Philippines - Prohibited & Restricted Imports
Philippines - Prohibited Imports
Includes a list of goods that are prohibited from being exported to the country or are otherwise restricted.
Last Published: 2/12/2018
Philippine law restricts the importation of certain goods for reasons of national security, environmental and
public health protection, order and morality, in addition to complying with international treaties and
obligations. Prohibited goods include:
Used Clothing and Rags (Republic Act No. 4653);
Toy Guns (Letter of Instructions No.1264);
Right-Hand Drive Vehicles (Republic Act No. 8506);
Hazardous Waste, even in transit into Philippine territory (Republic Act No. 6969, Section 24 of IRR);
Laundry and Industrial Detergents containing hard surfactants (Republic Act No.
8970);
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) (DENR Administrative Order No. 1, series of 2004);
Used Motorcycle Parts, except engine (Executive Order No. 156); and
Live Piranha, Shrimps and Prawns (FAO No. 126, series of 1979).
The Philippine Tariff and Customs Code also prohibit the importation of the following goods:
Dynamite, gunpowder, ammunitions and other explosives, firearms, weapons of war, and parts thereof, except
when authorized by law;
Written or printed articles that contain information that advocates or incites: treason, rebellion, insurrection,
sedition, subversion against the government, forcible resistance to laws, threats to life, or inflict bodily harm
upon any person in the Philippines;
Written or printed articles, negatives or cinematographic film, photographs, engravings, lithographs, objects,
paintings, drawings, or other representation of an obscene or immoral character;
Articles, instruments, drugs and substances designed, intended or adapted for producing unlawful abortion, or
any printed matter, which advertises or describes or gives directly or indirectly information where, how or by
whom unlawful abortion is produced;
Roulette wheels, gambling outfits, loaded dice, marked cards, machines, apparatus or mechanical devices used in
gambling or the distribution of money, cigars, cigarettes, or other when such distribution is dependent on chance,
including jackpot and pinball machines or similar contrivances, or parts thereof;
Lottery and sweepstakes tickets except those authorized by the Philippine government, advertisements thereof,
and list of drawings therein;
Any article manufactured in whole or in part of gold, silver or other precious metals or alloys thereof, the stamps,
brands or marks of which do not indicate the actual fineness of quality of metals or alloys;
Any adulterated or misbranded articles of food or any adulterated or misbranded drug in violation of the
provisions of the Food and Drugs Act;
Marijuana, opium, poppies, coca leaves, heroin or any other narcotics or synthetic drugs, which are or may
hereafter be declared habit forming by the President of the Philippines, or any compound, manufactured salt,
derivative, or preparation thereof, except when imported by the government or any person duly authorized by the
Dangerous Drugs Board, for medical purposes only;
Opium pipes and parts thereof, of whatever material; and,
All other articles and parts thereof, the importation of which is prohibited by law or rules and regulations issued
by competent authority as amended by Presidential Decree No. 34.
Regulated/Restricted Commodities
A broad range of commodities require import clearance/licenses from appropriate government agencies prior to
importation into the Philippines. Discretionary licensing arrangements are in place for rice imports. The National
Food Authority (NFA) is the sole importer of rice and continues to be involved in the importation of corn. Private
grain dealers with import clearance are allowed to import rice.
Furniture manufacturers and agents, as well as log and lumber contractors and lumber dealers, may import wood
materials under several different licensing regimes. Importers must submit a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by
the country of origin to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).
In April 15, 2016, the Philippine government released DOST-DA-DENR-DOH-DILG Joint Department Circular
(JDC) No. 1, entitled ‘Rules and Regulations for the Research and Development, Handling and Use,
Transboundary Movement, Release into the Environment, and Management of Genetically-Modified (GM) Plant
and Plant Products Derived from the Use of Modern Biotechnology. The JDC defines agencies’ responsibility in
implementing new guidelines on GM plants and plant products, as follows: the Department of Agriculture (DA)
leads in evaluation and monitoring of regulated articles; the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) conducts environmental risk assessment; the Department of Health (DOH) conducts environmental
health impact and food safety assessment; the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) coordinates
public consultation; and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as lead agency in evaluating and
monitoring regulated articles intended for contained use.
