. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/PHL/63 
18 February 2004 
 (04-0693) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   PHILIPPINES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved: 
2. Agency responsible:   Bureau of  Plant Industry (BPI),  Department of Agriculture (DA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Any plant product altered or produced through the use of modern 
biotechnology intended for direct  use as food, feed, or processing into food and feed. 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   D A  M e m o r a n d u m  
Circular No. 12, series of 2003, Annex I, II, an d III, Pursuant to DA Memorandum Circular 
No. 8, series of 2003, Guidelines for the Phyt osanitary Inspection of Regulated Articles for 
Food, Feed, and Processing, and DA Administ rative Order No. 8, se ries of 2002, Rules and 
Regulations on the Importation and Release into the Environment of Plants and Plant 
Products Derived from the Use of Modern Biotechnology (8 pages). 
6. Description of content:  Issuance of the following Annexes:  (i) approval registry for the 
importation of regulated articles for direct us e for food, feed, or processing; (ii) approval 
registry of regulated articles for propagation, for which its plan t products have been approved 
for direct use as food, feed, and/or processi ng; and (iii) list of regulated articles for 
importation for direct use requiri ng a declaration of GMO content. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ X ] food safety, [ X ] animal health, [ X ] plant protection, 
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ X ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests 
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:  
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  English 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   15 August 2003 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   1 May 2004 G/SPS/N/PHL/63 
Page 2  
 
 12. Final date for comments:  15 April 2004 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notificati on authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
 Philippine National SPS Enquiry Point 
 Office of the Director 
 Policy Research Service  Department of Agriculture  3
rd Floor, DA Building, Elliptical Road 
 Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines  Tel:  (632) 926 7439 
 Fax:  (632) 928 0590 
 E-mail:  epad.polre ser@eudoramail.com