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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered the streamlining of administrative procedures and policies as well as removal of non-tariff barriers on the importation of agricultural products
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Administrative Order No. 20 series of 2024 required streamlining of procedures and requirements in the licensing of importers, and minimizing processing time of import applications
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The procedures and requirements for issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance were also ordered streamlined
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In addition, concrete steps to improve logistics, transport, distribution and storage of imported agricultural products must be done
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A surveillance team was reconstituted to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of AO 20
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has ordered the streamlining of procedures and removal of non-tariff barriers on the importation of agricultural products.
Administrative Order (AO) No. 20 series of 2024 signed on behalf of the President by Executive Sectary Lucas Bersamin on April 18 gave this order to the Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and/or Department of Finance (DOF).
The AO noted that while there are existing measures to streamline administrative procedures and policies on the importation of agricultural products and remove non-tariff barriers, “it has been observed that administrative constraints and non-tariff barriers, that unduly add to the costs of importation and limit supplies, continue to persist, thereby increasing domestic prices of agricultural commodities.”
It added that it is “imperative to further streamline administrative procedures to foster transparency and predictability of policies on the importation of agricultural products in order to help ensure food security, maintain sufficient supply of agricultural goods in the domestic market, and improve local production…”
Under AO 20, DA, DTI and/or DOF should, among others, streamline procedures and requirements in the licensing of importers, minimize processing time of applications for importation, and exempt licensed traders from submission of registration requirements, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.
Subject to consultation with the National Economic and Development Authority Committee on Tariff and Related Matters, the agencies should also facilitate importation of certain agricultural products beyond the authorized minimum access volume (MAV) and reduce or remove administrative fees relative thereto, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.
MAV refers to the volume of quantity of a specific agricultural commodity that may be imported with a lower tariff.
The agencies are also ordered to streamline procedures and requirements for the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC).
Further, they must take concrete steps to improve logistics, transport, distribution and storage of imported agricultural products.
The AO directed the DA, in particular, including its attached agencies, to process and release SPSIC applications, and formally notify applicants of their action and the basis thereof, within the period prescribed in their Citizens’ Charter. All SPSIC applications not acted upon within the prescribed period will be deemed approved pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act (RA) No. 9485 (Anti-Red Tape Act), as amended, provided that all documentary requirements have been submitted and all required fees have been paid.
Within 30 days from effectivity of AO 20, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) should streamline and standardize existing guidelines for importation of sugar in the country, “taking into consideration the need to reduce uncertainty in the sugar import regime and allow more traders to participate in the sugar import program.”
The guidelines should provide for, among others, rules and regulations on the classification or automatic classification of imported sugar, as well as direct importation of sugar by SRA-registered industrial users.
The DA should also review and revise existing rules and regulations on the importation of frozen fish and fishery/aquatic products for wet markets during closed and off-fishing seasons or during calamities, particularly provisions that impose quantitative restrictions on fish imports, limit competition and participation in international trade, and restrict the species allowed for importation, in accordance with RA No. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998), as amended.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has been ordered to prioritize the unloading and release of imported agricultural products, subject to Section 419 (examination of goods) under RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
AO 20 also reconstitutes the surveillance team composed of DA, DTI, BOC, Philippine Competition Commission, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, and Philippine National Police to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the new order.
DA, DTI, DOF, SRA, and BOC, within 30 days from the effectivity of AO 20, should formulate guidelines necessary for the effective implementation of the new order.
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