G/TBT/N/PHL/191  
 
30 March 2015  
(15-1750)  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 Philippine Standards 
Department of Tr ade and Industry 
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 Philippine Standards Department of Trade and Industry 361 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue 
Makati City, Metro Manila 
Philippines E-mail: bps@dti.gov.ph  ; ajoycebrana@gmail.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 applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, wher e applicable): The jewellery industry 
and trade shall recognize four categories of pearl: 
(a) The rare natural pearls that are produced naturally by various saltwater (bivalve and 
univalve) and freshwater molluscs;  
(b) Cultured pearls which may encompass both nacreous and non-nacreous and a wide 
range of beaded or non-bead ed products. These may be further subdivided into  
(i) freshwater cultured pearls that are available in considerable quantities and wide 
range of values, and the less plentiful (ii) saltwater cultured pearls. Cultured pearls that have not been treated by e.g., 
bleaching may be considered uncommon 
(c) Composite cultured pearls, and (d) The common imitation pearls. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft Philippine 
National Standard DPNS 2107:20xx: Natural, Cultured, Composite and Imitation Pearls – Terminology and Classification (57 pages, in English) 
6. Description of content: The terminology and classification for natural, cultured, 
composite and imitation pearls are established with reference to commercial usage and are 
in conformity with the international trade practices for natural, cultured and imitation 
pearl.  G/TBT/N/PHL/191 
 
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  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
The terminology and classification for natural, cultured, composite and imitation pearls are established with reference to commercial usage and are in conformity with the 
international trade practices for natural, cultured and imitation pearl.  
8. Relevant documents:  CIBJO Pearl Book 2013 Natural, Cultured, Composite & Imitation 
Pearls –Terminology & Classification 
9. Proposed date of adoption: - 
Proposed date of entry into force: This order shall take effect 15 days after publication in 
a newspaper of general circulation.   
10. Final date for comments: 60 days after publication of this notice 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:  
Office of th e Director 
Bureau of Philippine Standards Department of Tr ade and Industry 
361 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue 
Makati City, Metro Manila Philippines 
E-mail: bps@dti.gov.ph  
Telephone No.: (632) 751-3130 
Fax: (632) 751-4706