G/TBT/N/PHL/257  
22 July 2021  
(21-5761) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  PHILIPPINES   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Food and Drug Administration  
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if diffe rent from above:   
MARIA CECILIA C. MATIENZO  
Director IV  
Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research  
Food and Drug Administration  
Department of Health  
Email: mccmatienzo@fda.gov.ph ; cdrrhr -prsd@fda.gov.ph  
www.fda.gov.ph   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Medical 
equipment (ICS 11.040)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Banning of all 
Mercury -Containing Thermometers, Sphygmomanome ters, Dental Amalgam Capsules 
and Liquid Mercury for Use in Dental Restorative Purposes (4 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The proposed Circular aims to prohibit the manufacture, 
distribution, importation, exportation, sale, offer for sale , donation, transfer, and where 
applicable, the use, promotion, advertising, or sponsorship of medical devices containing 
mercury (thermometers, sphygmomanometers along with dental amalgam capsules and 
liquid mercury for use in dental restorative purposes) .  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
•  Republic Act (RA) No. 9711 "Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009"  
•  Administrative Order (AO) No. 2008-0021 "Gradual Phase -out of Mercury in 
all Philippine Health Care Facilities and Institutions"  
• AO No. 2020 -0020 "Guidelines on the Phase -out of Mercury in Dental 
Restorative Procedures"  G/TBT/N/PHL/257  
 
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  9. Proposed date of adoption:  This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation and upon acknowledgement of receipt 
of a copy hereof by the University of the Philippines – Office of the National Administrative 
Register.  
Proposed date of entry into for ce: This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and upon acknowledgement of receipt 
of a copy hereof by the University of the Philippines – Office of the National Administrative 
Register.  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
NEIL P. CATAJAY  
Director  
Bureau of Philippine Standards  
Department of Trade and Industry  
3F Trade and Industry Building  
361 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue  
Makati City  
Philippines  
1200  
(632) 751 4700; (632) 7913128  
bps@dti.gov.ph  
http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph  
Head of Organization  
https://www.fda.gov.ph/draft -for-comments -of-banning -of-all-mercury -containing -
thermometers -sphygmomanometers -dental -amalgam -capsules -and-liquid -mercury -for-
use-in-dental -restorative -purposes/  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/PHL/21_4797_00_e.pdf