G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
28 February  2023 
(23-1377) Page: 1/11 
Committee on Market Access  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO THE DECISION ON NOTIFICATION  PROCEDURE S 
FOR QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS (G/L/59/REV.1)  
PHILIPPINES  
The following communication, of which the first draft was received on  10 February 2023 , is being 
circulated at the request of the delegation of the Philippines . 
 
A. Notifying Member:  Philippines  
B. Date of notification:  10 February  2023 
C. First time notification:  
 Yes 
 No, last notification was made in (doc. symbol ): G/MA/QR/N/PHL/ 2 
D. Type of notification:  
 1. Complete (i.e. notification of all quantitative restrictions in force ) 
 2. Changes to a notification previously made in (doc symbol) which are of the following 
nature : 
  2.1 Introduction of new restrictions, as listed in Section 1. 
  2.2 Elimination of restrictions, as described in G below . 
  2.3 Modification of a previously notified restriction, as described in Section 1. 
 3. Reverse notification of res trictions maintained by (Member ):  
E. The notification provides information for the follo wing biennial period 
(e.g.  2012 -2014): 2022-2024 and relates to restrictions in force as of 
10 February  2023 
F. This notification contains information* relating to:  
 Section 1:  List of quantitative restrictions that are currently in force . 
 Section 2:  Cross -reference to other WTO notifications wi th information on quantitative 
restrictions that are currently in force and additional information . 
G. Comments of a general nature, including a description of the elimination of 
restrictions notified under D.2.2 and the date they ceased to be in force.  
 
 
 
* In English  only.  
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 2 - Section  1: List of quantitative restrictions that are currently in force  
 
QR 
No. General description 
of the restriction  Type of 
restriction  Tariff line code (s) 
affected, based on 
HS (20 22) Detailed Product 
Description  WTO Justification 
and Ground for 
Restriction, e.g. 
Other International 
Commitments  National legal basis 
and entry into force  Administration, 
modification of 
previously notified 
measures, and other 
comments  
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
1 Import and export 
prohibition  of written 
or printed goods 
advocating or inciting 
treason, rebellion, 
insurrection, sedition 
against  the 
government of the 
Philippines  P 
P-X Various, including 
49.01ex  
49.02ex  
49.06 .00 
49.09 .00 
49.10 .00 
49.11ex  Written or printed goods 
in any form containing 
any matter advocating 
or inciting treason, 
rebellion, insurrection, 
sedition against the 
government of the 
Philippines, or forcible 
resistance to any law of 
the Philippines, or 
written or printed goods 
containing any threat to 
take the life of, or inflict 
bodily harm upon any 
person in the Philippines  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  
 
Article XXI (Security 
Exceptions):  
 
(b)  to prevent any 
contracting party from 
taking any action which 
it considers necessary 
for the protection of its 
essential security 
interests  
 Title I, Chapter 3, 
Section 118 (Prohibited 
Importation and 
Exportation) , 
paragraph a of 
Republic Act No. 
10863, known as the 
Customs Modernization 
and Tariff Act or CMTA 
dated 30 May 2016   
 
(Date of effectivity: 16 
June 2016)  
 Superseded Section 101 of 
Presidential Decree (P.D.) 
No. 1464, as amended 
(Tariff and Customs Code of 
the Philippines)  
2 Import and export 
prohibition  of goods 
intended for producing 
an unlawful abortion  P 
P-X Various, including  
2937.19.00  
2937.29.00  
2937.50.00  
3004.39.00  
3004.90ex  
4911.10ex  
 Goods, instruments, 
drugs and substances 
designed, intended or 
adapted for producing 
unlawful abortion, or 
any printed matter 
which advertises, 
describes or gives direct 
or indirect information 
where, how or by whom 
unlawful  abortion is 
committed  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  Title I, Chapter 3, 
Section 118 (Prohibited 
Importation and 
Exportation) , 
paragraph b of 
Republic Act No. 
10863, known as the 
Customs Modernization 
and Tariff Act or CMTA 
dated 30 May 2016  
 
(Date of effectivity: 16 
June 2016)  
 Superseded Section 101 of 
Presidential Decree (P.D.) 
No. 1464, as amended 
(Tariff and Customs Code of 
the Philippines)  
 
