G/SPS/N/PHL/523  
 
15 February 2023  
(23-1083) 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 - Fertilized 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. 14 
Series of 2023, "Temporary Ban on the Importation of Domestic and Wild Birds and their 
Products including Poultry Meat, Day -Old Chicks, Eggs, and Semen originating from 
Belgium" . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/PHL/23_1096_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Order, signed on 8 February 2023, bans the importation of 
domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day -old chicks, eggs, 
and semen. It also immediately suspends the processing, evaluation of the application and 
issuance of SPS import clearance for the said commodities. All shipments coming from 
Belgium that are IN TRANSIT/LOADED/ACCEPTED UNTO PORT before the official 
communication of this Order to the Belgian Authorities shall be allowed provided that the 
products were slaughtered/produced on or before 10 January 2023. Shipments which have 
not complied with the conditions set forth in Item 3 shall be dealt with as per DA AO 9 
s. 2010 Section VII.D.  
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 the Director General of the Animal and Plant Health Policy by Federal 
Public Service - Health, Food Chain Safety, and Environment, Brussels to the World 
Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on 26 January 2022, an outbreak of H5N1 High 
Pathogenic Avian Influenza have b een confirmed by the Sciensano (National Laboratory) 
affecting domestic birds in Wervik, West -Vlaanderen.  G/SPS/N/PHL/523  
 
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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 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 standa rd:  
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  
Tel: +(632) 926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@da.gov.ph  
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  
Tel: +(632) 926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@da.gov.ph