By: By:

GILBERTO F. LAYESEGILBERTO F. LAYESEDirector, Bureau of Agriculture Director, Bureau of Agriculture

and Fisheries Product Standardsand Fisheries Product Standards

Department of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, PhilippinesPhilippines

Technical Assistance Technical Assistance and Capacity Building and Capacity Building Activities: Philippine Activities: Philippine

SettingSetting

Philippine SPS Philippine SPS ThrustThrust• The country’s Department of Agriculture The country’s Department of Agriculture

has lined up its thrust with the aims of the has lined up its thrust with the aims of the international organizations in international organizations in promulgating food safety , animal and promulgating food safety , animal and plant health programmes. plant health programmes. • The Agriculture and Fisheries The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 also Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 also known as RA 8435 “prescribes urgent known as RA 8435 “prescribes urgent related measures to modernize the related measures to modernize the agriculture and fisheries sectors of the agriculture and fisheries sectors of the country in order to enhance their country in order to enhance their profitability, and prepare said sectors for the profitability, and prepare said sectors for the challenges of globalization through an challenges of globalization through an adequate, focused and rational delivery of adequate, focused and rational delivery of necessary support services.”necessary support services.”

Regulatory Agencies in the Philippines Regulatory Agencies in the Philippines Concerned in Ensuring Food, Plant and Concerned in Ensuring Food, Plant and

Animal SafetyAnimal Safety• Bureau of Plant IndustryBureau of Plant Industry

Primary task:Primary task: promotes the development of promotes the development of plant industries through research and plant industries through research and development, crop production and protection, development, crop production and protection, and effective technology promotion and transfer.and effective technology promotion and transfer.

Other tasks:Other tasks:

• Protection of agricultural crops from pests and Protection of agricultural crops from pests and diseases (E.O. 116);diseases (E.O. 116);

• Recommend plant quarantine policies and Recommend plant quarantine policies and prescribe rules and regulations for the prescribe rules and regulations for the prevention, control and eradication of pests, prevention, control and eradication of pests, diseases and injuries to plants and plant diseases and injuries to plants and plant products (E.O. 116);products (E.O. 116);

• Other tasks:Other tasks:

• As stated in the Plant Quarantine Law As stated in the Plant Quarantine Law (P.D.1433): “Prevent the introduction of exotic (P.D.1433): “Prevent the introduction of exotic pests in the country and prevent further spread pests in the country and prevent further spread of plant pests already existing from infested to of plant pests already existing from infested to pest-free areas and to enforce phytosanitary pest-free areas and to enforce phytosanitary measures for the export of plants, plant products measures for the export of plants, plant products and regulated articles”;and regulated articles”;

• Establish pesticide laboratories all over the Establish pesticide laboratories all over the country to monitor levels of pesticide residue in country to monitor levels of pesticide residue in crops in order to protect the local and crops in order to protect the local and international consumers from possible health international consumers from possible health hazards and to generate data for the hazards and to generate data for the establishment of Maximum Residue Levels establishment of Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) (L.O.I. 986);(MRLs) (L.O.I. 986);

• Ensure safe supply of fresh agricultural crops and improve the quality of local fresh agricultural crops and promote its export (R.A. 7394);

• Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)

Primary task:Primary task: forefront of ensuring animal forefront of ensuring animal health, as well as food safety and quality. health, as well as food safety and quality.

Other tasks:Other tasks:

• Regulate animal feeds, feed ingredients and Regulate animal feeds, feed ingredients and veterinary products;veterinary products;

• Prevent, control, contain and eradicate Prevent, control, contain and eradicate communicable animal disease;communicable animal disease;

• Ensure effective and efficient implementation Ensure effective and efficient implementation and advocacy of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and advocacy of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and its implementing rules and regulations;and its implementing rules and regulations;

• Regulate the flow of animal and animal Regulate the flow of animal and animal products;products;

• Other tasks:Other tasks:

• Provide laboratory support to other divisions Provide laboratory support to other divisions through production of biologics and through production of biologics and pharmaceuticals, quality control testing, feeds pharmaceuticals, quality control testing, feeds and feed stuff analyses and drug assay;and feed stuff analyses and drug assay;

• Conduct research on animal health, breeding, Conduct research on animal health, breeding, nutrition, production and management as well as nutrition, production and management as well as the processing and utilization of feeds, forage the processing and utilization of feeds, forage and pasture resources;and pasture resources;

• Regulation of the movement of animals and Regulation of the movement of animals and animal products through the issuance of animal products through the issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearance and other Veterinary Quarantine Clearance and other permits;permits;

• BAI does inspection of products on the basis of BAI does inspection of products on the basis of quality, safety, good manufacturing practices quality, safety, good manufacturing practices (GMP)/sanitation, bio-safety, product (GMP)/sanitation, bio-safety, product transport/movement and export/import control transport/movement and export/import control within their area of coverage (animals for within their area of coverage (animals for slaughter).slaughter).