The DA Operations Manual provides procedural requirements for securing biosafety permits for field trials,
commercial propagation, and for direct use as food, feed, or processing. An 85 days processing period for each
application is standard. Other than the DA, other agencies in the JDC implementation have yet to issue
corresponding procedures and guidelines.
The table below lists other import commodities with required import clearances issued by various Philippine
government agencies:
Commodity Description/Commodity Group/ Government Agencies Issuing Permits/Clearance
Tariff Heading (TH) and its Legal Basis
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
Essential Chemicals & Controlled Precursors; and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB)
and Dangerous Drugs (Ketamine, Republic Act No. 9165 (The
Pseudoephedrine, Oripavine, and Amineptine) Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of
2002) dated 7 June 2002
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Chemicals under the Philippine Priority Chemical
(DENR) - Environmental Management Bureau
List (PCL)
(EMB)
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-
Cyanide, Mercury, Asbestos, Polychlorinated
EMB)
Biphenyl, Chlorofluorocarbon and other ozone
Republic Act No. 6969 (The Toxic Substances,
depleting substances
Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control
Recyclable materials containing hazardous
Act of 1990) dated 26 October 1990
substances, i.e. scrap metals, solid plastic
DENR Administrative Order No. 36, s. 2004,
materials, electronic assemblies and scrap, used
Revising DENR Administrative Order No. 92-29 to
oil, fly ash and used lead acid batteries
further strengthen the implementation of Republic
Act No. 6969
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Wildlife (DENR) – Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau
(PAWB)
Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources
Conservation and Protection Act dated 30 July
2001)
Live animals Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of
Animal products and by-products Animal Industry (BAI)
Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of
Fishery and aquatic products
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Plant
Living plants
Industry (BPI)
Cane or beet sugar and other sweeteners Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA)
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Chainsaws (DENR) - Forest Management Bureau (FMB)
Wood products Republic Act No. 9175 (Chainsaw Act dated 22
July 2002)
Department of Health (DOH) - Food and
Drugs Administration (FDA)
Executive Order No. 776 dated
Semi-synthetic antibiotics (all form and salts of 24 February 1992 and Bureau Circular
ampicillin, amoxicillin, and cloxacillin) No. 03-A s.2000
Wheat flour Republic Act No. 8976 (Philippine Food
TH 1101 Fortification Act of 2000) dated 7
Iodized salt November 2000
TH 2501 Republic Act No. 8172 (An Act for Salt
All health products Iodization Nationwide - ASIN) dated
20 December 1995
Executive Order No. 175 amending Republic Act
No. 3720 (Food and Drug Cosmetic Act) dated 22
June 1969) dated 18 August 2009
Color Reproduction Machines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and
Cash Department of the Central Bank
Explosives Management Branch (EMB) and
Explosives, blasting agents, and detonators Philippine National Police (PNP)
Chemicals used as ingredients in the manufacture Executive Order No. 522 (Prescribing Rules and
of explosives (e.g. chlorates, nitrates and nitric Regulations for the Control and
acid, etc.) Supervision of the Importation, Sale
and Possession of Chemical Used as
Ingredients in the Manufacture of
Explosives and for Other Purposes)
dated 26 June 1992
Department of Agriculture (DA)-Fertilizer and
Pesticide Authority (FPA)
Presidential Decree No. 1144 (Creating
the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority and
All fertilizers, pesticides and other chemical
Abolishing the Fertilizer Industry
products that are intended for agricultural use
Authority) dated 30 May 1997 and FPA
Pesticide Regulatory Policies and
Implementing Guidelines, 2nd Edition,
2001
Used motor vehicles, trucks and buses – including Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bureau of
used parts and components Import Services (BIS)
Executive Order No. 877-A (Comprehensive Motor
Vehicle Development Program), dated 3 June 2010
Used vehicles for the use of foreign diplomatic Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
corps and accredited international organizations Executive Order No. 156 dated 12
December 2002
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)
Aircrafts, engines, propellers CAAP Memorandum Circular No. 18-12, series of
2012
Philippine International Trading Corporation
All commodities originating from the following
(PITC)
socialist and centrally-planned economy
Letter of Instructions No. 444 (Promulgating
countries (Albania, Angola, Ethiopia, Laos, Libya,
Guidelines on Trade Socialist and Other Centrally-
Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar,
Planned Economy Countries) dated 9 August 1967,
Nicaragua and North Korea)
as amended by EO NO. 244 dated 12May 1995
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – For a
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)
Republic Act No. 5207 (An Act Providing for
the Licensing and Regulation of
Nuclear and radioactive materials Atomic Energy Facilities and
Materials, Establishing the Rules on
Liability for Nuclear Damage, and for
Other Purposes) dated 15 June 1968,
as amended by Presidential Decree
No. 1484 dated 11 June 1978
Household appliances and lamp/lighting products;
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Bureau
Wires and cables, mechanical/construction
of Product Standards (BPS)
materials
Selected medical devices, toys and water treatment Department of Health (DOH) - Food and
devices Drugs Administration (FDA)
Optical and magnetic media products Optical Media Board
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
Electronic gaming machines and products
(PAGCOR)
Legal tender Philippine currency in excess of
PHP10,000 TH 4907, 7118, 7108, 7326, 7419, Central Bank
7508, 7907, 8007, 7616
comprehensive list of import commodities and details of regulating agencies, visit
DTI Bureu of Import Services
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than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence
and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate
the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.
