFORE, this Circular on the Rules and Regulations on the Establishment of
Halâl Farms and Slaughtering Practices is hereby promulgated and issued for the
guidance and enforcement by all concerned.
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Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. SCOPE.
This Circular prescribes the rules and regulations on the establishment of Halâl Farms
from the step of selecting farm location, use of agricultural inputs, farm equipment and
machineries, and farm management practices in accordance with Shari‘ah (Islamic laws).
This Circular shall be required for the issuance of license to operate of a Halal farm and
to provide technical assistance and other services by the Department of Agriculture.
Section 2. OBJECTIVES.
1. Regulate Halal production in accordance with the mandate of the Department to
monitor Farm operations.
2. Ensure the conformance of farm products to Halâl practices in support of food
safety and quality of agri-fishery farm products in meeting global Halal market
standards and increasing competitiveness.
3. Facilitate the issuance of Halâl farm license to operate through provision of
technical guidance and assistance in order to enhance access of Philippine Halâl
agri-fishery products to ASEAN and other foreign markets.

ARTICLE II
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Section1. Within the context of this Circular, the following terms shall be defined as
follows:

1.1. Applicant refers to a farmer, fisher folk, farm operator/owner, company

and Food Business Operators applying for Halâl license to operate.

1.2. Aquaculture refers to fishery operations involving all forms of breeding,

raising and farming of fish and other fishery species in fresh, brackish and
marine water areas.

1.3. Certification refers to third party attestation of conformance to standards

and guidelines related to products, processes, systems or persons.

1.4. Contamination refers to direct and indirect contact of Halâl crops, animals,
land and fisheries and aquatic products or products with substances that
would compromise the Halâl integrity.
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Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

1.5. Feeds (feeding stuff) refers to any single or multiple materials, whether
processed, semi-processed or raw, which is intended to be fed directly to
food-producing animals.

1.6. Food Safety refers to the assurance that food will not cause harm to the
consumer when it is prepared or eaten according to its intended use and to
Shari‘ah (Islamic Law).

1.7. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) refers to the practices that address
environmental, economic and social sustainability for on-farm processes,
and which result in safe and quality food and nonfood agricultural
products.

1.8. Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) refers to the general

principles of good practice and minimum requirements in the commercial
or backyard rearing/farming of animals for food use.

1.9. Good Aquaculture Practices (GaqP) refers to the practices that aim to
prevent or minimize risk associated with aquaculture production
(mariculture, coastal aquaculture/brackishwater culture, and freshwater
culture.

1.10. Halâl refers to an Arabic term which means permissible or lawful.

1.11. Halâl Assurance System (HAS) refers to the organizational structure,

responsibilities, procedures, activities, capabilities, and resources that
together aim to ensure that products, processes, or services are Shari’ah
compliant.

1.12. Halâl Certificate refers to an official document issued by the officially-

accredited Halal Certifying Bodies (HCBs) attesting that the entity
conforms to applicable Halâl PNS relevant to Shari‘ah.

1.13. Halâl Certification Body (HCB) refers to a Muslim Filipino people’s

organization (PO), non-government organization (NGO), foreign Muslim
organizations, composed of Muslim scholars and professionals, providing
auditing and certification services ensuring that specified requirements
relating to a product, process, system are fulfilled in accordance with
Shari‘ah.
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Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

1.14. Halâl Competent Authority refers to an official government agency

having the jurisdiction.

1.15. Halâl Export Board refers to the Philippine Halâl Export Development and
Promotion Board created under R.A. No. 10817.

1.16. Halâl Food refers to a food and drink and/or ingredients permitted under
the Shariah.

1.17. Haram refers to things or actions that are forbidden or unlawful under
Shari’ah.

1.18. Inspection refers to the examination of a product design, product, process

or installation and determination of its con¬formity with specific
requirements or, on the basis of professional judgement, with general
requirements.

1.19. License to Operate – TO BE DEFINED

1.20. Monitoring refers to the systematic gathering of data through the

sampling of commodities as well as monitoring of food-borne diseases,
collation and interpretation of collected data.

1.21. Nonconformity refers to the non-fulfillment or failure to meet applicable

regulatory requirements, PNS, and Shari‘ah requirements.

