G/SPS/N/PHL/470  
 
5 October 2020  
(20-6796) 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 Bureau of Animal Industry  
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(s): 010619 (cats and dogs)  
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:  Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry 
Memorandum Circular No. 43 Series of 2020 Clarificatory Guidelines Re: Documentary 
Requirements and Other Importan t Matters in the Application for SPSIC in the Importation 
of Dogs and Cats in line with Section III.A.2 of DA Administrative Order 9, Series of 2010 . 
Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  9 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/PHL/20_5908_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Circular contains clarificatory guidelines to DA 
Administrative Order (AO) No. 9 s. 2010 to ensure all cats and dogs being imported into 
the country have the necessary documentary requirements before entry. The Circular was 
signed on 24 September 2020 . 
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. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, ident ify 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) : Article 8.4.7 of the OIE Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code  
[ ] 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/470  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 24 September 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  
11. Proposed date of entry into f orce: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 28 September 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  
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 oth er 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   
Website:  http://spsissuances.da.gov.ph/  
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   
Website:  http://spsissuances.da.gov.ph/