The Adminitrative and Finance Services (AFS) is responsible for executing a wide range of administrative services which support office operations. The AFS cover six main units namely (1) Human Resource Management, (2) Procurement, (3) General Services, (4) Records, (5) Planning and Finance, and (6) Information and Technology which are critical to the effective and efficient operation of the Bureau.

Human Resource Management Unit (HRMU) is responsible for the recruitment, selection, retention of personnel, and performance evaluation in accordance with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS).   Learning and development (L&D) and rewards and recognition are also under HRMU.

Procurement Unit (PU) is responsible for coordinating with the DA-Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to ensure the timely delivery of goods and services needed by the Bureau. The PU is also responsible for consolidating the Annual Project Procurement Monitoring Plan (PPMP) of BAFS. 

General Services Unit (GSU) is responsible for the inventory of Property, Plant, and Equipment (PPE), supplies management, main building and dorm maintenance, and vehicle maintenance.  The BAFS-ASS GSU mirrors the functions and sub-units of the DA General Services Division (GSD) and liaises with relevant offices to ensure the availability of resources to support the activities of the Bureau.

Records Unit (RU) is responsible for records management and compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.  Also reporting under this Unit are the Administrative Assistants of the various technical divisions of the Bureau. 

Planning and Finance Unit (PFU) is responsible for consolidating the physical and financial plans of various divisions and units, including the monitoring and evaluation of accomplishments. 

Information and Technology Unit (ITU) is responsible for providing IT-related support to the various technical divisions and units.  

Communications Unit (CU) is an ad hoc unit composed of the Editorial Board and Writers Bloc responsible for the print and online publications related to the services of the Bureau.

Pursuant to Organic Agriculture Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 11511 (An Act Amending Republic Act No. 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010), the OAD implements organic agriculture regulations through the following functions:

1. Accreditation of organic certifying body (OCB) performing third-party certification, and Core Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Groups as OCB (Sections 12, 13 and 14);
2. Inspection and certification of five (5) individual farms as Core PGS Groups, in compliance with the Philippine National Standard (PNS) for organic agriculture (Sections 12 and 14);
3. Registration of organic producers (integrated organic farms, and organic inputs), and product registration of organic inputs [organic soil amendments (OSA) and organic bio-control agents (OBCA)] (Sections 12 and 17); and
4. Provision of technical assistance relative to organic agriculture regulations, and handling of complaints and appeals on inspection and certification issues (Sections 12 and 14).

Accreditation Section

The Accreditation Section is responsible for the accreditation of OCB performing third-party certification, and Core PGS Groups as OCB. Its functions also include the conduct of office and witness audits, and surveillance to accredited OCB. 

Certification Section

The Certification Section is responsible for the conduct of inspection on compliance of PGS Groups with the PNS for organic agriculture, and organic certification of five (5) individual farms as a Core PGS Group. Its functions also include the conduct of random inspections to organic producers and produce/products; and handling of organic certification of producers from OCB with revoked accreditation.

Registration Section

The Registration Section is responsible for the registration of organic inputs such as OSA and OBCA; and organic producers (integrated organic farms, and OSA and OBCA producers). Its functions also include the issuance of Experimental Use Permits (EUP) and Organic Input Importation and Exportation Permits/Clearances; conduct of field compliance assessments of on-going OBCA efficacy trials, accreditation of OBCA researchers; monitoring of registered organic inputs and input producers; and post-market surveillance of produce and products with “organic”claim.

Compliance Assistance Section

The Compliance Assistance Section is responsible for the provision of technical assistance to organic agriculture stakeholders relative to their technical concerns and compliance with various organic agriculture standards and regulations. Its functions also include the handling of complaints and appeals on inspection and certification issues..

The SDD is responsible for the development of relevant and science-based Philippine National Standards (PNS) for primary and postharvest agriculture and fishery (AF) products (including organic agriculture and Halal) and machinery. These PNS are developed through Technical Working Groups (TWG) specifically created for such purpose and in consultation with relevant stakeholders. The SDD is also responsible for the harmonization or alignment of the PNS with regional (e.g., ASEAN and APEC) and international standards (e.g., Codex, ISO, IFOAM, etc.), consistent with the Philippines’ obligations and commitment to regional and international trade agreements and cooperation.  The PNS developed by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS)-SDD are used as a basis for the development of technical regulations and knowledge products and the conduct of learning and development activities by the DA agencies, academe/research institutions, private sector organizations, and Civil Society Organizations (CSO).

Livestock and Poultry Section. Development and harmonization/alignment of PNS with regional and international standards (including organic agriculture and Halal) covering livestock and poultry – live, fresh chilled and fresh frozen meat, and by-products from food animals (e.g., cattle, swine, goat, sheep, chicken, duck, etc.)

