Import commodity clearances (ICCs) must be issued to Philippine importers and traders within three working days of filing to ensure ease in doing business for applicants, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has declared.
The ruling is embodied in DTI Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 15-1:2015 dated July 1 and released on July 7, which revises some provisions in DAO No. 05-2008. DAO No. 05-2008 is also known as “Rules and Regulations in Issuing Concerning the Issuance of the Import Commodity Clearance Under the Product Certification Mark Scheme of the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS).”
DTI said the order intends to “further enhance DTI’s performance in ensuring ease in doing business without compromising product safety,” especially with the significant increase in ICC applications received and test results evaluated.
Under DAO 15-1:2015, “ICC applications should be filed through the National Single Window (NSW) and the printed copy shall be submitted to the BPS together with the required documents stipulated in clause 3.4 of the DAO 5:2008.”
But if the Bureau of Customs (BOC) confirms that the NSW system is not accessible, manual filing will be accepted by the BPS.
The validity of test results will be accepted under clause 4.1.2.1 of DAO 5:2008. But certain products which previously had differing validity periods have now been set a validity period of one year under DAO 15-01:2015.
These products are electric flat iron, electric stove, fuse and fuse holder, glow starter, magnetic/electronic ballast, oven toaster, plug, socket outlet and extension cord, pneumatic tires, rice cooker, switch, sanitary wares, starters/lamp holders, washing machine, blender, CD/DVD/VCD player, circuit breaker, coffeemaker, electric fan, and electric cables and wires.
For applications with no valid tests or reports, an ICC certificate will still be issued, but only after inspection, inventory, sampling, and product testing has been conducted.
If the released test or report shows compliance, the ICC stickers will be issued and the surety bond returned to the importer. However, if test results showed non-compliance, the importer can request for a re-testing. If the re-test again shows non-compliance, the importer will be advised to re-export the product to the country of origin in accordance with the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, or have it destroyed by the appropriate agency.
To further fast-track the processing of ICC applications and “retain only the products that are life threatening,” several products on the BPS List of Products Under Mandatory Certification have been delisted, so long as these are found to comply with the marking and labelling requirements of the Philippine National Standards.
“The mandatory markings shall be on a self-declaration basis and may be subject to verification and/or validation by the BPS,” DTI said.
Delisted are ceramic tiles, plywood, flat glass, common nails, and GI sheets. On the other hand, performance and labelling standards are required for self-ballasted lamps, single-capped fluorescent lamps, double-capped fluorescent lamps, and magnetic and electronic ballasts.
The rest of the products on the current list will be transferred to the Products Under Mandatory Labelling.
Meanwhile, all show-cause orders for delisted products “pending as of the date of the effectivity of this DAO and issued for administrative related violations limited to transfer of warehouse without prior notice or approval by the BOPS but with complete inventory are hereby withdrawn.”
Memorandum Order No 15-752 dated April 27, 2015, or the guidelines on how to hasten resolution of their pending applications for an ICC, is thus recalled.
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