Administrative Order No. 13-2018

Removing Non-Tariff Barriers and Streamlining Administrative Procedures on the Importation of Agricultural Products

The Administrative Order issued last September 21, 2018, provides that the National Food Authority (NFA), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), shall remove administrative constraints and other non-tariff barriers on the importation of agricultural products, such as but not limited to the ff:

• Streamline procedures and requirements in the accreditation of importers and minimize the processing time of applications for importation;
• Exempt traders that are already accredited from registration requirements;
• Facilitate importation of certain agricultural products beyond their authorized MAV and, where applicable, reduce or remove fees relative thereto in order to ensure their sufficient supply in the domestic market at more affordable prices;
• Liberalize issuance of permits and accreditation of traders who want to import rice to break monopoly; and
• Temporarily allow direct importation by Sugar-using industries to lower their input cost, subject to reasonable regulations.

Moreover, As a result of a short-fall in production and a critical demand-supply gap, the NFA Council is hereby authorized to approve additional rice importation beyond the MAV and the Department of Agriculture shall issue Certificate of Necessity to allow importation of adequate volumes of fish.

Under the CMTA RA 10863, Bureau of Customs (BOC) is mandated to prioritize the unloading and release of agricultural products imported.

Lastly, the creation of Surveillance Team composed of the DTI, NFA, NBI, and PNP with assistance to private sector, to monitor importation and distribution of agricultural products for ensuring their distribution to proper warehouses and retail outlets and preventing illegal acts of price manipulation under RA No. 7581, as well as other forms of unfair commercial practices.

In case you want to know more about the Administrative Order No. 13-2018, please do not hesitate to call us at +63 (2) 742-8963 or email Atty. Emer Aceron (emer.aceron@wciph.com) or Atty. Rod Pino (rod.pino@wciph.com).