PHL to buy 200,000 metric tons of imported sugar
By
Jasper Y. Arcalas
June 11, 2018
In Photo: Consumers check out prices at the area for sugar products at a local supermarket in this
file photo.
The government has allowed traders to import 200,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar to stabilize the
supply and price of the sweetener in the domestic market.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued on Monday Sugar Order 10 (SO-10), which
authorized the importation of sugar for crop year (CY) 2017-2018.
Of the volume approved by the SRA, 100,000 MT was allocated for bottlers’ grade refined sugar;
50,000 MT, standard grade refined sugar; and 50,000 MT, raw sugar for domestic consumption.
“The stakeholders of the sugar industry, such as planters, planters’ associations/federations and
sugar millers and refiners, have written the SRA to express their concerns on increasing prices and
demanding the SRA to act decisively with dispatch to contain it, even calling for the importation of
sugar in view of the urgency of the supply situation,” the SRA said in SO-10.
“The SRA had consultative meetings with the Department of Agriculture, as well as the
Department of Trade and Industry, on the current situation in the production for raw and refined
sugar and the high prices thereof. The concerned departments agreed that the SRA should adopt
additional and responsive measures to ensure domestic supply and stabilize sugar prices,” it added.
The SRA said it “made consultation with majority of the stakeholders of the sugar industry, and the
latter submitted their written recommendations, in the adoption of the rules on sugar importation.”
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said imported sugar “is expected to arrive at the soonest
possible time” to arrest the increase in the price of the sweetener.
“The sugar is expected to arrive at the soonest possible time because I have instructed them that I
don’t want to see abnormally high sugar prices,” Piñol told reporters in an interview on June 11.
Industry sources told the BusinessMirror that traders would most likely import from Thailand, the
country’s nearest Southeast Asian neighbor.
They said sugar imports from Thailand are levied a tariff of only 5 percent and would take only
seven days to arrive in the Philippines.
Thailand is regarded as the largest producer of sugar in Southeast Asia.
Piñol said the country’s total sugar production in the current crop year ending August 31 may fall
below the SRA’s estimated output of 2.27 MMT by as much as 200,000 MT. This means that total
sugar production may settle at around 2.07 MMT, 17.2 percent lower than the 2.5 MMT produced
in the previous crop year.
Under SO 10, the SRA required traders to buy the certificates of reclassification rights (CORR) of
planters and millers who produced “D” sugar, or those for export to the world market, to
participate in the importation program.
The CORR contains the corresponding importation volume allocation of a specific planter or miller
as computed by the formula provided in SO 10. The price of each CORR would depend on the
negotiations between the trader and holder of the CORR.
This system, the SRA noted, would allow them “to effectively regulate the importation.”
“The program shall require a certificate of reclassification rights in order to effectively regulate the
importation; provided that any importation must be reasonably profitable to sugar producers, who
have been experiencing low prices of sugar for the last two crop years as a result of importation of
cheap subsidized high-fructose corn syrup,” the SRA said.
