G/SPS/N/PHL/422  
 
10 September 2018  
(18-5566) Page: 1/3 
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 pigs and their products including pork meat and 
semen  
4. Regions or  countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Latvia, Poland, Rom ania, the Russian Federation,  
Ukraine and China  
5. Title of the notified document: Department of Agric ulture Memorandum Order No.  23 
Series of 2018 Temporary Ban on the Importation of Domestic and Wild Pigs and their 
Products Including Pork Meat and Semen Originating from Latvia, Poland, Romania, 
the Russian Federation, Ukraine and China . Language(s): English. Number of pages:  1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/PHL/18_4770_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The order bans the importation of bans the importation of 
domestic and wild pigs and their products, including pork meat and semen from Latvia, 
Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and China, and immediately suspends 
the processing and evaluati on of the application and issuance of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance for the above -cited commodities. Shipments of the 
commodities mentioned into the Philippines will be stopped and confiscated by all DA 
Veterinary Quarantine Officers/In spectors at all major ports. Meat and meat products 
brought in by arriving passengers from the aforementioned countries will likewise be 
confiscated.  
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: Based on the official 
reports submitted to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), there are s everal 
outbreaks of African Swine Fever in Latvia, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation, 
Ukraine and China affecting domestic and wild pigs.  G/SPS/N/PHL/422  
 
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  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) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
 Chapters 1.1, 4.3 and 15.1 of Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2018  
[ ] 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 standa rd:  
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):  
30 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  
 quarant ine_bai@yahoo.com  G/SPS/N/PHL/422  
 
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  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@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