. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/PHL/17
10 May 2000
(00-1914)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  PHILIPPINES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable
All FMD susceptible animals, their meat, meat products and by products (01.01 to 10.04,
01.06, 02.01 to 02.06, 02.08 to 02.10, 04.01 to 04.06, 04.10, 05.02 to 05.04, 05.06, 05.09 to
05.11, 15.01 to 15.03, 15.05, 15.06, 15.16 to 15.18, 15.20, 15.22, 16.01 to 16.03, 23.01,
23.09, 31.01)  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Japan and South Korea
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Department of Agriculture
Memorandum Order (AO) No.4, Series of 2000:  Temporary Ban on the imporation of
FMD-Susceptible Animals, their Meat, Meat products and By-products Originating from
Japan and South Korea (1 page)
5. Description of content: This Order bans the importation of the subject products into the
Philippines in view of the Office international des épizooties 's confirmation of Foot and
Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks in Japan and South Korea.  This Order specifically
provides the following:
(a) Immediate suspension of processing, evaluation and issuance of Veterinary
Quarantine Clearance (VQC)/SPS Import Permit for applications relevant to the
importation of the subject products;
(b) Stoppage/confiscation of all shipments into the country of affected products
originating from Japan and South Korea;  and
(c) Implementation of all necessary veterinary and sanitary measures at all major ports
of entry in the Philippines.
6. Objective and rationale:  [    ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,[  X ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  The Philippines has been implementing a national FMD
eradication programme since 1996 and working for the recognition/declaration of the OIE
as a FMD-free country.  In addition, the strain of FMD virus found in Japan and South
Korea is different from that found in the Philippines.  Hence, the temporary cessation of
importation of FMD-susceptible products is necessary to prevent the entry, establishment,
and spread of such different FMD strain into the country, which poses threat to the success
of the country's FMD eradication programme a nd the viability of domestic animal industry.G/SPS/N/PHL/17
Page 2
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [    ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Consistent with the provisions of the OIE
International Animal Health Code
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Available in English
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  17 April 2000
11. Texts available from/and 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:  Office of the Director Policy
Analysis Service, 3rd Floor, DA Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City;  Fax:
(632) 928 0590;  E-mail:  policy@da.gov.ph