Piñol said sugarcane farmers would benefit from this system as they would earn royalty from selling
their CORR.
The importation program shall be “open and voluntary to natural or juridical persons that are SRA-
registered International Sugar Traders, in good standing, for crop year 2017-2018,” according to the
SRA.
“Reclassfication certificates can be assigned, transferred or consolidated by eligible
importers/international sugar traders or by sugarcane planters or millers,” the agency said.
Eligible sugar traders would be given until July 6 for the validation of their reclassification
certificates.
The SRA will also start accepting application for clearance to release the imported sugar starting
June 18 until August 31.
“Imported ‘C’ sugar not applied for reclassification to ‘B’ sugar after August 31 shall cause the
forfeiture of the International Sugar Trader’s entire bond and the unreclassified sugar may remain as
C sugar indefinitely, as may be determined by the Sugar Board, without prejudice to additional
penalties the SRA Board may impose,” it said.
Industrial users’ appeal
Confectionery producers belonging to the Philippine Confectionery Biscuits and Snacks Association
(PCBSA) are pressing the SRA to temporarily allow local manufacturers to import sugar sans the
CORR.
PCBSA President Kissinger S. Sy said candy and biscuit makers should not be required to secure
the certificate, as this will make the process “complicated and costly” for them.
“The PCBSA welcomes the reported action of the SRA to allow manufacturers or producers to
directly import sugar. In connection with the authority to be given by [the] SRA for confectionery
producers to import, [the] SRA should not require them to obtain the so-called certificates of
conversion,” Sy said in a text message to reporters.
The PCBSA has been pressing the government to allow candy and biscuits producers to import
sugar, after reporting that domestic price of the commodity is now at P2,790 per 50-kilogram (Lkg)
bag. This is twice the landed price of imported sugar at P1,300 per Lkg, according to the group.
With the SRA’s decision to allow importation, Sy told the BusinessMirror fears of massive layoffs in
the confectionery industry can now subside. “I don’t think we need to remove workers anymore
because with the arrival of sugar imports, our production will stabilize,” he said.
The PCBSA last week told authorities to permit them to import sugar, as doing otherwise will lead
to a loss of P8.5 billion in revenue and a layoff of at least 20,000 workers.
Former PCBSA President Reynaldo Y. Go said the industry was expected to lose big in terms of
production output, sales and employment if the government would not allow them to import the
commodity. Local confectionery producers contributed around P21 billion in the sector’s total P30-
billion sales last year, while the other P9 billion came from imported candies and biscuits.
However, the domestic price of sugar became so prohibitive it became difficult for manufacturers
to keep up, Go said. “We are projecting to lose around P8.5 billion in sales if we are not allowed to
import.”
As for the PCBSA, Sy said there is no need for farmers to worry about candy and biscuit makers
abusing the go signal to import. “This will be an interim solution and stop-gap measure to address
the scarce supply of sugar, especially since the milling season will commence only in October.”
“But to allay the fears of millers and planters, the authority to import should be given only to
manufacturers who produce food or confectionery items that contain sugar as its main ingredient.
Also, PCBSA members commit not to use the sugar to meet their manufacturing requirements and
not to resell the same,” he said.
The call to import the sweetener was backed by Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, who, according
to Sy, had a dialogue with candy and biscuit makers on Friday about the need to purchase sugar
abroad.
Duty and Sales tax for the Philippines:
Duty Rates Threshold on goods
Average Duty Rate Sales Tax(GST) or VAT
ST=12%
0% to 65%
10.5% VAT = ST * (CIF + Duty) No duty if the CIF value won’t exceed US$15
If the CIF value of the imported goods is USD 1,000, Import Duty is 5%, and the Sales Tax is 12%. Then the
duty/taxes calculation is:
Import Duty = 5% * USD 1,000 = USD 50
VAT = 12% * (USD 1,000 + USD 50) = USD 126
Total Import Duty and Tax = USD 50 + USD 126 = USD 176
Philippines - Trade BarriersPhilippines - Trade
Barriers
Includes the barriers (tariff and non-tariff) that U.S. companies face when exporting to this country.
