Section 21Sec./Art. 21

Standards Development and Enforcement. The DA, through the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS), in coordination with the DTI, the DOST, the BoAE and the AMTEC, and in consultation with the accredited associations of farmers and fisherfolk, agricultural machinery assemblers, manufacturers and distributors and agricultural engineers shall develop standards specifications and test procedures of agricultural and fishery machinery and equipment. These standards should be in conformity with the International Standards Organization (ISO) and shall be part of the existing Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards (PAES).

Thereafter, the DA and the LGUs, in collaboration with the BoAE, shall enforce the above standards on the manufacture, sale and distribution of agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment, and its accreditation system for agricultural and fisheries facilities and establishments.

The Secretary shall deputize the agriculture offices of the LGUs to monitor the implementation of regulation concerning certification, registration of manufacturers, assemblers, dealers or importers and accreditation of agricultural and fishery machinery and equipment testing centers.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local building officials, consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 8559, otherwise known as the "Philippine Agricultural Engineering Act of 1998″, and in coordination with the agriculture offices of the LGUs shall enforce the PAES as part of the implementation of the National Building Code of the Philippines particularly in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of agricultural and fisheries buildings and structures.