PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT - New Administravive Order (AO) - Tightens Import Clearance
REQUIREMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS (INCLUDING FISH)
| Summary | Import Permit (SPS CERTIFICATE) |
| U.S. Embassy in Manila Advises | Agricultural Products |
| DA
Administrative Order NO. 18 Series of 2000 |
Exclusions |
| Scope | Effective Date |
ON APRIL 24, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ISSUED AO 18, SERIES OF 2000, TIGHTENING THE IMPORT CLEARANCE PROCEDURES FOR IMPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, LIVE ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND FISHES AND FISH PRODUCTS. THE NEW REGULATION REQUIRES THAT ALL SUCH IMPORTS BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SPS CERTIFICATE FROM THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AS WELL AS AN IMPORT PERMIT (SPS CERTIFICATE) ISSUED BY DA. IT STATES THAT IMPORTS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY SUCH CERTIFICATES WILL BE DECLARED ILLEGAL, AND DISPOSED OF ACCORDINGLY. TEXT OF AO 18
DA SECRETARY EDGARDO ANGARA HAD STATED IN EARLY APRIL THAT DA WOULD ISSUE A NEW REGULATION REQUIRING DA QUARANTINE OFFICIALS AT PORTS OF ENTRY TO REJECT ALL SHIPMENTS WHICH DO NOT HAVE PRIOR VETERINARY QUARANTINE CERTIFICATES (VQCS). ANGARA IS QUOTED AS STATING "FROM NOW ON, WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE ENTRY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS NOT COVERED BY A PRIOR IMPORT PERMIT." IN RECENT MONTHS, MANY IMPORTERS WERE OBTAINING VQCS AFTER THEIR SHIPMENTS HAD BEEN SHIPPED OR HAD ARRIVED IN THE PHILIPPINES. ANGARA STATED "WE'RE TRYING TO PLUG THESE IMPLEMENTATION LAPSES BECAUSE OUR INDUSTRIES ARE SEVERELY DISADVANTAGED."
U.S. EMBASSY IN MANILA ADVISES
U.S. EXPORTERS TO ENSURE THAT THE PHILIPPINE IMPORTER HAS OBTAINED THE NECESSARY
IMPORT PERMIT BEFORE SHIPPING TO THE PHILIPPINES.
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DA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 18 SERIES OF 2000
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SUBJECT: AMENDING DA A.O. NO. 4 SERIES OF 1998, "REVISED GUIDELINES IN
THE IMPORTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS"
WHEREAS THERE IS A NEED TO STRENGTHEN AGRICULTURAL QUARANTINE SERVICES AND HARMONIZE EXISTING IMPORT RULES AND REGULATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INCREASING GLOBAL TRADE;
I, EDGARDO J. ANGARA, SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18, CHAPTER 4, TITLE IV, BOOK IV OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, AND THE PROVISIONS OF RA 7394, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES, DO HEREBY ORDER:
THAT DA A.O. NO. 4 SERIES OF 1998, "REVISED GUIDELINES IN THE IMPORTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS" IS HEREBY AMENDED SUCH THAT:
I. THE SCOPE OF THE ORDER SHALL NOT
BE LIMITED TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, BUT MUST INCLUDE LIVE ANIMALS; PLANT
(SIC); FISHES AND THEIR PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCTS;
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II. AN IMPORT
PERMIT (SPS CERTIFICATE) MUST BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO IMPORTATION OF AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS; LIVE ANIMALS; PLANTS; FISHES; THEIR PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCTS.
SUCH IMPORTATION MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SANITARY/PHYTOSANITARY/HEALTH CERTIFICATE
FROM THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN;
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III. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS; LIVE ANIMALS**; PLANTS;
FISHES, THEIR PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCTS IMPORTED WITHOUT THE REQUIRED IMPORT
PERMIT ARE DEEMED ILLEGAL AND ARE
SUBJECT TO THE PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF RA 7394 AND TO EXISTING DA QUARANTINE
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
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ALL EXISTING ORDERS AND ISSUANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH ARE HEREBY REVOKED, REPEALED, AND/OR AMENDED ACCORDINGLY.
THIS ORDER SHALL TAKE EFFECT
IMMEDIATELY.
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EDGARDO J. ANGARA
SECRETARY
** MAY EXCLUDE COMPANION ANIMALS (EXCEPT HORSES)
AND OTHER NON-FOOD ANIMALS NOT LISTED AS ENDANGERED SPECIES UNDER CITES, PROVIDED
ACCOMPANIED BY A VETERINARY HEALTH CERTIFICATE FROM (SIC)_COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.
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