Philippines allows easier entry of goods from Japan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has allowed easier access of some Japanese farm commodities into the country after favorable results of food safety risk assessment tests.

In a recent memorandum order, the Department of Agriculture has lifted the prevailing additional requirements on the importation of Japanese commodities.

DA has declared that certificate of radiation analysis and certificate of origin for the importation of Japanese commodities are no longer required.

These commodities are fish, beef, apple and pear.

This after the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards and the members of the ad hoc task force on radionuclide carried out a food safety risk assessment of radionuclide in the aforementioned commodities. The food safety risk assessment concluded that there is no significant food safety threat on the commodities from Japan.

However, the Japanese government shall submit an annual radionuclide monitoring results certified and signed by their competent authority to continuously ensure the safety of imported commodities.

The DA has revoked Memorandum Orders 14 and 12 issued in 2011 regarding importation of Japanese farm goods.

MO 14 required dairy products and animal feed products not originating from the prefectures of Fukushima and Ibaraki to be accompanied with a certificate of origin and a certificate of declaration.

Meanwhile, MO 12 required that importation of plants, planting materials and plant products from Fukushima be accompanied by a certificate of radiation analysis. It also required that importation from other prefectures be accompanied with a certificate of origin.