Crops Section. Development and harmonization/alignment of PNS with regional and international standards (including organic agriculture and Halal) covering the following:

• Food crops – primary and postharvest agricultural commodities consumed as food (e.g., cereals, grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, pulses, etc.); and
• Non-food crops – primary and postharvest agricultural commodities not consumed as food (e.g., fiber, ornamentals, rubber, tobacco, etc.).

Fisheries Section. Development and harmonization/alignment of PNS with regional and international standards (including organic agriculture and Halal) covering live, fresh/chilled/frozen finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, marine mammals, and all other species of aquatic flora and fauna and all other products of aquatic living resources in any form (e.g., tuna, shrimp, seaweed, scallop, etc.)

General Food Standards Section. Development and harmonization/alignment of PNS with regional and international standards covering general principles, procedures, guidance, guidelines, and information documents applicable to the agriculture and fishery sector (e.g., Food Defense Guidance for Industry, Code of Practice for Radiation Processing of Food, Principles and Guidelines for National Food Control System, etc.)

Agriculture and Fishery Machinery Section. Development and harmonization/alignment of PNS with regional and international standards covering machinery, tools, and equipment used for the production, harvesting, primary processing, storage, manufacture, transporting, and distribution of agricultural and fishery commodities (e.g., tractors, power tillers, seeders, windmills, harvesting machine, irrigation, postharvest machines, cold storage, reefer vans, etc.).

The Standards Research Division (SRD) is responsible for generating scientific reports, and for managing an information system as a tool for standards research.  The scientific and technical information generated from the research will support the development of Philippine National Standards (PNS) on food safety and quality, and policy recommendations and position papers that may be required by the DA regulatory agencies, the Office of the Undersecretary for policy, Planning and Regulations, and other relevant DA agencies. The Standards Research Database is an information system for the collection, repository and reporting of scientific data in relation to standards development.

General Standards Research Section.  The section generates scientific reports relevant to general food and non-food standards (e.g., principles, guidelines, methods of sampling and analysis, etc.) primarily through desk review of secondary data. The section also develops and operates the Standard Research Database, an information system for the collection, repository and reporting of scientific data in relation to standards development. The database contains data from the SRD, other technical divisions of the Bureau, and their stakeholders, that may be relevant to the development of Philippine National Standards.

Crops Standards Research Section.  The section generates scientific reports through the conduct of primary and secondary research for standards development on but not limited to food safety, quality, nutrition, sustainability, organic agriculture and halal, for crops consumed as food (e.g., cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, etc.) and for non-food crops (e.g., fiber, ornamentals, rubber, tobacco, etc.). 

Livestock & Poultry Standards Research Section.  The section generates scientific reports through the conduct of primary and secondary research  for standards development on but not limited to food safety, quality, and nutrition and sustainability for livestock and poultry (e.g., cattle, swine, goat, sheep, chicken, duck, etc.). 

Fisheries Standards Research Section.  The section produces scientific reports through the conduct of primary and secondary research  for standards development on but not limited to food safety, quality and codes of practices (GAqP, hygienic practices), for live, fresh/chilled/frozen fish and fishery (e.g., tuna, shrimp, seaweed, scallop, etc.).

The Technical Services Division (TSD) is responsible for promoting the adoption of developed Philippine National Standards (PNS) to increase the conformance with food safety and quality standards of relevant stakeholders, thereby ensuring consumer safety and global competitiveness of Philippine agriculture and fishery products and machinery.

In particular, the Division organizes, creates, uses, and shares knowledge and information and endorses policy recommendations related to PNS. The PNS are adopted and implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regulatory Agencies, Regional Field Offices (RFO), and partner agencies through the following:

1. Technical regulations – through regulations 
2. Knowledge products and Learning and Development activities 

The PNS are also used by the Office of the Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations, and relevant DA bureaus and agencies as the basis for policy recommendations and development of position papers related to food safety and quality.

Standards Knowledge Management (SKM) Section 

The SKM Section is responsible for developing strategies and innovations to gather, process, disseminate, share, and utilize data and information to enable the widespread adoption and implementation of the PNS.  The major activities of the SKM Section are the development KP and the conduct of L&D activities. The SKM Section is also responsible for monitoring and evaluating various tools used in PNS promotion, such as social media and the Bureau’s website. The assessment results will be the basis of the development of strategies and innovations in promoting the adoption of PNS.

Standards Policy Recommendation (SPR) Section 

The SPR Section is responsible for developing policy recommendations related to the use of PNS in technical regulations/SPS measures, facilitating trade, and proposed legislation.  The Section assesses the impact of the PNS on consumer safety and trade (including market access) when they are adopted as technical regulations and used for the development of knowledge products and in the conduct of L&D activities. Based on the impact evaluation, policy recommendations are endorsed to relevant offices for their appropriate action and/or used to improve the standards research, development, and promotion within BAFS.