G/SPS/N/PHL/441  
 
2 July 2019  
(19-4404) 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 pigs and their products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partn ers  
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Lao People's Democratic Republic  
5. Title of the notified document:  Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order No. 15 
- Temporary Ban on the Importation of Domestic and Wild Pigs and their Products and 
By-products Including Pork Meat, Pig Skin and Semen Originating from Laos . 
Language(s): English . Number of pages: 1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/SPS/PHL/19_3680_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Order bans the importation of domestic and wild pigs and 
their products, including pork meat and semen from the Lao People's Democratic Republic  
and immediately suspends the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance for the said commodities. The Order 
also states all shipments of the aforementioned goods into the country shall be stopped 
and confiscated by all DA Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major ports.  
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 submitted by Dr Somphanh  Chanphengxay, Director General, Department of 
Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), there were 
outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) i n Toumlan, Saravane, Lao People's Democratic 
Republic , affecting backyard swine as confirmed by the National Animal Health Laboratory 
(NAHL) (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) : Chapters 1.1, 4.3, 15.1 and 
Article  15.1.22 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2018  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  G/SPS/N/PHL/441  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] 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):  
21 June 2019  
[ ] 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   
Website: http://spsissuances.da.gov.ph/   
 
or 
 
National Veterinary Quarantine Services  
Bureau of Animal Industry  
Visayas Avenue, Diliman  
Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 920 0815  
Fax: +(632) 920 0916  
E-mail: nvqs_bai@y ahoo.com  
 quarantine_bai@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@gmail.com   
Website: http://spsissuances.da.gov.ph/  
 
or 
 
National Veterinary Quarantine Services  
Bureau of Animal Industry  
Visayas Avenue, Diliman  
Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 920 0815  
Fax: +(632) 920 0916  
E-mail: nvqs_bai@yahoo.com  
 quarantine_bai@yahoo.com