G/LIC/N/1/PHL/4  
 
7 September 2015  
(15-4595)  Page: 1/6  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLES 1.4(A) AND 8.2(B) 
PHILIPPINES  
The following communication, dated 3 September 2015,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Philippines.  
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 Article 1.4(a) -  Sources in which information relevant to import licensing is published 
1. Official Gazette of the Philippines 
2. Annual Reports of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas  
3. Circulars of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 4. Newspapers of national circulation 
Article 8.2(b) -  Laws/Regulations/Administrative Orders
* 
1. Agriculture and agricultural products 
(i)  Republic Act No. 8178 (An Act Replacing Quantitative Import Restrictions on Agricultural 
Products, Except Rice, With Tariffs, Creating the Agricultural Competitiveness 
Enhancement Fund, and For Other Purposes dated March 28, 1996). 
(ii) DA Administrative Order No. 08, Series of 1997, as amended by Administrative Order 
No. 01, Series of 1998. Rules and Regulations Implementing the Minimum Access Volume 
(MAV) Mechanism. 
2. Animals and animal products 
(i) Administrative Order No. 4, 10 September 1980 – Veterinary quarantine services at 
Philippine ports. 
(ii) Administrative Order No. 10, 25 November 1981 – Defining the powers and duties of the 
Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry relative to animal quarantine, inspection and 
sanitation as provided under Section 1761-1770 of the Revised Administrative Code. 
(iii) Administrative Order No. 17, 4 April 1988 – Rules and regulations governing the 
importation, bringing or introduction of poultry meat into the Philippines from foreign countries and prescribing the treatment to which they shall be subject before shipment and 
after arrival in the Philippines. 
(iv) DA Administrative Order No. 26, series of 2005 – Revised Rules, Regulations, and 
Standards Governing the Importation of Meat and Meat products into the Philippines. 
                                               
* Copies and/or summaries of the above-mentioned Laws and Regulations have not been provided to 
the Secretariat. G/LIC/N/1/PHL/4 
 
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  (v) DA Administrative Order No. 16, series of 2006 – Pre-border Measures for export of meat 
products to the Philippines. 
(vi) Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 09, series of 2010 – DA AO No. 08, 
series of 2009, as amended. 
3. Dangerous drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals  
(i) Republic Act No. 9165 and its Implementing  Rules and Regulations – The Comprehensive 
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, in particular: 
 
 (a)  DDB Regulation No. 3, Series of 2003 – Comprehensive Guidelines on Importation, 
Distribution, Manufacture, Prescription, Dispensing and Sale of, and Other Lawful Acts in Connection with, any Dangerous Drugs, Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals and 
Other Similar or Analogous Substances. 
  (b)  DDB Regulation No. 7,  Series of 2007 – Amending DDB Regulation No. 3, series 
2003, "Comprehensive Guidelines on Importatio n, Distribution, Manufacture, Prescription, 
Dispensing and Sale of, and Other Lawful Ac ts in Connection with, any Dangerous Drugs, 
Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals and Other Similar or Analogous 
Substances". 
4. Energy 
(i) DOE Department Circular No. 2012-05-0006 – Guidelines on the Accreditation of Coal 
Traders and Registration of Coal End Users. 
5. Environment and natural resource products 
(i) DENR Administrative Order No. 97-08  -  Guidelines Governing the Entry and Disposition of 
Imported Logs, Lumber, Veneer, Plywood, Pole s and Piles, and Pulpwood Including Wood 
Chips. 
(ii) DENR Administrative Order No. 17, Series of 1994 - Registration of Agents, Contractors 
and Dealers on Imported Logs, Lumber, Veneer and Commercial Poles and Piles. 
(iii) DENR Administrative Order No. 28, Series of 1994 - Interim Guidelines for the Importation 
of Recyclable Materials Containing Hazardous Substances. 
(iv) DENR Administrative Order No. 28, Series of 1997 - Amending Annex A of DAO No. 28 
Series of 1994 “Interim Guidelines for the Impo rtation of Recyclable Materials Containing 
Hazardous Substances”. 
(v) DENR Administrative Order No. 29, Series of 1992 - Implementing Rules and Regulations 
of Republic Act. No. 6969, Otherwise Known as “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and 
Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990”. 
(vi) Republic Act No. 9147 of 2001 – An Act Providing for the Conservation and Protection of 
Wildlife Resources and Their Habitats, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other 
Purposes, otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”. 
(vii) Joint DENR-DA-PCSD Administrative Orde r No. 1 dated 18 May 2004 – Joint Implementing 
Rules and Regulations (IRR) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9147. 
(viii) DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-55 dated 31 August 2004 – DENR 
Streamlining/Procedural Guidelines Pursuant  to the Joint DENR-DA-PCSD Implementing 
Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9147.  
(ix) DENR Administrative Order No. 81, Series of 2000 – Implementing Rules and Regulations 
(IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 8749, otherwise known as the “Philippine Clean Air Act of 
1999”. G/LIC/N/1/PHL/4 
 
