G/LIC/N/2/PHL/16  
 
10 March  2020 
(20-1871) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF  THE AGREEMENT1 
PHILIPPINES  
The following notification , dated 5 March 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the Philippines . 
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  Philippines  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  DA Department Circular No. 04, series of 2016 – Guidelines on the 
Importation of Plants, Planting Materials, and Plant Products for 
Commercial Purposes  
3 Date of Publication  
 N/A 
4 Date of entry into force  
 08 September 2016 
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  http://bpi.da.gov.ph/bpi/index.php/news/349 -da-department -
circular -no-04-guidelines -on-the-importation -of-plants -planting -
materials -and-plant-products -for-commercial -purposes  
6 Have you attached a copy of 
the regulation (PDF) to the 
Secretariat  
  Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
 No. 
7 Type of notification   (a) New li censing regulation/procedure2; (please answer question 
8 to 14)  
 
 (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been previously 
notified in document: ______________ ;  ( please answer question 
15 and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  Chapters 06, 07, and 08, 1005, 1006, 20  
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic:  
  
Non-Automatic:  
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect 
environment;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
 
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also completed its notification obligations under 
Article  1.4(a) and Article 8.2(b) regarding the relevant law/regulation/procedure notified for by filling this form 
in a full and complete manner.  
2 "New licensing regulation/procedure" is understood to refer to any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, and those which are in force but being notified for the first time to the Committee.  
 G/LIC/N/2/PHL/16  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other:  ______________ (please specify)  
 
11 Administrative body(ies) for  
submission of applications   
 Bureau of Plant Industry  
Address: 692 San Andres Street, Malate,  Manila, Philippines  
Website: http://bpi.da.gov.ph/bpi/index.php  
Telephone:  (632) 2442950, (632) 2512272, (632)2512267, 
(632)2512262  
E-Mail: [    ]  
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Bureau of Plant Industry  
Address: 692 San Andres Street, Malate,  Manila, Philippines  
Website: http://bpi.da.gov.ph/bpi/index.php  
Telephone:  (632) 2442950, (632) 2512272, (632)2512267, 
(632)2512262  
E-Mail: [    ]  
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure  Ongoing  
 
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages    
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on  eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other: __________ (please specify).  
 
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the WTO official languages)  
  
 
__________