3 Import and export 
prohibition  of 
materials of obscene 
or immoral character  P 
P-X Various, including  
Chapter 37ex  
Chapter 49ex  
85.23ex  
Chapter 97ex  Written or printed 
goods, negatives or 
cinematographic films, 
photographs, 
engravings, lithographs, GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(a)  necessary to 
protect public mor als; Title I, Chapter 3, 
Section 118 (Prohibited 
Importation and 
Exportation) paragraph 
c of Republic Act No. Superseded Section 101 of 
Presidential Decree (P.D.) 
No. 1464, as amended 
(Tariff and Customs Code of 
the Philippines)    
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 3 - QR 
No. General description 
of the restriction  Type of 
restriction  Tariff line code (s) 
affected, based on 
HS (20 22) Detailed Product 
Description  WTO Justification 
and Ground for 
Restriction, e.g. 
Other International 
Commitments  National legal basis 
and entry into force  Administration, 
modification of 
previously notified 
measures, and other 
comments  
 objects, paintings, 
drawings or other 
representation of an 
obscene or immoral 
character  10863, known as the 
Customs Modernization 
and Tariff Act or CMTA 
dated 30 May 2016  
 
(Date of effectivity: 16 
June 2016)  
4 Import and export 
prohibition  of gold, 
silver or other 
precious metals 
without marking of 
the fineness of their 
quality  P 
P-X Various,  
including  
71.13ex  
71.14ex  
71.15ex  
 Any goods 
manufactured in whole 
or in part of gold, silver 
or other precious metals 
or alloys and the stamp, 
brand or mark does not 
indicate the actual 
fineness of quality of the 
metals or alloys  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) – 
 
(c) relating to the 
importations of gold or 
silver ; Title I, Chapter 3, 
Section 118 (Prohibited 
Importation and 
Exportation) , 
paragraph d of 
Republic Act No. 
10863, known as the 
Customs Modernization 
and Tariff Act or CMTA 
dated 30 May 2016  
 
(Date of effectivity: 16 
June 2016)  Superseded Section 101 of 
Presidential Decree (P.D.) 
No. 1464, as amended 
(Tariff and Customs Code of 
the Philippine s) 
5 Import and export 
prohibition  of 
adulterated or 
misbranded food or 
goods for human 
consumption  P 
P-X Various, including  
02.10ex  
Chapter 03ex  
Chapter 04ex  
Chapter 09ex  
Chapter 11ex  
Chapter 12ex  
Chapter 15ex  
Chapter 16ex  
Chapter 17ex  
Chapter 18ex  
Chapter 19ex  
Chapter 20ex  
Chapter 21ex  
Chapter 22ex  
Chapter 30ex  Any adulterated or 
misbranded food or 
goods for human 
consumption or any 
adulterated or 
misbranded drug in 
violation of relevant 
laws and regulations  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  Title I, Chapter 3, 
Section 118 (Prohibited 
Importation and 
Exportation) , 
paragraph e of 
Republic Act No. 
10863, known as the 
Customs Modernization 
and Tariff Act or CMTA 
dated 30 May 2016  
 
(Date of effectivity: 16 
June 2016)  Superseded Section 101 of 
Presidential Decree (P.D.) 
No. 1464, as amended 
(Tariff and Customs Code of 
the Philippines)   
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 4 - QR 
No. General description 
of the restriction  Type of 
restriction  Tariff line code (s) 
affected, based on 
HS (20 22) Detailed Product 
Description  WTO Justification 
and Ground for 
Restriction, e.g. 
Other International 
Commitments  National legal basis 
and entry into force  Administration, 
modification of 
previously notified 
measures, and other 
comments  
6 Import and export 
prohibition  of goods 
infringing intellectual 
property law  P 
P-X Various  Infringing goods as 
defined under the 
Intellectual Property 
Code and related laws  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(d)  necessary to 
secure compliance with 
laws or regulations 
which are not 
incons istent with the 
provisions of this 
Agreement, including 
those relating to 
customs enforcement, 
the enforcement of 
monopolies operated 
under paragraph 4 of 
Article II and Article 
XVII, the protection of 
patents, trademarks  
and copyrights, and 
the prevention of 
deceptive practices;  
 