• National Meat Inspection Commission National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC)(NMIC)

Primary task:Primary task: accreditationaccreditation of quality of quality assessors for slaughter houses.assessors for slaughter houses.

Other tasks:Other tasks:

• Meat Laboratory Services Meat Laboratory Services -linkages with food control laboratory and -linkages with food control laboratory and other local laboratories and organizations other local laboratories and organizations concerned with disease controlconcerned with disease control

• In-Plant Operation and Inspection Services In-Plant Operation and Inspection Services -provides technical supervision on meat -provides technical supervision on meat inspection and meat plant operation designed to inspection and meat plant operation designed to ensure the production of clean and wholesome ensure the production of clean and wholesome meat in meat establishments;meat in meat establishments;- manages the certification for local transport of - manages the certification for local transport of meat and meat productsmeat and meat products

• Other tasks:Other tasks:

• Regulatory Services Regulatory Services - manages a systematic evaluation - manages a systematic evaluation (classification) and computation of rated (classification) and computation of rated capacity of meat plant activities and transport capacity of meat plant activities and transport vehiclesvehicles- directs the agency’s review and compliance - directs the agency’s review and compliance activity relating to transport, storage and activity relating to transport, storage and distribution of meatdistribution of meat

• Meat Import/Export Services Meat Import/Export Services - ensures that meat and meat products have - ensures that meat and meat products have been produced under condition and system been produced under condition and system equivalent to the NMICequivalent to the NMIC

• Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)(BFAR)

Tasks:Tasks:

• Conducts inspection, monitoring and Conducts inspection, monitoring and verification of fish processing plants and fish and verification of fish processing plants and fish and fishery products for export and import;fishery products for export and import;

• Conducts inspection of processing plants for Conducts inspection of processing plants for domestic consumption, market and fishing port domestic consumption, market and fishing port complex;complex;

• Conducts physical, chemical and Conducts physical, chemical and microbiological analysis of fishery products in microbiological analysis of fishery products in support of export and importsupport of export and import

• Issues commodity clearance and other Issues commodity clearance and other requirements for fish and fishery productsrequirements for fish and fishery products

• Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA)(FPA)

Task:Task:

• Protect the public from risks Protect the public from risks inherent in the use of pesticides and inherent in the use of pesticides and educate the agricultural sector in the educate the agricultural sector in the use of these inputs.use of these inputs.

• Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS)Standards (BAFPS)

Primary task:Primary task: formulate and enforce standards formulate and enforce standards of quality that will ensure human, animal and of quality that will ensure human, animal and plant health and safety, competitiveness and plant health and safety, competitiveness and efficiency in the marketing and trade of efficiency in the marketing and trade of agriculture, livestock and fisheries and agriculture, livestock and fisheries and aquaculture products. aquaculture products.

Other tasks:Other tasks:

• provide the organization and manpower provide the organization and manpower expertise to ensure effective preparations and expertise to ensure effective preparations and background for government participation in background for government participation in deliberations on international food standards, deliberations on international food standards, including those related to the World Trade including those related to the World Trade Organizations (WTO) agreements on SPS Organizations (WTO) agreements on SPS Measures and and other standards adopted by Measures and and other standards adopted by FAO and WHO. FAO and WHO.

Current Technical Assistance and Current Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Activities Capacity Building Activities

• Technical assistance and capacity building Technical assistance and capacity building includes all activities undertaken by international includes all activities undertaken by international organizations such as FAO and the WTO, as well as organizations such as FAO and the WTO, as well as donor countries in support of the Philippines’ effort donor countries in support of the Philippines’ effort to strengthen the food control, animal and plant to strengthen the food control, animal and plant health systems and programs.health systems and programs.

• Capacity building includes the dissemination of Capacity building includes the dissemination of information, the organization of national and information, the organization of national and regional workshops, seminars, trainings and similar regional workshops, seminars, trainings and similar activities related to improving the general activities related to improving the general understanding of the SPS Agreement, food safety , understanding of the SPS Agreement, food safety , animal and plant health.animal and plant health.

