G/LIC/N/1/PHL/2  
 
14 August 2013  
(13-4363)  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 30 July 2013, 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 (BSP) 
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)  Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular No. 109, Series of 1996, dated 16 May 1996, deleted 
agricultural products listed in Annex A from the list of prohibited/regulated commodities 
enumerated under Appendices 1 and 2 of CB Circular No. 1389, series of 1993, as amended. 
(ii) Republic Act No. 8178 dated 28 March 1996  -  An Act Replacing Quantitative Import 
Restrictions on Agricultural Products Except Rice, With Tariffs, Creating the 
Competitiveness Enhancing Fund, and For Other Purposes. 
(iii) Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 8, Series of 1997 - Prescribes the 
Guidelines for Allocating Tariff Quota Licences. 
(iv) DA Administrative Order No. 08, Series of 1997, as amended by Administrative Order 
No. 01, Series of 1998. 
(v) Rules and Regulations Implementing the Minimum Access Volume Mechanism Under the 
Department of Agriculture Administrative Or der No. 08, Series of 1997, as amended by 
Administrative Order No. 01, Series of 1998. 
2. Animals and animal products 
(i) Administrative Order No. 4, 10 September 1980 - Veterinary quarantine services at 
Philippine ports 
                                               
* Copies and/or summaries of the above-mentioned Laws and Regulations have not been provided to 
the Secretariat G/LIC/N/1/PHL/2 
 
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  (ii) Administrative Order No. 25, 25 November 198 1  -  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) Administrative Order No. 6, 22 March 1993  -  Importation of cooked meat and processed 
meat at CEPA beef, slaughterhouses and meat processing plant, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
(v) Administrative Order No. 11, 12 April 1993 - Rules governing the importation of meat and 
meat products from Brazil. 
(vi) Administrative Order No. 19, 10 August 1993 -  Rules governing the importation of meat 
and meat products from India. 
(vii) Administrative Order No. 17, 26 October 1994 - Importation of cooked meat and meat 
products from Campofrio in Spain. 
(viii) Administrative Order No. 1, 20 January 1995 - Rules governing the importation of meat 
products from Australia. 
(ix) Administrative Order No. 14, 1 June 1995 - Ru les and regulation on beef and beef products 
importation. 
(x) Administrative Order No. 7, 24 March 1995 - Revised rules and regulations on the control 
of Foot and Mouth Diseases. 
(xi) Administrative Order No. 21, 22 September 1995 - Rules governing the importation of 
fresh, frozen beef and beef products from Argentina. 
(xii) Administrative Order No. 5, 14 February 1996 - Rules governing the importation of meat 
and meat products from France. 
(xiii) 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 G/LIC/N/1/PHL/2 
 
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  (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.  
6. Fertilizer and pesticide 
(i) Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Memorandum Circular No. 10, 13 December 1995 -  
Revised schedule of  fees and charges of FPA effective January 1996. 
(ii) 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, explosives and related products 
(i) Executive Order No. 256 date 21 December 1995 and its IRR date 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)   Presidential Decree No. 1866 dated 29 June 1983 – Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful 
Possession, Manufacture, Dealing in Acquisition or Disposition of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives or Instruments Used in the Manufac ture of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives 
and Imposing Stiffer Penalties for Certain Viol ations Therefore and for Relevant Purpose. 
(iv) Republic Act 8294 dated 06 June 1997 – An Act Amending the Provisions of Presidential 
Decree No. 1866 as Amended, entitled Codifyin g the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession, 
Manufacture of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives and Imposing Stiffer Penalties for 
Certain Violations Thereof and for Relevant Purposes. 
(v) PNP Circular No. 9 dated 14 February 2008 – Policy on Firearms and Ammunition 
Dealership/Repair. G/LIC/N/1/PHL/2 
 
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  (vi) PNP Circular No. 10 dated 14 February 2008 – Policy on Manufacture of Firearms, Spare 
Parts, Accessories and Ammunition. 
(vii)  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. 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. 
9. 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. 
10. Plants and plant products 
(i) Bureau of Plant Industry Administrative Order No.1 -Rules and regulations to implement 
PD 1433 the law entitled Promulgating the Plan t Quarantine Law of 1978, thereby Revising 
and Consolidating Existing Plant 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 into the Philippines from countries and places 
infested with Mediterranean fruitfly (ceratitis 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, Se ries 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) Plant Quarantine Circular No. 1, Series of  1996 - Guidelines on the importation of garlic. 
(vi) Plant Quarantine Circular No. 2, Series of 1996 - Guidelines on the importation of white 
potato. 
(vii) Plant Quarantine Circular No. 3, Series of  1996 - Guidelines on the importation of onions. 
(viii) Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 09, series of 2010 -  DA AO No. 08, 
series of 2009, as amended. 
11. Radioactive materials 
(i) Administrative Order No.1, Series of 1994 - Amending Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 
1981, “Establishing the Code of PAEC Regulations”. G/LIC/N/1/PHL/2 
 
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  (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. 
12. 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. 
 13. Regulated / Prohibited Commodities 
 
(i) Bangko Sentral ng Pililipinas Circular No. 645 dated 13 February 2009, as amended, or the 
Manual of Regulations on Foreign Exchange Transactions (FX Manual) – consolidates all regulations governing foreign exchange transactions and replaces Central Bank Circular 
No. 1389, series of 1993, as amended. 
(ii) Appendix 2 of the FX Manual – provides the list of regulated import commodities, as well 
as the respective government agency/institution which issues 
licenses/clearances/approvals in this regard. 
(iii) Appendix 3 of the FX Manual – provides the list of prohibited importations under the Tariff 
and Customs Code of the Philippines. 
14. 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. 
15. Shipping 
(i) Republic Act No. 7471, 05 May 1992 - An ac t to promote the development of Philippine 
overseas shipping. 
(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. G/LIC/N/1/PHL/2 
 
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  (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. 
16. 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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