G/SPS/N/PHL/464  
 
6 August 2020  
(20-5441) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
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):  Rice 
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:  Draft Memorandum Circular: Food Safety Measures for 
Rice. Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  Nine (9)  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/PHL/20_4745_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Circular sets food safety mandatory limits for contaminants 
and toxins adopted from applicable Philippine National Standard (PNS), 
Codex  Alimentarius Commission, ASEAN database and regulatory limits for paddy and 
rice, pursuant to the Food Safety Act of 2013 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations 
of 2015.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : (i) Principles and Guidelines for National 
Food Control Systems (CXG -82-2013); (i i) General Principles of Food Hygiene 
(CXC-1-1989)  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] 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:   G/SPS/N/PHL/464  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 5 October 2020  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enqui ry 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   
or 
Bureau of Plant Industry  
Address: 692 San Andres Street, Malate, Manila, Philippines  
Tel: +(632) 525 7909  
+(632) 525 2987  
E-mail: bpi.in formation@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   
or 
Bureau of Plant Industry  
Address: 692 San Andres Street, Malate, Manila, Philippine s 
Tel: +(632) 525 7909;  
+(632) 525 2987  
E-mail: bpi.information@yahoo.com