[ BAI MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 14, June 23, 2011 ]
LIFTING OF TEMPORARY BAN ON THE IMPORTATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS AND ANIMAL FEED PRODUCTS FROM JAPAN
WHEREAS, based on the report received by the Department of Agriculture, the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11,2011 has resulted to a serious nuclear accident at he Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Plant, which may have affected the radionuclide levels of food, water, and the atmosphere;
WHEREAS, without an assurance that agriculture and fisheries products from Japan do not carry risks due to increased radionuclide levels of animals, animal products, and animal by-products in Japan, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) shall invoke Article 5.7 of the WTO Agreement on the Implementation of the SPS Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Philippines places great importance on food safety and in protecting the public from harm that may be caused by radiation-contaminated agriculture and fisheries products;
WHEREAS, Memorandum Order No. 5, series of 2011 ("Temporary Suspension on the Importation of Meat, Dairy Products, Live Animals and Animal Feed Products From Affected Areas in Japan"), has been issued to ensure that the appropriate food safety measures are observed and enforced.
WHEREAS, the Japanese Government, through their continuous monitoring as reported by MEXT last 09 May 2011, export and domestic products coming from the prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigiand Gunma showed no signs of increase of radionuclides in their products. The readings of the environmental radioactivity level in the 45 out of 47 prefectures are within the usual level, however, Fukushima had a 1.5 Sv/hr reading though the usual value band is 0.037 -0.046 Sv/hr1 and Ibaraki had 0.093 Sv/hr though the usual level is 0.036-0.056 Sv/hr; therefore, posing no threat to the public.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PROCESO J. ALCALA, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the lifting of the temporary suspension on the issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Import Clearance for the importation of dairy and animal feed products coming from the prefectures of Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki and Tochigi subject, however to the following rules and regulations of BAI.
1. AH applications for SPS Import Clearance for the importation of dairy and animal feed products from the prefectures of Fukushima and Ibaraki, shall be accompanied by results of laboratory examinations from the competent authority of Japan showing that the dairy products and animal feeds to be imported conform with the guidance levels for representative radionuclides in food following accidental nuclear contamination, pursuant to Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Administrative Order No. 01 series of 2009.
2. In addition, the result of the Laboratory analysis indicated in Rule 1, the imported products shall also be accompanied by a Certificate of Declaration issued by the Competent Authority.
3. Dairy products and animal feed products not originating from the above mentioned prefectures need not be subjected to laboratory tests on radionuclide levels. Import of these products shall however, be accompanied by a Certificate of Origin and a Certificate of Declaration issued by the Competent Authority.
This Order shall take effect immediately and all other Orders inconsistent with this issuance are hereby revoked.
Adopted: 23 June 2011
(SGD.) PROCESO J. ALCALA
Secretary
1 The maximum value reading of Fukushima was around 170 &muSv/hrin March, 2011 and the maximum value of Ibaraki was 1.504 Sv/hr in 15 March 2011 as published.
WHEREAS, without an assurance that agriculture and fisheries products from Japan do not carry risks due to increased radionuclide levels of animals, animal products, and animal by-products in Japan, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) shall invoke Article 5.7 of the WTO Agreement on the Implementation of the SPS Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Philippines places great importance on food safety and in protecting the public from harm that may be caused by radiation-contaminated agriculture and fisheries products;
WHEREAS, Memorandum Order No. 5, series of 2011 ("Temporary Suspension on the Importation of Meat, Dairy Products, Live Animals and Animal Feed Products From Affected Areas in Japan"), has been issued to ensure that the appropriate food safety measures are observed and enforced.
WHEREAS, the Japanese Government, through their continuous monitoring as reported by MEXT last 09 May 2011, export and domestic products coming from the prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigiand Gunma showed no signs of increase of radionuclides in their products. The readings of the environmental radioactivity level in the 45 out of 47 prefectures are within the usual level, however, Fukushima had a 1.5 Sv/hr reading though the usual value band is 0.037 -0.046 Sv/hr1 and Ibaraki had 0.093 Sv/hr though the usual level is 0.036-0.056 Sv/hr; therefore, posing no threat to the public.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PROCESO J. ALCALA, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the lifting of the temporary suspension on the issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Import Clearance for the importation of dairy and animal feed products coming from the prefectures of Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki and Tochigi subject, however to the following rules and regulations of BAI.
1. AH applications for SPS Import Clearance for the importation of dairy and animal feed products from the prefectures of Fukushima and Ibaraki, shall be accompanied by results of laboratory examinations from the competent authority of Japan showing that the dairy products and animal feeds to be imported conform with the guidance levels for representative radionuclides in food following accidental nuclear contamination, pursuant to Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Administrative Order No. 01 series of 2009.
2. In addition, the result of the Laboratory analysis indicated in Rule 1, the imported products shall also be accompanied by a Certificate of Declaration issued by the Competent Authority.
3. Dairy products and animal feed products not originating from the above mentioned prefectures need not be subjected to laboratory tests on radionuclide levels. Import of these products shall however, be accompanied by a Certificate of Origin and a Certificate of Declaration issued by the Competent Authority.
This Order shall take effect immediately and all other Orders inconsistent with this issuance are hereby revoked.
Adopted: 23 June 2011
Secretary
1 The maximum value reading of Fukushima was around 170 &muSv/hrin March, 2011 and the maximum value of Ibaraki was 1.504 Sv/hr in 15 March 2011 as published.