G/TBT/N/PHL/169  
 
17 June 2013  
(13-3116)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  PHILIPPINES  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :   
Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards 
Department of Agriculture 
BPI Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines E-mail:  bafpsda@yahoo.com  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  
Organic Fertilizer. 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:  Draft Philippine 
National Standard (DPNS/BAFPS) 40:2013 - Organic Fertilizer.     
6. Description of content:  This notification applies to organic fertilizers, compost, plant 
growth regulator, and organic plant food supplements. 
This is a revision of PNS/BAFPS 40:2008 to provide uniform approach on the definition, 
classification, specifications and properties, methods for analysis and sampling, labelling and allowed raw material inputs. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Ensure the consistent quality of organic fertilizers available in the market.  
8. Relevant documents:   The following referenced documents are indispensable for the 
application of this document. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies:  
- Ang-Lopez M 2001, Qualiy and Maturation of Vermicompost Derived from Different 
Feedstocks, MSc. Thesis. Nova Scotia Agricultural College/Dalhouse University. Nova Scotia, Canada; 
- Avery, DT. 2002, The Hidden Dangers in Organic Food. Center for Global Food Issues 
California Organic Fertilizers, Inc; 
- Fertilizer Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines or "Bluebook"; - FFTC International Workshop, 1997.  Quality Control of Organic Fertilizers (Compost). 
Suweon, Korea. June 23-28, 1997; 
- Lazcano C, M. Gomez-Brandon, J. Doming uez, Comparison of the effectiveness of 
composting and vermicomposting for the biol ogical stabilization of cattle manure, 
Chemosphere 72 (2008) 1013-1019; G/TBT/N/PHL/169 
 
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  - Lemunier, M.C. Francou, S. Rousseaux, S.  Houot, P. Dantigny, P. Piveteau, and J. 
Guzzon. 2005.  Long-term survival of pathogen ic and sanitation indicator bacteria in 
experimental biowaste composts. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.71(10): 5779-5786; 
- Pns/bafps 40:2008 - Organic Fertilizer; 
- PNS 85:1984/AMD 01:1992 - Fertilizer - Solid Fertilizer - Method of Sampling; - PNS 95:1987 - Packaging - Bags for Solid Fertilizers - Specification; 
- PNS 1033:1993 - Fertilizers - Marking - Presentation and Declaration; 
- Russell, S and L, Best. 2006, Setting the standards for compost, BioCycle, Journal of 
Composting and Organics Recycling. United Kingdom. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
 Proposed date of entry into force:  
  This order shall take effect 15 days after its 
publication in an official gazette of general circulation      
This order shall take effect 15 days after its 
publication in an official gazette of general circulation      
10. Final date for comments:  31 July 2013 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:    
Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards 
Department of Agriculture 
BPI Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines Tel.:  (632) 455-0031 
E-mail:  bafpsda@yahoo.com