Last Published: 2/12/2018
Agriculture Tariffs and Quotas
The average tariffs on agricultural products increased from 11.85 percent in 2016 to 11.98 percent in 2014. The
Philippines maintains a two-tiered tariff policy for sensitive agricultural products including rice, corn, pork,
chicken meat, sugar, and coffee. These products are subject to a tariff rate quota (TRQ) and all imports outside of
the minimum access volume are taxed at a higher out-of-quota rate. In-quota and out-of-quota tariff rates
averaged 36.5 percent and 41.2 percent, respectively, and have not changed since 2005.
At present, a few TRQ products have achieved unified in-quota and out-of-quota tariff rates, including chicken,
frozen or chilled (40 percent); turkey livers, frozen or chilled (40 percent); potatoes, fresh and chilled (40
percent); and roasted coffee beans (40 percent). Currently, there is an additional special safeguard duty in place
for chicken meat, which effectively doubles the rate of out-of-quota tariff protection. Administrative Order
(A.O.) 9 of 1996, as amended by A.O. 8 of 1997 and A.O. 1 of 1998, established rules for implementing TRQs
and allocating import licenses.
Excise Taxes on Alcohol Products
The 2012 Sin Tax Reform or Republic Act No. 10351, “An Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and
Tobacco,” provided revised rates of excise tax charged on distilled spirits, wines and fermented liquor. The
schedule of excise tax rates and related regulations are available at Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Queries related to excise taxes on alcohol products:
Ms. Ma. Rosario O. Puno, Chief and Officer-in-Charge
Excise LT Regulatory Division
Bureau of Internal Revenue
Ground Floor, Room 102, National Office Bldg.
Diliman, Quezon City
Tel: (+632) 928-8501 ext. 7580
Email: ma.rosario.puno@bir.gov.ph
Wines and Fermented Liquor
Under the reformed law (see above), the tax on most sparkling wines (with a net retail price of over 500 pesos
(US$12) dramatically increased from 413 pesos (US$10) to 700 pesos (US$17) per 750ml, while the tax on most
still wines (containing 14 percent alcohol per volume or less) increased slightly from 22 pesos (US$0.53) to 30
pesos (US$0.73) per liter. The new excise tax levied on most premium beers (with a net retail price of 50 pesos
or US$1.23 per liter of volume capacity) increased by a mere two percent, and will likewise have a minimal
effect on exports of U.S. craft beers.
Distilled Spirits
The 2012 Sin Tax Reform was drafted in response to a 2011 World Trade Organization ruling, which found the
Philippine application of excise tax on distilled spirits to be discriminatory against imported products. Under the
new law, the excise tax on imported and domestically produced distilled spirits, regardless of the raw material
used, will be based on a uniform ad valorem tax (depending on the net retail price) and a specific tax, according
to the following schedule:
a) Effective on January 1, 2013:
i. An ad valorem (“according to value”) tax equivalent to 15 percent of the net retail price
(excluding excise tax and value-added tax) per proof liter; and
ii. A specific tax of twenty pesos (P20.00) per proof liter.
b) Effective on January 1, 2015:
i. An ad valorem tax equivalent to 20 percent of the net retail price (excluding excise tax and value-added tax)
per proof liter; and;
ii. A specific tax of twenty pesos (P20.00) per proof liter.
c) In addition to the ad valorem tax, the specific tax rate of twenty pesos (P20.00) shall increase by four percent
effective on January 1, 2016, and every year thereafter. The excise tax decreased significantly for many higher-
value, imported distilled spirits.
For more information on trade barriers please contact:
International Trade Administration
Enforcement and Compliance
Tel: (202) 482-0063
ECCommunications@trade.gov
Import Requirements for Food Products
The Philippines is a signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has lifted quantitative restrictions
(QRs) on imports of food products except for rice. Tariff-Rate Quotas (TRQs) still remain on a number of
sensitive products such as corn, poultry meat, pork, sugar, and coffee. Minimum Access Volumes (MAV) have
been established for these commodities.
Sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances that serve as import licenses are required prior to the importation of
all agricultural commodities, including feeds, live animals, meat and poultry products, plant and plant products,
seafood, and fishery items. In addition, a minimum access volume certificate is required for products entering at
the lower in-quota duty such as pork, poultry, corn, coffee, and coffee extract. In all cases, imported meat, fish,
and produce require a registered importer to receive the shipment.