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  (x) DENR Administrative Order No. 30, Series of 2003 – IRR of Presidential Decree No. 1586, 
Establishing the Philippine Enviro nmental Impact Statement System. 
(xi) DENR Administrative Order No. 10, Series  of 2005 – IRR of RA No. 9275 or the Philippine 
Clean Water Act of 2004. 
 (i) DA Administrative Order No. 13, series of 2000 – Revised Schedule of Fees and Charges 
for Services Rendered By Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA). 
6. Fertilizer and pesticide 
(i) DA Administrative Order No. 13, series of  2000 – Revised Schedule of Fees and Charges 
for Services Rendered By Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA). 
7. Firearms, firearm parts and accessories, ammunition and other related items 
(i) Executive Order No. 256 dated 21 December 1995 and its IRR dated 23 May 1996  -  
Revising Executive Order No. 58, Series of 1987, By Rationalizing the Fees and Charges on 
Firearms, Ammunition, Spare Parts, Accesso ries, Components, Explosives, Explosive 
Ingredients, Pyrotechnics and Firecrackers. 
(ii) Republic Act No. 7183 dated 30 January 1992 and its IRR dated 22 July 1994 - An Act 
Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices. 
(iii)   Republic Act No. 10591 dated 29 May 2013 and its IRR dated December 2013 – An Act 
Providing for a Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition 
Regulation Act”. 
(iv) Letter of Instruction No. 1264 dated 31 July 1982 – Ban on the Importation, Manufacture, 
Distribution, Sale and Display of Certai n Types of Toy Firearms and Explosives.  
(v) PNP Circular No. 1 dated 20 August 2004 – Rules and Regulations Covering the 
Sale/Importation, Manufacture, Possession or Bullet-Proof Vests/Vestments.  
(vi) PNP Circular No. 9 dated 14 February  2008 – Policy on Firearms and Ammunition 
Dealership/Repair. 
(vii) PNP Circular No. 10 dated 14 February 2008 – Policy on Manufacture of Firearms, Spare 
Parts, Accessories and Ammunition. 
(viii)  PNP Circular No. 11 dated 04 December 2007 – Revised Rules and Regulations Governing 
the Manufacture, Importation, Exportation, Sale, Possession, Carrying of Airsoft 
Rifles/Pistols and Operation of Airsoft Game Sites and Airsoft Teams. 
8. Fishery and Fishery Products 
 
DA-BFAR Fisheries Office Order (FOO) No. 146, Series of 2013 - Suspension of processing and 
approval of applications for permit to import all live shrimps and other susceptible crustaceans 
from Asian Countries and other countries affected by Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS)/Acute 
Hepato-pancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS) and Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV). 
9. Food and drug products 
(i) DOH-BFAD Advisory No. 2008-003 dated 05 February 2008 – Import Permits; Initial 
Registration and Renewal of Existing Certificates of Product Registration, as well as 
Licenses to Operate of Entities Manufacturing  or Importing/Exporting/Distributing such 
Products and Raw Materials. G/LIC/N/1/PHL/4 
 
