G/SPS/N/PHL/443  
 
28 August 2019  
(19-5533) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
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):  Plant food  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Draft Department Circular, Series of 2019: Rules and 
Regulations Governing the Importation and Exportation of Plant Food . Language(s):  
English . Number of pages:  15 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/SPS/PHL/19_4726_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Circular aims to rationalize and put in place an effective 
food control system for the importation and exportation of plant food to protect health of 
consumers and ensure fair practices in trade of plant food.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans  from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
− CAC/GL  53-2003 (Guidelines on the Judgement of Equivalence of Sanitary 
Measures Associated with Food Inspection and Certification Systems)  
− CAC/GL  82-2003 (Principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems)  
− CAC/GL  26-1997 (Guidelin es for the Design, Operation, Assessment, and 
Accreditation of Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems)  
− CAC/GL  34-1999 (Guidelines for the Development of Equivalence Agreements 
regarding Food Import and Export Inspection and Certificati on System)  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant i nternational standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No G/SPS/N/PHL/443  
 
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  If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 22 November 2019  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 22 November 2019  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 1 June 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 22 October 2019  
Agency or authority designated 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@da.gov.ph  
 
or 
 
Bureau of Plant Industry  
Address: 692 San Andres Street, Malate, Manila, Philippines  
Tel: +(632) 525 7909  
 +(632) 525 2987  
E-mail: bpi.information@yahoo.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@da.gov .ph 
 
or 
 
Bureau of Plant Industry  
Address: 692 San Andres Street, Malate, Manila, Philippines  
Tel: +(632) 525 7909  
 +(632) 525 2987  
E-mail: bpi.information@yahoo.com