G/SPS/N/PHL/315  
 
24 November 2015  
(15-6205)  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 (DA), Bureau of Agriculture and 
Fisheries Standards (BAFS) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): HS Code(s): 08 
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 Philippine National Standard (PNS) Code of Good 
Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Coffee  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 29 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/PHL/15_4676_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: This Code covers relevant practices during primary production, 
primary processing (i.e. wet and dry), and storage and transport of green coffee beans 
to ensure food safety and sustainability of coffee production. This Code concentrates on 
addressing microbial and chemical hazards and addresses physical hazards only in so far as these relates to GAPs and GMPs, and provides specific guidance on how to minimize 
these hazards. This Code, however, does not provide recommendations on food safety 
practices for the processing of green coffee be ans into its ground, blended, or ready-to-
drink form; or its subsequent storage, transport and handling practices at wholesale, 
retail and food service or at home. 
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 st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
standard or related text) CAC/RCP 53-2003 
[ ] 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/315 
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:     
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 8 February 2016 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 12 January 2016 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 8 February 2016 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 5 February 2016 
Agency or authority designated to hand le 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   Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards 
BPI Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman 
Quezon City Tel: +(632) 455 0031 
 +(632) 455 2858 
 +(632) 455 2856 Fax: +(632) 455 0031 
E-mail: bafs@da.gov.ph 
Website: http://bafs.da.gov.ph  
13. Text(s) available from: [X] National Notifi cation 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  
 Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards 
BPI Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman 
Quezon City Tel: +(632) 455 0031 
 +(632) 455 2858 
 +(632) 455 2856 Fax: +(632) 455 0031 E-mail: bafs@da.gov.ph 
Website: http://bafs.da.gov.ph