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  (ii) DOH Administrative Order No. 56 s. 1989 dated 3 January 1989 – Revised Regulations for 
the Licensing of Drug Establishments and Outlets. 
(iii) Checklist of Requirements for Initial Product Registration Application. (iv) Checklist of Requirements for Renewal of Product Registration. 
10. Lighting Products 
(i) Joint DENR-DOE Administrative Order No. 2013-09-0001 (Lighting Industry Waste 
Management Guidelines) dated 24 September 2013. 
11. Motor vehicle, parts and components  
(i) Executive Order No. 156 dated 12 December 2002 – Providing for a Comprehensive 
Industrial Policy and Directions for the Motor Vehicle Development Program (MVDP). 
(ii) DTI Department Administrative Order No. 08, Series of 2003 – Guidelines for the 
Mandatory Accreditation of Rebuilding Centers. 
12. Notes, coins and color reproduction machines with 2,400 dots per inch or higher 
(i) Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Manual of Regulations on Foreign Exchange Transactions 
(FX Manual), as amended. 
13. Oil and petroleum products 
(i) Republic Act No. 8479, dated 10 February 1998 - An Act Deregulating The Downstream Oil 
Industry, And For Other Purposes and its Rules and Regulations, liberalized the importation 
of crude oil and petroleum products subject to  the rules and regulations of the Department 
of Energy. 
14. Plants and plant products 
(i) Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Administra tive Order No. 1 – Rules and regulations to 
implement PD 1433 the law entitled Promulga ting the Plant Quarantine Law of 1978, 
thereby Revising and Consolidating Existing Pl ant Quarantine Laws to Improve and Further 
Strengthen the Plant Quarantine Service of the Bureau of Plant Industry. 
(ii) BPI Quarantine Administrative Order No. 23, Series of 1988 – Regulations for the 
importations of fresh fruits and vegetables in to the Philippines from countries and places 
infested with Mediterranean fruitfly (Ceratit is capitata); the Mexican fruitfly (Anastrepha 
ludens); the Queensland fruitfly (Dacus tryon) and other fruitflies. 
(iii) Administrative Order No. 13, Series of 1949 -  Regulating the importation of rubber plants 
and parts thereof  such as seeds, rubber stumps, budsticks, etc.  from Central America in 
order to prevent the introduction into the Philippine Islands of a disease known as 
Dothidella ulei except for certain purposes and under certain conditions. 
(iv) BPI Special Quarantine Order No. 1-1, Series of 1982 -  Regulating the importation of 
mango plants (Mangifera spp. ) and parts thereof   from places, areas or  countries 
infested with mango malformation or bunchy-top, woody gall and scaly bark (cuarteado), diseases of mango in order to prevent their introduction into the Philippines. 
(v) DA Administrative Order No. 09, Series of 2010 – DA AO No. 08, Series of 2009, as 
amended. G/LIC/N/1/PHL/4 
 
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  15. Products under mandatory certification 
(i) DTI Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2: 2007- Defining the Responsibilities and 
Liabilities of Manufacturers, Importers, Traders, Wholesalers, Distributors, Retailers and/or their Agents, With Regard to Products Covered by Mandatory Product Certification and 
Prescribing Penalties for Violation Thereof. 
(ii) DTI DAO 5:2008 – The New Rules and Regulations concerning the Issuance of the Import 
Commodity Clearance under the Product Certification Scheme of the Bureau of Product 
Standards and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
 
(iii) DTI DAO 4:2008 – The New Rules and Regulati ons Concerning the Issuance of the Import 
Commodity Clearance under the Product Certification Mark Scheme of the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
 