1.22. Philippine Halâl Logo refers to the official logo issued by the Philippine
Halâl Export Board.

1.23. Philippine National Standards (PNS) refers to a document that provides

for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for
products or related processes and production method against which Halâl
production and products are evaluated.

1.24. Regional Halâl Pre-Assessment Team (RHPAT) refers a team of

designated personnel from the DA regional field offices and attached
agencies who will conduct pre-assessment of applicants for Halâl
Agriculture Certification and evaluate whether they are qualified for third
party certification by Halâl Certifying Bodies (HCBs).
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Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

1.25. Ruminant refers to a mammal of the suborder Ruminantia comprised of

cloven-hoofed, cud-chewing quadrupeds and four compartments of
stomach including domestic cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats.

1.26. Shari‘ah refers to the practical divine law deduced from its legitimate
sources: The Qur‘an, Sunnah, consensus of Muslim scholars (Ijma)
analogical deduction (Qiyas) and other approved sources.

1.27. Slaughter refers to the killing of a live, Halâl animal by severing the trachea
(halkum), oesophagus (mari’) and both carotid arteries and jugular veins
(wadajain) to hasten the bleeding and death of the animal by using a sharp
tool with the intention due to Allah done by a Muslim butcher.

1.28. Slaughterhouse/s refer to the place or premise for slaughtering animals.

ARTICLE III
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF HALÂL FARMS

Section 1. PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR HALÂL

1. In order to be eligible for Halâl license to operate the inputs for crops, animals,
fisheries and aquatic production must conform with existing and relevant
Philippine National Standards for Halal.
2. The requirements for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Animal Husbandry
Practices (GAHP), and/or Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP), whichever is
applicable, shall be incorporated in this rules and regulations.
Section 2. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. Applicant shall comply with existing statutory and
regulatory requirements relevant to their production and operation (labor, animal
welfare, food safety and other relevant laws).
Section 3. ISLAMIC RESPONSIBILITY. The applicant shall be responsible for the
following requirements:
1. Designate a practicing Muslim who is trained on Halal.
2. Develop and implement an internal Halâl Practices. (see Minimum Requirement
in the Organic and GAP, ICS c/o Sir Bong)
3. Ensure that all workers are trained and knowledgeable of Halâl food principles
and its applications.
4. Provide a designated suitable Muslim prayer area.
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Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

ARTICLE IV
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS PER HALAL FARM

Section 1. HALÂL CROP PRODUCTION

1. Halâl crops shall be produced, harvested, processed and/or manufactured in
accordance to Code of Good Agricultural Practices.
2. Pesticide residues in the crops, if there is any, shall be within the maximum
residue limits established by CAC and/or competent authority.
3. All agricultural inputs used for crop production shall be Halâl. Fertilizer manure
used shall be fully decomposed and shall not contain any haram contaminants,
until such time that Halal standard for fertilizer has been developed.
Section 2. LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTION
A. Halâl Poultry Production

1. Composition of Halal poultry shall include, but is not limited to broilers, layers,
ranged chicken, ducks, quail and other avian species considered Halâl food
animal.
2. The Applicant shall meet the requirements of the Good Animal Husbandry
Practices (GAHP).
3. All feeds and feeding ingredients used for poultry production shall comply
with the Philippine National Standards for Halâl feeds.
4.
B. Halâl Ruminant Production

1. The applicant shall meet the requirements of the Code of Halâl ruminant
production set by the the BAFS and Halal Islamic reqirements.
2. The Applicant shall meet the requirements of the Good Animal Husbandry
Practices (GAHP) for ruminants issued by the BAFS and the Halal Islamic
requirements.
3. All feeds and feed ingredients used for ruminant production shall comply with
the Philippine National Standards for Halâl feeds issued by the BAFS.
Section 3. HALÂL FISHERIES AND AQUATIC PRODUCTION
1. The applicant for Halâl Fisheries and Aquatic farm certification shall meet the
standards minimum requirements indicated in the Code of Good Aquaculture
Practices issued by the BAFS, and Halal Islamic requirements.
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Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

2. Halâl fisheries and aquatic products should have been harvested in accordance
with relevant Fisheries Administrative Orders on Conservation and Sustainable
Fisheries and Good Aquaculture Practices, among others.