To protect and secure 
the exclusive rights of 
scientists, inventors, 
artists and other gifted 
citizens to their 
intellectual property 
and creations, 
particularly when 
beneficial to the 
people, fo r such 
periods as provided in 
the Intellectual 
Property Code of the 
Philippines  
 
TRIPS Agreement  Title I, Chapter 3, 
Section 118 (Prohibited 
Importation and 
Exportation) , 
paragraph f of Republic 
Act No. 10863, known 
as the Customs 
Modernization and 
Tariff Act or CMTA 
dated 30 May 2016  
 
(Date of effectivity: 16 
June 2016)  Superseded Section 101 of 
Presidential Decree (P.D.) 
No. 1464, as amended 
(Tariff and Customs Code of 
the Philippines)  
  
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 5 - QR 
No. General description 
of the restriction  Type of 
restriction  Tariff line code (s) 
affected, based on 
HS (20 22) Detailed Product 
Description  WTO Justification 
and Ground for 
Restriction, e.g. 
Other International 
Commitments  National legal basis 
and entry into force  Administration, 
modification of 
previously notified 
measures, and other 
comments  
7 Import prohibition  of 
used clothing and rags  P Various, including  
63.09 .00 
63.10ex  Used clothing and rags  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  Republic Act No. 4653 
(An Act to Safeguard 
the Health of the 
People and Maintain 
the Dignity of the 
Nation by Declaring it a 
National Policy to 
Prohibit the 
Commercial 
Importation of Textile 
Articles Commonly 
Known as Used 
Clothing and Rags) 
dated 17 June 1966  
 
(Date of effectivity: 
n/a)  
8 Import prohibition  of 
hazardous wastes  P Various, including  
28.44ex  
3006.92ex  
38.25ex  Hazardous wastes, even 
in transit into the 
Philippine territorial 
limits  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  
 
Article XXI (Security 
Exceptions):  
 
(b)  to prevent any 
contracting party from 
taking any action which 
it considers necessary 
for the protection of its 
essential security 
interests  
 
(i)   relating to 
fissionable materials or 
the materials from 
which they a re derived;  
 
Basel Convention  Section 24 of the 
Implementing Rules 
and Regulations of 
Republic Act No. 6969 
(Toxic Substances and 
Hazardous and Nuclear 
Wastes Control Act of 
1990)  
 
(Date of effectivity: 
n/a) 
 
DENR Administrative 
Order (DAO) 2013 -22, 
Chapter 10 of the 
Revised Procedure and 
Standards for the 
Management of 
Hazardous Wastes 
(Revising DAO 2004 -
36) 
 
Date of effectivity: 04 
December 20 13   
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 6 - QR 
No. General description 
of the restriction  Type of 
restriction  Tariff line code (s) 
affected, based on 
HS (20 22) Detailed Product 
Description  WTO Justification 
and Ground for 
Restriction, e.g. 
Other International 
Commitments  National legal basis 
and entry into force  Administration, 
modification of 
previously notified 
measures, and other 
comments  
9 Import prohibition  of 
Polychlorinated 
Biphenyls (PCBs)  P Various,  
including  
2710.91 .00 
3824.82 .00 Polychlorinated 
Biphenyls (PCBs)  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  Section 5 of 
Department of 
Environment and 
Natural Resources 
Administrative Order 
No. 01, Series of 2004 
– Chemical  Control 
Order (CCO) for 
Polychlorinated 
Biphenyls (PCBs)  
 
(Date of effectivity: 19 
March 2004)   
10 Import prohibition  of 
Amosite (Brown 
Asbestos) and 
Crocidolite (Blue 
Asbestos)  P Various,  
including  
25.24ex  
68.11ex  
68.12ex  
68.13ex  Amosite (Brown 
Asbestos) and 
Crocidolite (Blue 
Asbestos)  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  Section VI No. 3(B) of 
DENR Administrative 
Order No. 2, Series of 
2000 – Chemical 
Control Order for 
Asbestos  
 
