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This Circular covers the issuances of permits, on or after July 1, 2003, for the importation of plants and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology and which are intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing. Importations covered by permits issued before July 1, 2003 are not covered by this Circular and shall be subject only to the conditions laid down at the time of their issuance.

I
Approval Registry

1. No plant or plant product intended for direct use as food, feed, or for processing, shall be allowed entry into the country unless it has undergone the approval process, mandated by the Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 8, s. 2002.

2. Plant and plant products of GM origin intended for direct use as food, feed, or processing must carry a certificate of GMO content issued by an authorized body from the country of origin or by an accredited laboratory. A copy of the certificate of GMO content shall be submitted to the BPI within 15 days from arrival of the shipment and shall serve as part of the notification as required under Section 12H of AO No. 8.

3. Plants and plant products intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing with transformation events listed in the Approval Registry of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), a copy of which will be issued by July 1, 2003 and which forms Annex I of this Memorandum Circular, shall be accompanied only by an import permit and/or phytosanitary permit, to be allowed entry into the country. No separate biosafety shall be required as such transformation events have already been determined by BPI to pose no significant risks to human health and the environment in accordance with D.A. A.O. No. 8.

4. Plant and plant products intended for direct use as food, or feed, or for processing, with one or more transformation events not listed in the Approval Registry, shall not be allowed entry into the country by the Bureau of Customs unless accompanied by a biosafety permit. Any such importation without the requisite biosafety permit shall be disposed of by the Bureau of Customs in accordance with the Tariff and Customs Code.

II
Declaration of GMO Content and Approval under AO 8

Every shipment of a regulated article shall be accompanied by a GMO declaration containing the following information.

  The Shipment may contain a GM ingredient:

             

Yes ________

No___________

 

If Yes, list the probable transformation events:                                                                             

Present		To be filled up by the POS Officer:
_________		In the Approval Registry		Not in the Approval Registry
_________		____________________		_______________________
_________		____________________		_______________________
_________		____________________		_______________________
					[Signature] Plant Quarantine Officer

 

III
  Checks For GMO Content 

The Bureau of Plant Industry and the Bureau of Animal Industry shall randomly check importations of plant products as to their GM content particularly for commodities known to be genetically modified and commercially grown in other countries.

Two checks may be done, namely: 

  1. a screening test which will determine the presence or absence of GMOs; and 

  2. an ID test which will identify the present GMO transformation events.

This Memorandum Circular takes effect immediately and repeals or amends all other issuances inconsistent hereof.

Adopted: 15 May 2003

(SGD.) LUIS P. LORENZO, JR.
  Secretary