G/SPS/N/PHL/459  
 
16 April 2020  
(20-2969) Page: 1/3 
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 Bureau of Animal Industry  
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):  Animal commodities  
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:  Department of Agriculture Memorandum Circular 13 
Series of 2020  Guidance in the Acceptance of Electronic Export Health Certificate 
During  the Enhanced Community Quarantine Period . Language(s): English . 
Number  of pages:  1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/PHL/20_2721_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Circular provides detailed instructions as guidance in the 
acceptance of electronic export health certificate during the enhanced community 
quarantine period. Electronic health certificates (E -HC) may be submitted by the 
Veterinary Authority of source country by providing online validation link and instruction 
on how to access the certificate. In the absence of electronic verification system, the 
authentication of these certificates may be coursed through their Authorized 
Representative in respective Philippine -based embassy.  
The submission of original HC by the Vet erinary Authority will follow once the courier 
services has resumed normal operations.  All related communications regarding E -HC shall 
be coursed through government veterinary office and representatvie using their official 
address to: Florence D. Silvano, DVM, PhD, Chief, National Veterinary Quarantine 
Services, baiquarantinephvhc@gmail.com  . The acceptance of E -HC in applicable 
shipments is valid during the period of Enhanced Community Quarantine which wi ll end 
on 30 April 2020, unless otherwise revoked earlier or extended. Thereafter, procedure 
will revert to the default processing using paper Health Certificates.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[X] 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:  Luzon has been 
under enhanced community quarantine since mid -March due to COVID -19. G/SPS/N/PHL/459  
 
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  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 5.10  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant inte rnational 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):  
8 April 2020  
[X] 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 availa ble) 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 , Quezo n City  
Tel: +(632) 920 0815  
Fax: +(632) 920 0916  
E-mail: nvqs_bai@yahoo.com   
quarantine_bai@yahoo.com   G/SPS/N/PHL/459  
 
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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/  
Or 
National Veterinary Quarantine Services  
Bureau of Animal Indus try 
Visayas Avenue, Diliman , Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 920 0815  
Fax: +(632) 920 0916  
E-mail: nvqs_bai@yahoo.com   
quarantine_bai@yahoo.com