 
. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/PHL/61 
18 February 2004 
 (04-0689) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   PHILIPPINES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved: 
2. Agency responsible:   Bureau of  Plant Industry (BPI),  Department of Agriculture (DA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Any plant product altered or produced through the use of modern 
biotechnology intended for direct  use as food, feed, or processing into food and feed. 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   D A  M e m o r a n d u m  
Circular No. 8, series of 2003, Guidelines for the Phytosanitary Inspection of Regulated 
Articles for Food, Feed and Pro cessing, Pursuant to DA Administ rative Order No. 8, series of 
2002, Rules and Regulations on the Importation a nd Release into the Environment of Plants 
and Plant Products Derived from the Us e of Modern Biotechnology (3 pages). 
6. Description of content:  The Guidelines will regulate th e importation of plants and plant 
products or commodities derived from the use of  modern biotechnology which are intended 
for direct use as food or feed, or for processing. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ X ] food safety, [ X ] animal health, [ X ] plant protection, 
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ X ] protect territory from other damage from pests 
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:  
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  English 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   15 May 2003 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   1 May 2004 
12. Final date for comments:  15 April 2004 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    G/SPS/N/PHL/61 
Page 2  
 
 13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notificati on authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
 Philippine National SPS Enquiry Point 
 Office of the Director  Policy Research Service 
 Department of Agriculture 
 3
rd Floor, DA Building, Elliptical Road 
 Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines  Tel:  (632) 926 7439  Fax:  (632) 928 0590 
 E-mail:  epad.polre ser@eudoramail.com  
 
 