G/SPS/N/PHL/504  
6 January 2022  
(22-0124) 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):  HS Code: 0105 - Live poultry, "fowls of the species Gallus 
domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls"; HS Code: 0207 - Meat and edible 
offal of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls, 
fresh, chilled or frozen; HS Code: 0407 - Birds' eggs, in shell, fresh, preserved or cooked; 
HS Code: 04071 - Fertilised eggs for incubation; HS Code: 04072 - Other fresh eggs; 
HS Code: 040790 - Birds' eggs, in shell, preserved or cooked; HS Code: 05119 - Other  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Belgium  
5. Title of the notified document:  Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order No. 78 
Series of 2021 Temporary Ban on the Importation of Domestic and Wild Birds and their 
Products Including Poultry Meat, Day -old Chicks, Eggs and Semen Or iginating from 
Belgium . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/PHL/22_0098_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Order, signed on 20 December 2021 institutes the following 
emergency measures for the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products 
from Belgiu m:  
1) Banning the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including 
poultry meat, day -old chicks, eggs and semen;  
2) Immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance 
of SPS import clearance for the above -stated commodities;  
3) All shipments IN TRANSIT / LOADED / ACCEPTED UNTO PORT before the official 
communication of this Order to the Belgian authorities shall be allowed provided the 
products were slaughtered/produced before 19 November 2021;  
4) Shipments whi ch have not complied with the conditions set forth in Item 3 to Item 
4 shall be dealt with as per DA AO 9 S. 2010 Section VII.D;  
5) Importation of meat products of poultry is subject to the conditions provided in 
Article  10.4.18, 10.4.19 and 10.4.24 of th e OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2021).  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  G/SPS/N/PHL/504  
 
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  8. Nature of the  urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  Based on the official 
report submitted by the Chef du Service Politique sanitaire: Animaux et Vegetaux, 
Directorat -general Animaux, Vegetaux et Alimentation, Service Public Federal Sante 
publique, securite d e la chaine alimentaire et environnement, Bruxelles, Belgium to the 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on 9 December 2021, there was an outbreak 
of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Alveringem and Ravels, Vlaanderen, 
Belgium affecting domes tic birds as confirmed by Sciensano (National Laboratory).  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (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) :  
 Chapter 10. 4 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2021)  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
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 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@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 Agricult ure 
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@gmail.com