For now, Philippine importers bringing in do-it-yourself (DIY) and hobby items, particularly those used in schools, need not present to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) their product registration or notification obtained from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to get their shipments released.
Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, in a memorandum signed July 2, instructed all BOC officials “not to require importers to present the registration or notification (Certificate of Product Application/Notification Number) of the said office and school supply items prior to release of these products.”
Lina said this directive comes after the FDA put on hold until the end of the year this requirement for importers to show their registration or notification to BOC.
He cited the letter dated June 23 of Maria Theresa Gutierrez, FDA Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research officer-in-charge, informing the bureau of the suspension until December 31, 2015 as directed by the Department of Health’s (DOH) Department Circular (DC) No. 2015-098.
DOH DC No. 2015-0098—entitled “Re-issuance of Registration Amnesty for Non-Compliant Do-It-Yourself and Hobby Items Classified as Household/Urban Hazardous Substances (HUHS) Products—states that the registration amnesty is being granted until yearend to businesses that manufacture, trade, or distribute DIY and hobby items that are classified as HUHS products.
The extension of the amnesty is to give school supply manufacturers, traders, and distributors (importers, exporters, wholesalers) enough time to comply with the product notification requirements of FDA so they can market HUHS-classified products.
DOH also directed FDA to review all its regulations on items classified as HUHS and submit its recommendations not later than December 1.
However, Lina pointed out that “other requirements set in FDA Circular No. 2013-103, reiterated by Department Circular No. 2015-0098, must be adhered to by said establishments and concerned importers must be able to present their License to Operate (LTO) as HUHS distributors/importers accordingly.”
Earlier, Lina said BOC would be speeding up the release of school supplies in time for the coming school year and recently also issued a directive to facilitate the release of shipments to government agencies.
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