Import Regulations for Processed Food Products
Philippine food regulations generally follow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration policies and guidelines for
food additives, good manufacturing practices, and suitability of packaging materials for food use. Hence,
compliance with U.S. regulations for packaged foods, particularly for labeling, will almost always assure
compliance with Philippine regulations. All food products offered for sale in the Philippines must be registered
with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Registration of imported products may only be
undertaken by a Philippine entity, although some documentation and, for certain types of products, samples need
to be provided by the exporter.
Products have been divided into three categories:
Low Risk (LR) Food Products are foods that are unlikely to contain pathogenic microorganisms and will not
normally support their growth because of food characteristics that are unlikely to contain harmful
chemicals. This includes snack foods, breakfast cereals, pasta and noodles, alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea,
refined and raw sugars, and honey.
Medium Risk (MR) Food Products are foods that may contain pathogenic micro-organisms but will not normally
support their growth because of food characteristics; or food that is unlikely to contain pathogenic micro-
organisms because of food type or processing, but may support the formations of toxins or the growth of
pathogenic micro-organisms. This includes milk powder, tomato products, canned or bottle fruit and vegetable
preserve, processed meat and poultry, processed fish and fish products.
High Risk (HR) Food Products are foods that may contain pathogenic micro-organisms and will support the
formation of toxins or the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms and foods that may contain harmful
chemicals. This includes milk and dairy based drinks, cheese, frozen processed meat, and infant formula.
Each class per brand of product must be registered with the FDA by the importer before the product can be
imported. Only products with a valid Certificate of Product Registration from the FDA will be allowed for sale in
the Philippines.
The following is the list of requirements for the initial registration of food products:
1) Completed Integrated Application Form as prescribed by current FDA regulations;
2) Proof of Payment of Fees as prescribed by current FDA regulations;
3) Clear and complete loose labels or artwork, as applicable, of all packaging sizes, or equivalent as defined by
FDA regulations except for bulk raw materials, ingredients and food additives intended for further processing or
for distribution to establishments/manufacturers for further processing;
4) Pictures of the product from all angles and in different packaging sizes, and from at least two different
perspectives allowing visual recognition of a product as the same with the others being registered, as applicable.
5) For food supplements, a sample in actual commercial presentation must be submitted.
6) As applicable, documents to substantiate claims, such as technical, nutritional or health studies or reports,
market-research studies, Certificate of Analysis, quantitative studies and computations, scientific reports or
studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, certificates or certification to support use of logo/seal on
Halal, Organic, or Kosher foods and in compliance with current labelling regulations.
A Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) shall be issued by the FDA and shall be valid for two years.
Subsequent renewal of CPR shall be valid for a period of five years.
Exporters must be aware that the Philippine importer needs to secure a license to operate (LTO) from the FDA to
import these products. This is a prerequisite for the registration of all food products. The license lists names of
foreign suppliers or sources of the products being registered.
The cost of an initial two-year licensing fee is US$80 (PhP4,000). Renewal of License to Operate, valid for five
years, is US$160 (PhP8,000).
More information on the types of food products falling under each risk category, as well as the complete
requirements for product registration and application for license to operate is available at the link below:
Food and Drug Administration
Import Regulations for Plant Products
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) regulates imports of all plant products, including live plants, and fresh and
processed fruits and vegetables. All imported plant products and planting materials, including highly processed
plant products (for example, frozen French fries and raisins) require Phytosanitary Quarantine Clearances (PQC)
from BPI, which also serve as import licenses. These permits are applied for by an accredited Philippine importer
for each shipment and must be secured for all imports before the shipment leaves the country of origin. BPI
accepts the following certificates for highly processed plant products in lieu of the USDA Phytosanitary
Certificates:
1) A certified true copy of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration/Bureau of Food and Drug (FDA)
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.
