QuestionsQuestions (DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 02, S. 2018)
The Order is issued pursuant to Executive Order No. 292 (1987), Section 5; Act No. 3639 (Animal Quarantine Act of 1929); Presidential Decree No. 1433 (Plant Quarantine Decree of 1978); DA-Administrative Order No. 09 Series of 2010; and consistent with the Terrestrial Code of the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health).
“Queen” refers to a sexually developed female bee, while “escort bees” are bees that accompany the queen bee in the cage—also referred to as nurse bees.
Only Apis mellifera queen and escort bees are allowed to be imported.
Brood combs, nucleus colonies, and packaged bees are not allowed for importation.
They should not be imported from countries/zones/regions with (1) viral diseases and (2) known Africanized honey bees.
The importer must present the corresponding SPSIC, international veterinary certificate, and phytosanitary certificate issued for the shipment to the Quarantine Office/competent authority at the port of entry.
Only consignments accompanied by the required SPSIC and certificates will be accepted; those without required documents are subject to confiscation and destruction, return to origin, or shipment to a third country.
The port of entry shall be Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) only, unless other international airports are later equipped and qualified to accept such importation.
The shipment must be free from mites (Acarapis spp., Varroa spp., Tropilaelaps spp., and Aethina tumida) and pathogens causing American foulbrood, European foulbrood, chalk brood, Nosema, and sacbrood.
It must certify that the shipment is free from pollen-carrying plant pathogens and Tobacco Ringspot Virus (TRSV).
Immediately upon arrival, the imported products shall be turned over to the competent authority assigned at the port of entry for sampling.
The importer must collect one sample escort bee in every queen cage and submit for analysis at NVQSD. After samples are collected, the shipment is released immediately to the importer once they agree to BAI quarantine importation terms and conditions.
If pathogens and pests are detected, the importer is notified within 5 calendar days, and the whole of the queen and escort bees are destroyed at the expense of the importing parties; no compensation is paid.
Sanctions include automatic revocation of the importer’s SPSIC after notice and hearing if found to have given false/incomplete information or violated the Order. Any importation made without or with a revoked SPSIC is confiscated and destroyed.
Existing administrative orders, rules, and regulations or parts inconsistent are repealed or modified accordingly. The Order takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and filing three (3) certified copies with the National Administrative Register, U.P. Law Center.