G/SPS/N/PHL/530  
6 February 2024  
(24-0947) 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):  Domestic and wild birds and their products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Japan  
5. Title of the notified document:  Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order No. 04 
Series of 2024, Temporary Ban on the Importation of Domestic and Wild Birds and their 
products including Poultry Meat, Day -old Chicks, Eggs and Semen originating from Japan . 
Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/SPS/PHL/24_00711_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Order signed on 17 January 2024  bans the importation of 
domestic and wild birds and their products from Japan. It also suspends the processing, 
evaluation of application and issuance of SPS import clearance for the said goods. 
All shipments from Japan in transit, loaded, and accepted un to port before the official 
communication of this order shall be allowed, provided the products were 
slaughtered/produced on or before 10 November 2023. Shipments that have not complied 
with the conditions outlined in Item 3 shall be dealt with as per Admi nistrative Circular 6 
series of 2022, Article 6, Section 3, and; Stoppage and Confiscation of all shipments of the 
above -stated commodities, with the exception of heat -treated products, into the country 
by all Veterinary/Quarantine Inspectors at all ports of entry.  
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 Chief Veterinary Officer, Director, Food Safety and Consumer 
Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, to the World 
Organisation on Animal Health on 28 November 2023, there was an outbreak of H5N1 
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Kashima City, Saga Prefecture on 24 November 2023 
affecting domestic birds as confirmed by the National Institute of Animal Health.  
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) :  G/SPS/N/PHL/530  
 
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  [X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Chapter 10.4 of the Terrestrial 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 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 facilit ating 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) 8926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 8928 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) 8926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 8928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@da.gov.ph