Import Regulations for Meat and Poultry Products
In 2005, the Department of Agriculture issued Administrative Order No. 26 (AO 26), which updated its
Administrative Order No. 39 (2000) or the “Revised Rules, Regulations and Standards Governing the
Importation of Meat and Meat Products into the Philippines.” AO 26 reiterates the need for a DA-accredited
importer to obtain a Veterinary Quarantine Clearance (VQC) certificate prior to the importation of meat and meat
products. A VQC will now be valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, within which the meat or meat
products are to be shipped from the country of origin. A VQC is non-transferable and can only be used by the
consignee to whom it was issued. A one shipment/bill-of-lading per VQC issued policy is strictly followed. The
complete text of Administrative Order No. 26 may be obtained at Department of Agriculture Philippines.
At present, all U.S. meat establishments that are regulated and inspected by the USDA Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) are eligible to export meat and poultry to the Philippines.
There is a great deal of sensitivity in the Philippines tp U.S. food products that are packed in cartons with labels
indicating shipment to another country. Such markings should be covered or removed since the Philippines does
not require the cartons to be marked for export to the Philippines.
A summary of Philippine export requirements for meat and poultry products from the United States may be
obtained from USDA Export Requirements for the Philippines.
Sensitive Agricultural Products
Tariff rates for sensitive agricultural products were established in Executive Order 313 of March 1996, which set
varying in-quota and out-quota rates for products considered important to domestic agriculture: pork, poultry,
coffee, sugar, rice and corn. In-quota rates apply to products imported within established minimum access
volumes (MAV). Any imports in excess of the MAV are assessed the out-of-quota rate. MAV products are those
for which the Philippine Government is committed to providing minimum market access in exchange for the
lifting of quantitative import restrictions in the WTO.
The MAV Administration, including its allocation, is handled by a special MAV Management Committee. Please
contact the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila (AgManila@fas.usda.gov) for further information on
minimum access volumes and current MAV license holders.
Rice is considered the country’s most sensitive agricultural product. In 2002, the Philippine Government opened
its rice market when it allowed the private sector, mainly traders, to import rice. Prior to this, the National Food
Authority (NFA) was the sole importer of rice. Rice imports are assessed a 40 percent in-quota tariff and a 50
percent tariff for volumes beyond the quota. Import licenses are regulated by the NFA. In 2004, the government
completed negotiations with other WTO members for the extension of its quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice,
and in December 2006, its request for extension was approved.
In July 2014, the WTO granted the Philippines request to extend quantitative restrictions on rice imports through
July 2017. In exchange, the in-quota limit was raised to 805,200 MT (from 350,000 MT) and the in-quota tariff
reduced from 40 percent to 35 percent (the out-of-quota tariff remained at 50 percent), through July 1, 2017. On
November 5, 2015, Philippine President Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 190 (EO 190) which put in effect
the 805,200 MT MAV and the corresponding MFN tariff changes.
Import Regulations for Biotechnology-Derived Products
On April 3, 2002, the Department of Agriculture issued Administrative Order No. 8 (AO 8), which regulates the
importation and release into the environment of genetically modified plants and plant products. The Bureau of
Plant Industry issues permits for the importation of regulated articles and/or combined trait products for
contained use or trials, as well as for direct use as food or feed or for direct processing of genetically-modified
(GM) plants and plant products. Under AO 8, no regulated article shall be imported or released into the
environment without the conduct of a satisfactory risk assessment.
A Joint Department Circular (JDC) was approved in March 2016 that replaced existing Philippine genetically
engineered (GE) regulations embodied in the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s Administrative Order No. 8
(AO 8). AO 8 was replaced after the Philippine Supreme Court, in a December 8, 2015 decision, ruled that AO 8
did not sufficiently cover minimum requirements of the principles of risk assessment as embodied in the National
Biosafety Framework. The JDC requires more public consultation and provides more consideration to socio-
economic issues and environmental impacts in risk assessment procedures, compared to AO 8. The JDC was
implemented on April 14, 2016.
All shipments of regulated articles must be accompanied by a letter declaring the shipment may or may not
contain GMOs. This declaration is issued by the shipper, importer, certified laboratory or responsible office in
the country of origin.
A detailed report that specifically addresses import regulations and standards entitled “The Philippines: Food and
Agricultural Import Regulations & Standards Country Report (FAIRS),” can be obtained from the FAS
homepage. Choose “Market and Trade Data”, “Attaché Report Search”, and then select “FAIRS Country
Reports.”
