DRAFT as of May 0 7, 2018  
DEPARTMENT  CIRCULAR  NO. ______  1 
Series of 201 8 2 
 3 
SUBJECT   :  GUIDELINES  ON THE REGISTRATION OF  AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERIES 4 
MACHINERY  MANUFACTURERS, FABRICATORS, ASSEMBLERS, DISTRIBUTORS, 5 
DEALERS, IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS AND THEIR PRODUCTS  6 
   7 
Pursuant to Sections 20 and 24 of Republic Act No. 10601, otherwise known as the Agricultural and 8 
Fisheries Mechanization Law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, this Guidelines on the 9 
registration of agricultural and fisheries machinery manufactur ers, fabricators, assemblers,  distributors, 10 
dealers,  importers and  exporters and their products  is hereby promulgated and issued by the Bureau of 11 
Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) to implement the provisions of the said Act, for the guidance  12 
and information of all concerned.  13 
 14 
ARTICLE I  15 
GENERAL PROVISIONS  16 
 17 
SECTION 1. Objective  18 
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This Circular  sets the guidelines and procedures of the BAFE  on the Registration of Agricultural and 20 
Fisheries Machinery Manufacturers, Fabricators, Assemblers, Distributors, Dealers, Importers and 21 
Exporters (MFADDIE)  and their products . It aims to regulate the businesses engaged  in the manufacture, 22 
fabrication, assembly, distribution, importation and exportation of agricultural and fisheries machinery. 23 
Specifically, it aims to meet the following:  24 
 25 
a. Prevent the proliferation of MFADDIE committing  any misconduct in selling agricultur al and 26 
fisheries machinery;  27 
b. Establish  a national registry of agricultural and fisheries MFADDIE and machinery supplied in 28 
the market ; 29 
c. Secure  fair trade practices among MFADDI E and end -users ; 30 
d. Provide  opportunities for business growth ; and  31 
e. Safeguard the interest of the consumers.  32 
 33 
SECTION 2. Scope  34 
 35 
This Guidelines  shall cover the registration of agricultural and fisheries machinery MFADDIE and their 36 
products. It shall include the  issuance of permit to operate  (PTO)  to MFADDIE and certificate of product 37 
registration  (CPR) .  38 
 39 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms  40 
 41 
For the purpose of this Circular , the following definitions are hereby adopted:  42 
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a. Agricultural and Fisheries Machinery  – refers to machinery and equipment for the production, 44 
post -production, harvesting, processing, storage, manufacture, preserving, transporting and 45 
distribution of agricultural and fisheries products and by -products. It includes, but not limited to, 46 
tract ors and their attachments, power tillers, seeders, transplanters, windmills, harvesting 47 
machines, crop protection and maintenance equipment, irrigation equipment and accessories, 48 
greenhouses and other thermal conditioning equipment, livestock equipment, fi shery equipment, 49 
slaughtering equipment, meat/fishery and crop processing equipment, postharvest machines such 50 
as milling machi nes, dryers, threshers and fiber extraction machines (Source: D.C. 05, Series of 51 
2017)  52 
 53 
b. Applicant  – refers to natural or juridica l person engaged in the business of manufacturing, 54 
fabrication, assembly, distribution, dealing, importation and exportation of agricultural and 55 
fisheries machinery  56 
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c. Assembler  – refers to any entity involved in the assembly using individual parts and compo nents  58 
for the production of agricultural and fisheries machinery to be offered  in the market  59 DRAFT as of May 0 7, 2018  
 60 
d. Authorized Representative (AR)  – refers to the person/s duly authorized by the applicant who 61 
is an organic personnel of the company who will be the primary point of contact for all matters 62 
relating to the application for the issuance of Permit to Operate  and Certificate of Product 63 
Registration  64 
 65 
e. Certificate of Product Registration  – refers to the certificate issued for the products reported to 66 
the BAFE  67 
 68 
f. Compliance Certificate  - certificate issued by BAFE which guarantees that the agricultural and 69 
fisheries machinery conforms with PNS/PAES  70 
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g. Dealer  – refers to an authorized representative of distributors and/or manufacturers to supply, 72 
trade, sell and service agricult ural and fisheries machinery to end -users (PNS/PAES 1 92:2016)  73 
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h. Distributor  – refers to any trading entity authorized by foreign or local suppliers and/or 75 
manufacturers to distribute agricultural and fisheries machinery to dealers (PNS/PAES 1 92:2016)  76 
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i. Establishment – refers to an entity, partnership, company, corporation or cooperative engaged in 78 
the business of manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, distribution, dealing, importation and 79 
exportation of agricultural and fisheries machinery  80 
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j. Holder  – refe rs to any entity that is duly authorized by BAFE to manufacture, fabricate, assemble, 82 
distribute, deal, import and export agricultural and fisheries machinery  83 
