G/SPS/N/PHL/423  
 
11 September 2018  
(18-5603) 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 including poultry meat, 
day-old chicks, egg s and semen  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Sabah, Malaysia  
5. Title of the notified document: Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order N o. 25, 
Series of 2018, Temporary Ban on the Importation of Domestic and Wild Birds and their 
Products Including Poultry Meat, Day -old Chicks, Eggs and Semen Originating from Sabah, 
Malaysia . Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/PHL/18_4812_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The Order bans the importation of the domestic and wild birds 
from Sabah, Malaysia and  also suspends the processing, evaluation and issuance of 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance for the aforementioned commodities. 
Shipments of the said commodities into the country, except those heat -treated, will 
likewise be stopped and conf iscated by DA Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all 
major ports.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  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: The Sabah 
Veterinary Laboratory and Veterinary Research Institute confirmed there was an outbreak 
of H5N1 Hi ghly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in Kampung Kauluan, Tam paruli, 
Tuaran, Sabah, Malaysia. There is a need to prevent the entry of the HPAI virus into the 
Philippines.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of C odex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Articles 10.4.19, 10.4.20 and 10.4.26 
of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 2017  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  G/SPS/N/PHL/423  
 
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  [ ] 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): 
10 August 2018  
[ ] 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@da.gov.ph  
 
or 
 
National Veterinary Quarantine Services  
Bureau of Animal Industry  
Visayas Avenue, Diliman  
Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 920 0815  
Fax: +(632) 920 0916  
E-mail: nvqs_bai@yahoo.com  
 quarantine_bai@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: