G/SPS/N/PHL/371  
 
30 May 2017  
(17-2885) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: Eng lish 
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: PHILIPPINES  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible: Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item n umber(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Plants, planting materials, and plant products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or prac ticable : 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: Department of Agriculture (DA) Departmen t Circular 
(DC) No. 04, series o f 2016 - Guidelines on the Importation of Plants, Planting Materials 
and Plan t Products for  Commercial Purposes.  Language(s): English . Number of 
pages: 19 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/PHL/17_2467_00_e.pdf  
6. Descriptio n of content: This C ircular aims to rationalize and enhance the requirements 
and procedures for the importation of plants, planting materials, and plant products for 
commercial purposes.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  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:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or seri al 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) :  
 ISPMs 1, 23, 31 and 32.  
[ ] 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:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these  are available:   G/SPS/N/PHL/371  
 
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  10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 22 July 2016  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 7 July 2016  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 22 July 2016  
[ ] Trade facili tating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Poi nt. 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.p h 
or 
National Plant Quarantine Services  
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)  
San Andres Street, Malate, Manila, Philippines  
Telephone: (632) 524 -3749 
Facsimile: (632) 404 -0409 
E-mail: pqsbpi@yahoo.com  
13. Text(s)  available from: [X]  National Notification Author ity, [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 Plant Quarantine Services  
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)  
San Andres Street, Malate, Manila, Philippines  
Telephone: (632) 524 -3749 
Facsimile: (632) 404 -0409 
E-mail: pqsbpi@yahoo.com