(iv) DTI DAO 15-1: 2015 dated 01 July 2015 - Measures to Facilitate the Issuance of the 
Import Commodity Clearance. 
(v) BPS Memorandum Circular No. 15-03, Series of 2015 dated 10 July 2015 - List of Products 
Under Mandatory Certification. 
16. Radioactive materials 
(i) Administrative Order No.1, Series of 1994 - Amending Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 
1981, “Establishing the Code of PAEC Regulations”. 
(ii) Republic Act No. 2067, as amended – An Act to Integrate, Coordinate, and Intensify 
Scientific and Technological Research and Development and to Foster Invention; to Provide Funds Therefor; and for Other Purposes. 
(iii)  Republic Act No. 5207, as amended – An Ac t Providing for the Licensing and Regulation of 
Atomic Energy Facilities and Materials, Establishing the Rules on Liability for Nuclear Damage, and for Other Purposes. 
(iv) Code of PNRI Regulations (CPR) Part No . 4 – Regulations for the Safe Transport of 
Radioactive Materials in the Philippines. 
(v) Administrative Order No. 2, Series of 2009 – Authorization for Transfers of Nuclear-Related 
Dual-Use Equipment, Materials, Software and Related Technology. 
17. Radio equipment 
(i) Republic Act No. 3846, 10 August 1963 - An  Act Providing for the Regulation of Radio 
Stations and Radio Communications in the Philippine Islands, and for Other Purposes. 
(ii) Executive Order No. 546 , 23 July 1979 - Creating a Ministry of Public Works and a Ministry 
of Transportation and Communications. 
18. Rice 
(i) R.A. No. 3018, P.D. No. 4, as amended by P.D.  No. 699 and 1485,  P.D. No. 194, and the 
Rules and Regulations on Grains Business and National Grains Standards for Rice and Corn. 
19. Shipping 
(i) Republic Act No. 7471, 05 May 1992 - An ac t to promote the development of Philippine 
overseas shipping. G/LIC/N/1/PHL/4 
 
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  (ii) Rules and regulations to implement the provisions of R.A. No. 7471, the Philippine 
Overseas Shipping Development Act, 17  November 1992. 
(iii)  Memorandum Circular No 104, 06 April 1995 - Omnibus guidelines for the acquisition of 
vessel for domestic operations and fishing vessels/boat.  
(iv) Memorandum Circular No. 121,  29 July 1997 - Policy Guidelines in the Regulations of High 
Speed Craft. 
(v) Memorandum Circular No. 124, 26 August 1997 - Revised Classification Requirements for 
Vessels in Domestic Trade. 
(vi) Republic Act No. 9295, 03 May 2004 - Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004 and its 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
(vii) Republic Act No. 9301, 27 July 2004 - An Ac t Amending Certain Provisions of RA No. 7471, 
entitled "An Act to Promote the Development of  the Philippine Overseas Shipping" and for 
Other Purposes. 
(viii) MARINA Memorandum Circular No. 201, 12 November 2004 - Rules and Regulations to 
Implement RA No. 9301 “An Act Amending Certain Provisions of RA No. 7471, entitled ‘An 
Act to Promote the Development of the Philippine Overseas Shipping’ and for Other Purposes”. 
(ix) MARINA Memorandum Circular 124-A, 18 February 1998 - Amending Memorandum 
Circular No. 124 on the Revised Classification Requirements for Vessels in the Domestic Trade. 
(x) MARINA Circular No. 199, 16 June 2004 - Revised Class Requirement for 
Philippine-Registered Domestic Ships. 
(xi) MARINA Circular No. 2010-01, 14 December 2010 - Revised Policy Guidelines on Tankers. 20. Vehicles, trucks and buses 
(i) Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular No. 92, dated 19 October 1995, lifted the restrictions 
on the importation of new vehicles, used trucks above six tons and used buses above twelve tons. 
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