Illustrative List of TechnicalIllustrative List of Technical Assistance Provided to the Assistance Provided to the PhilippinesPhilippines

Improving the general understanding of the SPS Improving the general understanding of the SPS AgreementAgreement

- Seminar/Workshop on SPS Agreement- Seminar/Workshop on SPS Agreement- Symposium on notification procedures under - Symposium on notification procedures under the SPS Agreementthe SPS Agreement- Seminar on the organization, application and policy- Seminar on the organization, application and policy development in phytosanitary issues development in phytosanitary issues

Food SafetyFood Safety

- Seminar/Workshop on Hazard Analysis and Critical- Seminar/Workshop on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)Control Point (HACCP)- Seminar on mutual recognition arrangement forSeminar on mutual recognition arrangement for conformity assessment conformity assessment - Training of food specialistsTraining of food specialists

Animal HealthAnimal Health

- Participation in the regional training on meatParticipation in the regional training on meat inspection (in Asia)inspection (in Asia)- Seminar/workshop on disease control on fish Seminar/workshop on disease control on fish and shrimp aquaculture in Southeast Asiaand shrimp aquaculture in Southeast Asia- Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) control project - Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) control project

Plant HealthPlant Health

-Technical discussions on the fresh fruit entry Technical discussions on the fresh fruit entry protocolsprotocols-Briefings on developments in Codex on aflatoxinBriefings on developments in Codex on aflatoxin standardsstandards-Pesticide Monitoring System Development ProjectPesticide Monitoring System Development Project

Note: Most of the technical assistance providedNote: Most of the technical assistance providedwere in the form of information dissemination,were in the form of information dissemination,technical level training, and “soft” infrastructuretechnical level training, and “soft” infrastructuredevelopment.development.

1. Resources needed for 1. Resources needed for obligations and rightsobligations and rights

- The limited resources of developing - The limited resources of developing countries restrict them in meeting the countries restrict them in meeting the requirements and to take full advantage requirements and to take full advantage of their rights and market access.of their rights and market access.

- It also limits developing countries in - It also limits developing countries in participating efficiently in the setting of participating efficiently in the setting of internationalinternational standards.standards.

2.2. Complex conditionsComplex conditions

- - Some importing and developed Some importing and developed countries are employing standards countries are employing standards that are more stringent than the set that are more stringent than the set standards in the domestic markets as standards in the domestic markets as well as the prevailing international well as the prevailing international standards.standards.

3. Domestic infrastructure3. Domestic infrastructure

- The lack of administrative and - The lack of administrative and legislative coordination pose legislative coordination pose tremendous drawbacks in the tremendous drawbacks in the capabilities of the developing capabilities of the developing countries to comply with SPS countries to comply with SPS measures.measures.

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

Technical assistance and capacity Technical assistance and capacity building are inevitably significant in building are inevitably significant in helping developing countries to helping developing countries to exercise their rights and to comply exercise their rights and to comply with the requirements under the SPS with the requirements under the SPS agreement. Activities that would agreement. Activities that would deepen the understanding of SPS deepen the understanding of SPS issues by both the public and private issues by both the public and private sectors involved in agriculture and sectors involved in agriculture and food industries, should be pursued. food industries, should be pursued. Likewise, these activities should Likewise, these activities should strengthen further the confidence of strengthen further the confidence of these sectors in implementing the SPS these sectors in implementing the SPS Agreement.Agreement.

Domestic reforms, including Domestic reforms, including the adoption of science-based the adoption of science-based strategic food quality strategic food quality management systems such as management systems such as the HACCP system in the the HACCP system in the industry is one of the methods industry is one of the methods by which developed countries by which developed countries could ensure the production of could ensure the production of safe and high quality foods that safe and high quality foods that meet the requirements of meet the requirements of importing countries. Technical importing countries. Technical assistance should be directed assistance should be directed towards allowing developing towards allowing developing countries’ greater access to countries’ greater access to scientific expertise.scientific expertise.

Technical assistance should facilitate Technical assistance should facilitate access of developing countries to legal access of developing countries to legal expertise and advice, to enhance their expertise and advice, to enhance their effective participation in the WTO effective participation in the WTO dispute settlement procedures. dispute settlement procedures. Establishment of institutions such as Establishment of institutions such as the ACWL helps realize such an the ACWL helps realize such an objective.objective.

Technical assistance Technical assistance should also offer should also offer tailor made assistance to each tailor made assistance to each country’s needs and improve market country’s needs and improve market access for products with real export access for products with real export potential, instead of focusing on potential, instead of focusing on developed country market access developed country market access needs.needs.

Effective participation of developing countriesEffective participation of developing countriesIn the SPS Committee, in international standard-In the SPS Committee, in international standard-setting organizations and relevant fora, shouldsetting organizations and relevant fora, shouldremain as one of the major goals in designingremain as one of the major goals in designingand implementing technical assistance and and implementing technical assistance and capacity building programmes. In relation tocapacity building programmes. In relation tothis, support should be given to the establish-this, support should be given to the establish-ment of a trust fund by FAO/WHO to encouragement of a trust fund by FAO/WHO to encouragedeveloping countries to actively participatedeveloping countries to actively participatein Codex meetings.in Codex meetings.

Thank you!Thank you!