G/SPS/N/PHL/512  
 
10 March 2022  
(22-2174) Page: 1/3 
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):  Genetically modified plant and plant products derived from the use of 
modern biotechnology  
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:  DOST -DA-DENR -DOH-DILG Joint Department Circular 
No. 01, series of 2021: Rules and Regulations for the Research and Development, 
Handl ing and Use, Transboundary Movement, Release into the Environment, and 
Management of Genetically Modified Plant and Plant Products Derived from the Use of 
Modern Biotechnology . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  29 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/PHL/22_2022_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The measure revised DOST -DA-DENR -DOH-DILG Joint 
Department Circular (JDC) No.1, Series of 2016, previously notified as G/SPS/N/PHL/373.  
Changes include the creation of a Joint Assessment Group (JAG) tasked to evaluate 
biosafety permit applications and mak e recommendations on the approval of a biosafety 
permit application.  The Circular reiterates the function of the Bureau of Plant Industry 
(BPI) in the processing of biosafety application permits. In compliance to the Ease of Doing 
Business (EODB) Law, the application procedure for securing a biosafety permit was 
shortened from 85 working days to 40 working days.  
The new JDC provides that application for permits for regulated articles developed in other 
countries may be filed directly for a Biosafety Permit for Field Trial if BPI determines data 
set generated in other countries is applicable to the local setting. The JDC also only 
requires an applicant to publish a copy of the approved Public Information Sheet (PIS) in 
one newspaper of general circulation and  in the official website of the applicant and of the 
Bureau of Plant Industry.  
All biosafety permits for Commercial Propagation and Direct Use for Food and Feed or for 
Processing to be issued shall be valid unless revoked for:  
1. Provision of misleading infor mation in the Application ; 
2. Discovery of new, relevant, and significant information that the regulated article poses 
greater risks to human health and the environment compared to its conventional 
counterpart ; 
3. Non-compliance with the conditions of the permit ; and 
4. Other grounds that the regulatory agencies may deem necessary to protect human 
health and the environment.  G/SPS/N/PHL/512  
 
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  The JDC includes a provision stating plants produced through conventional breeding of 
approved genetically modified parental lines and their de rived products are not considered 
novel. Payment of fees is possible to cover the cost of re -evaluation of the decision made 
on applications. The Circular also provides regulated articles with existing original and 
renewed Biosafety Permits under the 2016 version of the document for Commercial 
Propagation and Direct Use shall remain valid unless otherwise revoked under conditions 
enumerated in Sections 15.J and Sections 18.J.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [X]  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:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial num ber of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
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) : 11 February 2022  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 8 March 2022  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : Fifteen days after publication.  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  Nationa l 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/  G/SPS/N/PHL/512  
 
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  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/