In September 2009, the Philippine DA Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) issued a memorandum regarding the implementation of plant quarantine regulations.  The memorandum reiterates that a Plant Quarantine Clearance (PQC) certificate issued by DA-BPI and a USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Phytosanitary Certificate are both required for all imports of plant products and planting materials, including highly processed plant products such as frozen potato fries and raisins.  Moreover, PQCs and Phytosanitary Certificates must be first secured for all imports before the shipment leaves the country of origin, unless covered by an Exemption Certificate issued by DA-BPI.  Importers of soybean meal, Dried Distiller Grains with Solubles, etc. may obtain Exemption Certificates from DA-BPI at no cost.
 
This poses a problem for a number of U.S. plant product exports to the Philippines as USDA does not issue phytosanitary certificates for highly processed products, including frozen potato fries and raisin. 
 
On December 22, 2009, the DA-BPI issued another memoradum clarifying this policy and enumerating alternative documents that are acceptable.  Effectively immediately, the following documents will now be accepted for highly processed plant products lieu of the USDA phytosanitary certificates: 
 
1.      A certified true copy of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration/Bureau of Food and Drug  (BFAD) Certificate of Product Registration (CPR); and a photocopy of the U.S. Federal or State Government Health Certificate/Certificate of Free Sale; OR
 
2.       Original U.S. Federal or State Government Health Certificate/Certificate of Free Sale