G/SPS/N/PHL/460  
 
16 April 2020  
(20-2970) 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 Bureau of Plant 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):  Plant products  
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 Bureau of Plant Industry 
COVID -19 Enhanced Commun ity Quarantine Advisory . Language(s): English . 
Number  of pages: 2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/PHL/20_2722_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/PHL/20_2722_01_e.pdf  
 
6. Description of content:  Knowing that other countries are implementting measures to 
prevent the spread of COVID -19, BPI will accept scanned copies of important documents 
(e.g. Phytosanitary Certificates, Treatment Certificates, and Health Certificates etc., ) 
given however, that an official notification from the exporting country will be provided to 
BPI. Scanned/PDF copies may be sent to this email address: pqsbpi@yahoo.com .  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety , [ ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  protect territory 
from other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  The Bureau of Plant 
Industry provides im port and export measures to circumvent the tremendous effects on 
trade of the Enhanced Community Quarantine implemented in various areas in the 
Philippines and quarantine measures on other countries due to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
9. Is there a relevant int ernational standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : ISPM12  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/PHL/460  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates f rom 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):  
6 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 available) of other body:   
Office of the Director  
Policy Research Service  
Department of Agriculture  
Ellipti cal Road, Diliman, Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@gmail.com   
Website:  http://spsissuances.da.gov.ph/  
or 
Bureau of Plant Industry  
692 San Andres Street, Malate, Manila, Philippines  
Tel: +(02) 8525 7857 or  
+(02) 8525 7909  
Fax: +(02) 8521 7650  
Email: bpi.information@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 
Bureau of Plant Industry  
692 San Andres Street, Malate, Manila, Philippines  
Tel: +(02) 8525 7857 or  
+(02) 8525 7909  
Fax: +(02) 8521 7650  
Email: bpi.information@yahoo.com