. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/PHL/41
22 April 2002
(02-2254)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  PHILIPPINES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Any plant or plant product altered or produced through the use of modern
biotechnology which may pose significant risks to human health and the environment based
on available scientific and technical information  Regions or countries likely to be
affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All concerned WTO Member countries
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  DA Administrative Order (AO)
No. 8, Series of 2002, Rules and Regulations for the Importation and Release into the
Environment of Plants and Plant Products Derived from the Use of Modern Biotechnology
(31 pages)
5. Description of content:  Import restrictions imposed due to the need of preventing the
entry of harmful pest and diseases in the country.  The Rules and Regulations will cover the
issuance of the following permits:  (1) field testing of regulated articles;  (2) propagation of
regulated articles;  (3) importation of regulated articles for direct use as food or feed or for
processing;  and (4) delisting of regulated article.
6. 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           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Available in English
9. Proposed date of adoption:  3 April 2002
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  30 days after publication in a national newspaper of
general circulationG/SPS/N/PHL/41
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  Before April 2003
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:
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Philippine National Enquiry Point
Office of the Director
Policy Research Service
Department of Agriculture
3rd Floor, DA Building, Elliptical Road
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel:  (632) 926 7439
Fax:  (632) 928 0590E-mail:  epad.polreser@eudoramail.com