(Date of effectivity: 17 
July 2000)   
11 Import and export 
prohibition  of Carbon 
Tetrachloride, 
Chlorofluorocarbons, 
Trichloroethane and 
Halons  P 
P-X Various,  
including  
29.03ex  
38.24ex  Carbon Tetrachloride, 
Chlorofluorocarbons, 
Trichloroethane and 
Halons  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  Department of 
Environment and 
Natural Resources 
Administrative Order 
No. 2013 -25 – Revised 
Regulations on the 
Chemical Control Order 
for Ozone Depleting 
Substances  
 
(Date of effectivity: 15 
January 2014)   
12 Import prohibition  of 
Right-hand drive 
vehicles  P Various, including  
Chapter 87ex  Right hand drive 
vehicles  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  Republic Act No. 8506 
(An Act Banning the 
Registration and 
Operation of Vehicles 
with Right -Hand 
Steering Wheel in any   
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 7 - QR 
No. General description 
of the restriction  Type of 
restriction  Tariff line code (s) 
affected, based on 
HS (20 22) Detailed Product 
Description  WTO Justification 
and Ground for 
Restriction, e.g. 
Other International 
Commitments  National legal basis 
and entry into force  Administration, 
modification of 
previously notified 
measures, and other 
comments  
Private or Public Street, 
Road or Highway, 
Providing Penal ties 
Therefor, and for Other 
Purposes)  
 
(Date of effectivity: 
n/a) 
13 Import prohibition  of 
live piranha s P 0301.99.49  
0301.99.50  Live piranha   GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  Fisheries 
Administrative Order 
(FAO) No. 126, Series 
of 1979 (Rules and 
Regulations Prohibiting 
the Importation and/or 
Possession of any Live 
Piranha)  
 
(Date of effectivity: 
n/a)  
14 Import prohibition  of 
live shrimps and 
prawns of all stages   P Various,  
including  
0306.35ex  
0306.36ex  Live shrimps and prawns 
of all stages   GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  
  
To prevent the 
introduction and 
spread of exotic 
disease agents which 
may endanger the 
prawn industry  FAO No. 207, Series of 
2001 (Prohibiting the 
Importation and 
Culture of Imported 
Live Shrimp and Prawn 
of All Stages)  
 
(Date of effectivity: 15 
June 2001)  
 No Longer In Force .  
(Date of t ermination: 25 
January 2007 ) 
 
Superseded by FAO No. 225 
s. 2007 and FAO 225 -1 s. 
2007.  
(Date of effectivity: 25 
January 2007)  
 
FAO 225 and 225 -1 are 
currently being reviewed. 
PH will notify  the WTO once 
amended.  
15 Cross -border transfer 
of legal tender 
exceeding PHP  
50,000.00  P-X Various, including  
4907.00 ex 
7108.20  
7118.90 ex Legal tender exceeding 
PHP 50,000.00  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(d)  necessary to 
secure compliance with 
laws or regulations 
which are not Section 4.1 of the 
Manual of Regulations 
on Foreign Exchange 
Transactions, as 
amended   
 (Refer to PHL ILP N3 
Notification 
G/LIC/N/3/PHL/1 4/Rev.1  
dated 20 December  2021)  
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 8 - QR 
No. General description 
of the restriction  Type of 
restriction  Tariff line code (s) 
affected, based on 
HS (20 22) Detailed Product 
Description  WTO Justification 
and Ground for 
Restriction, e.g. 
Other International 
Commitments  National legal basis 
and entry into force  Administration, 
modification of 
previously notified 
measures, and other 
comments  
inconsistent with the 
provisions of this 
Agreement, including 
those relating to 
customs enforcement, 
the enforcement of 
monopolies operated 
under paragraph 4 of 
Article II and Artic le 
XVII, the protection of 
patents, trademarks  
and copyrights, and 
the prevention of 
deceptive practices;  
For control of liquidity 
and overall monetary 
conditions  (Date of effectivity  of 
the latest amendment 
[Circular No. 1146]: 2 
July 2022  
16 Importation of Ozone 
Depleting Substances 
(ODS)  Global 
Import 
Quotas  
P Various, including  
29.03ex  
38.13.00 
38.24ex  Ozone Depleting 
Substances (ODS)  GATT XIII:2(a) - 
Wherever practicable, 
quotas representing 
the total amount of 
permitted imports 
(whether allocated 
among supplying 
countries or not) shall 
be fixed, and notice 
given of their amount 
in accordance with 
paragraph 3 (b) of this 
Article  
To phase out in 
complia nce to Montreal 
Protocol on Substances 
that Deplete the Ozone 
Layer  DENR Administrative 
Order No. 2013 -25 
(Revised Regulations 
on Chemical Control 
Order for Ozone -
Depleting Substances)  
 
