G/SPS/N/PHL/496  
 
26 April 2021  
(21-3484) 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(s): 1501, 0103, 0203, 0209, 02101  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Malaysia  
5. Title of the notified document:  Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order No. 20 
Series of 2021, 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 
Malaysia . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/PHL/21_2960_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Order, signed on 23 March 2021, institutes the following 
emergency measures for the importation of domestic and wild pigs and their products 
from Malaysia:  
1) Moratorium on any application of Malaysia as an accredited importer of live swine, 
pork meat and its by -products;  
2) Ban on the importation of domestic and wild pigs and their products, including pork 
meat and semen; and  
3) Stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of the above -stated commodities into the 
country 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. Sarah Dadang Abdullah, Focal Point for Animal Disease 
Notification Malaysia to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on 26 February 
2021, there was an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the district s of Kota Marudu 
and Beluran in Sabah , affecting backyard swine and wild boars as confirmed by Veterinary 
Research Institute (National laboratory) and there is a need to prevent the entry of ASF 
virus to protects the health of the local swine population.  G/SPS/N/PHL/496  
 
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  9. Is there a releva nt 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 and 15.1 of the 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2019)  
[ ] 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  
Website:  http://spsissuances.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 Di rector  
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/