ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES ON THE SCHEDULE OF FEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 17, DA AO NO. 8, SERIES OF 2002 AND RELATED GUIDELINES
Memorandum Circular 06, s. 2007 relating to the renewal of permits of
regulated articles for propagation and direct use as food and feed or
processing, respectively, this Department hereby issues the schedule of
fees relating to the application for renewal permits of DA AO No. 8,
series of 2002 “Rules and Regulations on the Importation and Release
into the Environment of Plants and Plant Products Derived from the Use
of Modern Biotechnology”. Likewise, Section 2 (b) of this
Memorandum Circular which identifies the services and items allowed for
funding from the proceeds of Risk Assessment Review Cost (RARC), shall
likewise apply to the utilization of funds for RARC under Memorandum
Circular No. 9, series of 2003 “Schedule of Fees Pursuant to Section 17, DA AO No. 8, series of 2002 and Related Guidelines, dated 21 May 2003.
Pursuant to Section 17 of DA AO No. 8, the Director of Bureau of
Plant Industry (BPI) may impose fees in such amount as maybe necessary
to cover the costs of evaluating applications for permits under DA AO
No. 8, with the approval of the Secretary of the Department.
SECTION 1. Payment of Filing Fee for Renewal Applications –
Upon submission of completed application forms, the applicant shall pay
a non-refundable fee in the amount of One Thousand Pesos (PhP1000.00).
SECTION 2. Additional Costs Related to Risk Assessment Review
a. Mechanics of Renewal Applications
Upon the satisfactory procedural review of the application for
renewal of permit, the BPI shall meet the applicant to agree on the
scope of work and the RARC. A Risk Assessment Review Work and Financial
Plan shall be mutually formulated to include the timetable and the
corresponding budget and logistical requirements to attain the projected completion date. The agreements shall be expressly indicated in a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the BPI and the applicant.The applicant shall remit the RARC to the BPI upon the execution
of the MOA. The BPI shall issue an official receipt to acknowledge the
payment of the RARC. The BPI shall disburse the amount in accordance
with the mutually agreed Risk Assessment Review Work and Financial Plan
and consistent with existing rules and regulations.b. Guidelines for Utilization of funds collected for RARC of Renewal Applications
Expenses attendant to the review of renewal permits and all other
permits issued under DA AO No. 8 can be charged against the funds
collected from the RARC, provided that these expenses relate or are
covered by the following:b.1 Service Contract for Members of Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) – The
STRP members shall execute a MOA with BPI to include the scope of work,
timeline(s), deliverable(s), the cost of the scientific and substantive
review.b. 2 Honoraria for Insect Resistance Management Advisory Team (IRMAT) – Services of all IRMAT members based on
Special Order 07, series of 2006 are required to provide assistance to
formulate the requirements for insect resistance management (IRM)
strategy for Btcorn, based on MC No. 8, series of 2005 which
strengthens the DA’s science-based IRM strategy. The cost of services
provided by IRM AT members are mutually agreed by the BPI and the
applicant as indicated in the Work and Financial Plan (WFP).b.3 Honoraria of BPI Biotech Core Team (BCT) and Approving Officer – Services
of BPI BCT based on Special Order 481, series of 2008 are required to
(i) discuss and review risk assessment reports of all GM applications
for recommendations to the BPI Director, and (ii) assist or provide
technical inputs in the formulation of policies, regulations,
guidelines, plans and programs for biotech plant and plant products
pursuant to DA AO No. 8. The BPI BCT functions as a Technical Advisory
Committee to the BPI Director who is the approving authority of renewal
permits under DA AO No. 8.The cost of the services of BPI BCT and the approving officer are
mutually agreed by the BPI and the applicant as indicated in the WFP.
The amount allotted to the BCT members and approving officer would
depend on the mutually agreed WFP of each application. Further, the
amount to be paid to members would be decided upon by the team based on
their share of work, responsibility or participation in related biotech
activities.b.4 Honoraria of DA-Biotechnology Advisory Team (DA-BAT) – Services
of DA-BAT in the form of technical and scientific advise are required
by the technical and regulatory units of the DA for the formulation
and/or improvement of science-based protocols for (i) biosafety, (ii)
food and feed safety, (iii) risk assessment, and (iv) design of risk
management or mitigating measures and strategies. The cost of services
for DA-BAT members mutually agreed by the BPI and the applicant as
indicated in the WFP.b.5 Logistics and Administrative Support –
These expenses include meeting costs, documentation, communications,
travels, data management, and administrative costs necessary for the
conduct of comprehensive risk assessment review and implementation of
the approval process of renewal of permits under DA AO No. 8.
This Memorandum Circular takes effect immediately.
Adopted: 27 Oct. 2008
(SGD.) ATTY. ARTHUR C. YAP
Secretary