Section 4. FARM LOCATION

1. The farm should be located a distance of at least 200 meters (radius) away from
Haram areas such as piggery and dump sites.

2. Sources of impurity such as but not limited to toilets and canals shall be provided
control measures to avoid possible contamination, to be evaluated by the
regulatory agency concerned.

3. The farm should be established at a site that is not previously used for haram
purposes unless obligatory ritual cleansing is performed. The site shall not be a
source of physical, chemical, microbiological hazards and contaminants.

ARTICLE V
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS PER HALAL FARM

Section 1. CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR FARMS

1. The Applicants shall submit their applications for license to operate in the
Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Offices, Office of the Regional
Executive Director.

2. The applicant shall ensure that the farm is functional.

3. The applicant shall submit the documentary requirements as prescribed by the

concerned competent authority.

4. Develop process flow – coordinate with BPI to provide Process Flow for GAP, refer
to Engr. Bong

5. Applicant and/or authorized representatives shall cooperate with the license to

operate inspection process. Non-conformities found during the inspection process
shall be acted upon prior to granting of license to operate.

6. The original certificate must be displayed at all times at the address stated on the
certificate within the period of validity of the license to operate.

7. Halâl farm license to operate holders shall cooperate with inspection and
monitoring activities that will be conducted by the Halal Regional Assessment
Team.
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Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

8. The Halâl farm license to operate issued by the Chairperson of the DA-Halal Food
Industry Development Program is valid for two years (with surveillance within 12
months after granting the certificate) from the date of issue, subject to periodic
audit. The Halâl farm certificate is renewable dependent on the assessment and
evaluation of the HCBs in accordance with the Manual of Procedures for Philippine
National Halâl Certification Scheme and other relevant Halâl Standards.

Section 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. Agriculture and

Aquaculture Halâl Farm entities shall be eligible to apply for technical assistance based
on the following criteria:

1. Applicants with existing farms who are interested and have applied for Halal Halal
farm license to operate shall be provided technical assistance. Applicant must be
engaged in agriculture primary, postharvest (crops, animal, aquaculture
production.

2. Applicant must be registered to the Registry System for Basic Sectors of

Agriculture (RSBSA) through the Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring Division of
respective Regional Field Offices (RFOs), or any equivalent registry.

Section 3. COMPOSITION AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HALAL ASSESSMENT

REGIONAL TEAM (HART)

1. A Halal Assessment Regional Team (HART) shall be established to assist applicant

for Halâl farm license to operate. The team shall be composed of the following:

a. DA-RFOs Regulatory, Operation, Research, AMAD, and representatives

from concerned agencies as designated by the Regional Executive Director.
b. Members should be preferably practicing Muslim.

2. The members of the HART shall perform the following responsibilities:

a. Assist the applicant on their applications for license to operate

b. Conduct assessment inspection in the farm sites or establishments of the
operators applying for Halâl license to operate to gauge the readiness of
the farm.
c. Provide technical assistance and recommendations to ensure full
conformance of the applicant prior to the inspection of the Halâl
certification body.
d. The assessment team shall conduct the inspection process which shall
include, but are not limited to, the following:
1) Farm profile
2) Location and Site history of the farm
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Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines

3) Internal Halâl Control System

4) Farming Practices and Management
5) Human Resource (Practicing Muslim employees)
6) Compliance to relevant PNS
7) Compliance with environmental and zoning rules and
regulations.

ARTICLE VI
TRANSITORY PROVISION

In the absence of any relevant domestic law, regulations and standards governing a
specific component on Halâl Farms Production, the relevant Halâl standards developed
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and Standard of Metrology Institute of Islamic
Country (SMIIC) shall apply until the relevant domestic law, regulations, and standards
have been enacted.

ARTICLE VII
EFFECTIVITY

This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of
national circulation or in the Official Gazette and its filing with the Office of the National
Administrative Register at the UP Law Center.

APPROVED:

EMMANUEL F. PIÑOL
Secretary

Recommending Approval:

ATTY. RANIBAI D. DILANGALEN

Undersecretary for Special Concerns and
DA-HFIDP Executive Committee Chair