BOC implements adjusted tariff rates on pork imports

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File photo courtesy of the Department of Agriculture.
  • The Bureau of Customs is now implementing the second part of the temporary tariff on imported pork meat
  • The rates have been adjusted temporarily to address the African Swine Fever outbreak’s impact on pork meat supply and price in the Philippines
  • Tariff rates from August 16 were adjusted to 15% for in-quota and 25% for out-quota from 10% and 20%, respectively

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is now implementing the second part of the temporary tariff on imported pork meat.

The adjustment in the tariff rates is pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 134 issued last May to address the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak’s impact on pork meat supply and price in the Philippines.

EO 134 temporarily modified the most-favored nation (MFN) tariff rates of imported fresh, chilled, or frozen pork meat to 10% within the minimum access volume (MAV) or in-quota and 20% outside the MAV or out-quota for the first three months, and 15% for in-quota and 25% for out-quota from the fourth to the 12th month. Its one-year effectivity began on May 15, 2021.

READ: Duterte cuts rice import duty, modifies pork tariffs

In Office of the Commissioner Memo No. 125-2021, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the 90th day of effectivity of EO 134 fell on August 15, 2021. Thus, beginning August 16, the MFN tariff rates should be adjusted to reflect rates for the fourth to the 12th month.

Guerrero has also required BOC’s Electronic-to-Mobile System to reflect the adjusted temporary tariff rates pursuant to EO 134.

After the one-year period, MFN rates on pork meat imports will return to 30% in-quota and 40% out-quota.

Aside from EO 134, the government has issued EO 133, which increased the MAV of pork meat imports to 254,210 metric tons this year from 54,210 MT. The increase in MAV also aims to help augment supply and reduce retail prices of pork meat.

Moreover, Proclamation No. 1143 was signed last May declaring a state of calamity throughout the country owing to the ASF outbreak, which has significantly affected pork meat supply since the first reported case in the Philippines in 2019.

READ: Pork imports swell to 76M kg following tariff cuts

BOC earlier reported a spike in pork imports to 76 million kilograms from April to early June following the issuance of EOs 133 and 134.

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