G/SPS/N/PHL/493  
 
10 March 2021  
(21-2007)  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):  HS Code: 0105 - Live poultry, "fowls of the species Gallus 
domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls"; HS Code: 0207 - Meat and edible 
offal of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls, 
fresh, chilled or frozen; HS Code: 0407  - Birds' eggs, in shell, fresh, preserved or cooked; 
HS Code: 04071 - Fertilised eggs for incubation; HS Code: 04072 - Other fresh eggs; 
HS Code: 040790 - Birds' eggs, in shell, preserved or cooked; HS Code: 05119 - Other  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  United Kingdom  
5. Title of the notified document:  Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order No. 18 
Series of 2021, Temporary Ban on the Importation of Domestic and Wild Birds and their 
Products Including Poultry Meat, Day -old Chicks, Eggs and Semen Originating from United 
Kingdom . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/PHL/21_1803_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Order, signed on 5 March 2021, institutes the following 
emergency measures for the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products 
from United Kingdom:  
1) Banning the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including 
poultry meat, day old chicks, and semen;  
2) Immediate suspension of processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of 
SPS import clearance for the above -stated commodities;  
3) All shipments in transit/loaded/accepted into port before the official communication 
of this Order to the British authorities shall be allowed provided the products were 
not sourced from the followin g areas:  
a) whole of England;  
b) Scotland -Orkney Islands;  
c) Northern Ireland -Nr Lisburn, Nr Clough;  
d) Isle of Anglesey;  
4) All other shipments accepted at the port of origin the day after the date of official 
comm unication to the British authorities are therefore advised not to sail;  
5) Stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of the above -stated commodities (with 
exception on heat -treated products) into the country by all Veterinary Quarantine 
Officers/Inspectors a t all major ports of entry if the provisions written in Item 3 are 
not followed;  
6) Importation of meat products of poultry is subject to the conditions provide d in 
Articles  10.4.19, 10.4.20 and 10.4.26 of OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2019).  G/SPS/N/PHL/493  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale: [  ] 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 
report submitted by Dr. Christine Middlemiss, Chief Veterinary Officer , Department of 
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London, United Kingdom to the World Organisation 
for Animal Health (OIE) on 18 November 2020, there was  an outbreak of H5N8 Highly 
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in South Derbyshire, England affecting birds as 
confirmed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge. The outbreaks have 
continuously  spread to other areas in England such as South Derbyshire, N, Dorset aside 
from the previously reported Frodsham, Hereford, Leicestershire, Hambleton, Breckland, 
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk. Other DA Memorandum Order 76 series of 2020 has already 
imposed a ban on the whole of England, United Kingdom due to its widespread outbreaks. 
Other countries of the United Kingdom such as Scotland, Wales and Northern  Ireland have 
already been infected with HPAI, aside from England.  
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) : Chapter 10.4 of the Terrestrial Animal 
Health Code (2019)  
[ ] 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:   
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):  
Immediately.  
[ ] 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  
Ellipti cal Road, Diliman, Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@gmail.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:   
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@gmail.com