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Pursuant to further directives of the Minister of Health, the monitoring of foodstuffs for radioactive contamination as a consequence of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in Kiev, USSR, shall include foodstuffs imported from all countries, instead of only China and European countries.

The following amended guidelines are, therefore, promulgated for this purpose for the information, guidance and strict compliance of all concerned.

1. Importers are required to secure a Certificate of Analysis for Radioactive Content or a Certificate of Assurance/Clearance from the responsible government authority in the country of origin. The Certificate/Clearance should state that the particular shipment of foodstuffs being exported to the Philippines is not contaminated with fallout radionuclides and the levels of Cesium 137 and Cesium 134 therein do not exceed the limits for these radioactive elements set forth by the Philippine Government.

2. Importers shall notify the BFAD Unit at the Bureau of Customs of the expected date of arrival of their shipment.

3. Samples will be collected by BFAD officials from every incoming shipment with or without the required radioactivity certificate/clearance from the country of origin and these samples shall be immediately submitted to the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) for radioactivity tests. The BFAD shall not authorize release from the bonded warehouse nor the sale/distribution of the shipment of foodstuffs in question until a satisfactory result of analysis has been obtained from PAEC, in which case the BFAD shall inform the importers accordingly in writing.

4. Imported foodstuffs subject to monitoring for radioactive elements are listed in Annex "A". (See below)

Annex "A"

The following imported food products shall be monitored for radioactive elements. The corresponding limits indicated hereto are based on the recommendation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission and the Interagency Nuclear Accident Preparedness Committee.

		Radioactivity Limits Cs 137 & Cs 134 (Bq/Kg)
MILK PRODUCTS
	Liquid Milk Milk Powder (Full Cream/Non-Fat) Whey Powder Anhydrous Milk fat/Butterfat Cream Cheese/Curd Butter/Raw Butter		15(Bq/L) 22 22 22 22 33 22
FOOD FOR INFANTS/YOUNG CHILDREN			22
FRUIT PRODUCTS
	Fruit Purees/Concentrates Fruits in Syrup/Brine Jams/Jellies/Marmalades Other Preserved Fruits (raisins, dates, glazed fruits, etc.)		8 8 8 8
VEGETABLE PRODUCTS
	Purees/Concentrates/Flakes Pickled/Salted/Dried/Powdered Vegetable Starches Protein Hydrolysates		22 22 22 22
MEAT PRODUCTS
	Meat Pastes/Spreads/Extract Corned Beef/Luncheon Meat Ham/Pork Shoulders Sausages		6* 6* 6* 6*
CEREAL PRODUCTS
	Oatmeal Corn Flakes/Mea Malt Extract		6 6 6
FISH/MARINE PRODUCTS			28
OTHER PRODUCTS
	Cocoa Powder/Chocolate Drink Tonic Food Drink Chocolate Bars/Chocolate Candies Roasted Coffee (Ground) Dextrose/Glucose/Honey		22 22 22 22 2

Radioactivity Certificate/Clearance (RC) shall be required for imported Milk Products and Food for Infants/Young Children from Europe and other countries. Shipments without RC are subject to sampling and analysis prior to distribution/sale. Shipments with RC are subject to spot-checks for confirmatory tests.

OTHER PRODUCTS

Radioactivity Certificate/Clearance (RC) shall be required for other imported foodstuffs from all countries if shipments contain more than 500 kilos. Shipments (L 500 K) without RC are subject to sampling & analysis prior to distribution/sale. In case of shipments (w/out RC) consisting of assorted products, every product whose quantity is more than 500 K is subject to sampling and analysis. Shipments with RC are subject to spot-checks for confirmatory tests. RC is not required for shipments containing 500 K or less but these are subject to occasional spot-checks.

5. All shipments of foodstuffs found exceeding the radioactivity limits shall not be given clearance for domestic sale/distribution and shall be disposed of in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Annex "B". (below)

Annex "B"

Procedures for Disposal of Imported Food Found to Have
Exceeded Allowable Limits for Radioactivity in the Philippines

1. All shipments of foodstuffs containing radioactivity in excess of levels set by Philippine Government shall be disposed of as follows:

a. Aforesaid shipments still intact in bonded warehouses may be allowed to be shipped out of the country under the supervision and control of the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), and other concerned agencies. A certificate of receipt issued by appropriate authorities at the destination shall be presented by the importer to the BFAD and other concerned agencies.

b. Items from aforesaid shipments that were removed from bonded warehouses and are in the custody of dealers or retailers may be returned to the distributor/importer for reshipment in accordance with paragraph a.

c. Items from aforesaid shipments already in the hands of consumers can be disposed of by dissolving, diluting and pouring into the sewerage system in accordance with PAEC regulations on the disposal of radioactive wastes containing marginal amounts of radioactivity.

d. All other items that cannot be disposed of through the sewer may be referred to PAEC or the Ministry of Health radiation safety officer in the nearest government hospital for appropriate disposal.

2. All costs of recovery of aforementioned items from consumers, retailers and other outlets, and shipment of the same items to other countries shall be borne by the importers.

This Memorandum Circular supersedes all other Circulars on the same subject matter and shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 19 Sept. 1986

(Sgd.) CATALINA C. SANCHEZ Director

(Sgd.) ALFREDO R.A. BENGZON, M.D. Minister of Health

Re-Issued: 7 Oct. 1991

(Sgd.) QUINTIN L. KINTANAR, M.D., PH.D.
Director
Assistant Secretary for Standards and Regulation

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^* See BFAD Memo Cir. No. 1-C, s. 1986 for amendment.