G/SPS/N/PHL/465  
18 August 2020  
(20-5606) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  PHILIPPINES  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Domestic and wild rabbits  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  United States of America  
5. Title of the notified document:  Department of Agriculture Memorandum, Order No. 36 
Series of 2020 Temporary Ban on the Importation of Domestic and Wild Rabbits from the 
United State s of America . Language(s): English . Number of pages: One (1)  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/PHL/20_4957_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Order bans the importation of domestic and wild rabbits 
including their meat, semen and pelts. It also immediately suspends the processing and 
evaluation o f the application and issuance of SPS Import Clearance for shipments that 
have not left the country of origin. All shipments of the aforementioned goods into the 
country shall be confiscated by DA Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all ports. 
The Order was signed on 15 July 2020.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  Based on the official 
report to the OIE submitted by Dr. Mark Davidson, Associate Administrator, United States 
Department of Agriculture on 2 July 2020, the Rabbit Hermorrhagic Disease outbreaks 
which were fi rst reported on 8 July 2019 are continuing in the country affecting both 
domestic and wild rabbits, with the most recent outbreak on 30 June 2020.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commiss ion (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code 
Chapter 13.2. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/PHL/465  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
Immediately.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority desi gnated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Office of the Director  
Policy Research Service  
Department of Agriculture  
Elliptical Road, Diliman,  
Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@gmail.com   
Website: http://spsissuances.da.gov.ph/  
Or 
National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division  
Bureau of Animal Industry  
Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 528 2250  
Email: baiquarantinephvhc@gmail.com   
 baiquarantineph@gmail.com   
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Office of the Director  
Policy Research Service  
Department of Agriculture  
Elliptical Road, Diliman,  
Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@gmail.com   
Website: http://spsissuances.da.gov.ph/  
Or 
National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division  
Bureau of Animal Industry  
Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 528 2250  
Email: baiquarantinephvhc@gmail.com   
 baiquarantineph@gmail.com