(Date of effectivity: 15 
January 2014)  
 
DENR Administrative 
Order No.  2021-31, 
entitled “Chemical 
Control Order for 
Hydrofluorocarbons 
(HFCs)”  
 
Date of effectivity: 28 
October 2021  (Refer to PHL ILP N3 
Notification 
G/LIC/N/3/PHL/13  dated 16 
September 2020 )  
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 9 - QR 
No. General description 
of the restriction  Type of 
restriction  Tariff line code (s) 
affected, based on 
HS (20 22) Detailed Product 
Description  WTO Justification 
and Ground for 
Restriction, e.g. 
Other International 
Commitments  National legal basis 
and entry into force  Administration, 
modification of 
previously notified 
measures, and other 
comments  
17 Unregistered or  
unauthorized and 
misbranded medical 
devices  P Various, including  
Chapter 90  Any unregistered or 
unauthorized and 
misbranded medical 
devices in violation of 
relevant laws and 
regulations  GATT XX (General 
Exceptions) - 
 
(b) necessary to 
protect human, animal 
or plant life or health;  Chapter 3, Section 
118, item (g) of 
Republic Act No. 
10863, known as the 
Customs Modernization 
and Tariff Act  
 
Section 11, item (a) of 
RA No. 9711, otherwise 
known as the "FDA Act 
of 2009 " provides the 
manufacture, 
importation, 
exportation, sale, 
offering for sale, 
distribution, transfer, 
promotion, advertising 
or sponsorship of 
health products 
without proper 
authorization from 
FDA.  
   
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 10 - Section  2: Cross -reference to other WTO notifications with information on quantitative restrictions that are currently in force  
 
This section shall be filled by Members in case a notification made pursuant to another notification requirement (e.g. set in  the Agreemen t on Agriculture, 
Agreement on Balance of Payments, Agreement on Safeguards, and the Agreement on Import Licensing  Procedures, etc.) contains information on a 
quantitative restriction in force and which is not listed in Section 1.   
 
1.  Agreement on Agric ulture  
 
A.  Was a notification made with information on a quantitative restriction?   Yes     No   
B.  If yes, then list below the relevant document symbol and include any information element missing in the notificati on: 
 
2.  Agreement on Balance of Payments  
 
A.  Was a notification made with  information on a quantitative restriction?   Yes     No   
B.  If yes, then list below the relevant document symbol and include any information element missing in the notificati on: 
 
3. Agreement on Safeguards  
 
A.  Was a notification made with information on a quantitative restriction?   Yes     No    
B.  If yes, then list below the relevant document symbol and include any information element missing in the notification : 
 
4.  Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (non -automatic licences)  
 
A.  Was a notification made with information on a quantitative restriction?   Yes     No   
B.  If yes, then list below the relevant document symbol and include any information element missing in the notification : 
 
Document symbol 
of notification  General 
description  Type of 
restr.  
 Tariff line 
code(s) 
affected, 
based on 
HS(2007)  Detailed 
Product 
Description  WTO Justification 
and Grounds for 
Restriction, e.g., 
Other International 
Commitments  National legal basis 
and entry into force   
 Administration; 
modification of prev. 
notified measures; and 
other comments  
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 
G/LIC/N/3/PHL/1 5 
dated 18 November  
2022        
  
  G/MA/QR/N/PHL/3  
 
- 11 - 5. Other notifications  
 
A. Was a notification made with information on a quantitative restriction  in other notifications ?   Yes     No    
B. If yes, then list below the relevant document symbol and include any information element missing in the notificati on: 
 
__________