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k. Importer/Exporter  – refers to any trading entity involved in the business of importing or 85 
export ing of agricultural and fisheries machinery from/to any point outside the Philippines either 86 
for its own use or for trading purposes  87 
 88 
l. Inspection  – refers to all field activities being undertaken by the BAFE for purposes of evaluating 89 
and checking the facil ities of an establishment  90 
 91 
m. Manufacturer/Fabricator  – refers to any manufacturing entity involved in the production of 92 
agricultural and fisheries machinery  93 
 94 
n. Permit to Operate  – refers to the privilege granted to any MFADDIE  that have passed the review, 95 
inspection and evaluation conducted by BAFE  and is allowed to engage in a particular line of 96 
activity which include manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, distribution, dealing, importation and 97 
exportation of agricultural and f isheries machinery  98 
 99 
o. Product  – agricultural and fisheries machinery offered  by individual agricultural and fisheries  100 
machinery MFADDIE;  101 
 102 
p. Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED)  – refers to the division of the Department 103 
of Agriculture – Regional Field Office authorized to assist the Department of Agriculture – Bureau 104 
of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering  (DA – BAFE) in the enforcement / implementation of the 105 
provisions of th is Circular.  106 
 107 
q. Registration  – refers to all the processes involved in the review, evaluation , inspection, validation 108 
and approval of documents and facilities for the purpose of legalizing the business operations to 109 
manufacture, fabricate, assemble, distribu te, deal, import and export of agricultural and fisheries 110 
machinery  111 
 112 
r. Standards Regulation and Enforcement Division (SRED)  – refers to the division authorized by 113 
the DA – BAFE Engineering to enforce / implement the provisions of this Circular . 114 
 115 
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ARTICLE II  117 
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  118 DRAFT as of May 0 7, 2018  
 119 
SECTION 4. Duties and Responsibilities of the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering and 120 
DA – Regional Agricultural Engineering Division  121 
 122 
SECTION  4.1 The BAFE shall have the following functions:  123 
• Review  and evaluate  all applications for the registration and issuance of Permit to Operate to 124 
agricultural and fisheries machinery manufacturers, fabricators, assemblers, distributors, dealers, 125 
importers and exporters (MFADDIE) and Certificate of Product Registration for the ir products 126 
sold;  127 
• Conduct on -site inspection and validation of all applications prior to the issuance of PTO and CPR;  128 
• Issu e PTO and CPR  to ap plicants who comply with all the requirements for registration ; 129 
• Conduct surveillance  monitoring to establishments o f PTO holders;  130 
• Maintain a registry of all MFADDIE and PTO holders  and their products ; and  131 
• Perform other duties and functions relevant to the  registration and  issuance of PTO to MFADDIE 132 
of agricultural and fisheries machinery.  133 
 134 
SECTION 4.2 The DA -RAED  Standards Regulations and Enforcement Section (SRES)  shall have the 135 
following functions:  136 
• Initially evaluate applications for renewal of PTO to MFADDIE of agricultural and fisheries 137 
machinery within their respective regions before forwarding the applications  to BAFE;  138 
• Assist the BAFE in the conduct of site inspection and validation;  139 
• Monitor the performance of all PTO holder s within their respective regions;  140 
• Perform other duties and functions relevant to the issuance of PTO to MFADDIE of agricultural and 141 
fisher ies machinery.  142 
 143 
 144 
ARTICLE III  145 
REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION  146 
 147 
All manufacturers, fabricators, assemblers, distributors, dealers, importers and exporters of agricultural 148 
and fisheries machinery shall register with the BAFE and apply for the issuance of Permit  to Operate (PTO)  149 
and Certificate  of Product Registration (CPR).  150 
 151 
The application for PTO is classification - and location -specific. E stablishments which are engaged in 152 
different line s of activity or maintain other branches in other locations shall be required to register its 153 
branches  separately  and pay the corres ponding fees.  154 
 155 
SECTION 5 Requirements for Registration of Establishment (Initial)  156 
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 5.1 Individual (Sole Proprietorship)  158 
a. Certified photocopy of the Certificate of Business Name Registration  159 
 5.2 Corporation/Partnership/Association  160 
a. Certified photocopy of the Certificate of Registration issued by the Securities and 161 
Exchange Commission (SEC);  162 
b. Article of Incorporation and By -laws and all amendments thereto  163 
 5.3 Common Requirements for Both Individual (Sole Proprietorship) and  164 
  Corporation/Partnership/Association  165 
a. Duly accomplished Application Form;  166 
b. Certified photocopy of Business/Mayor’s  Permit from the city/municipality where the 167 
establishment i s located for the current year;  168 
c. Sketch of location map of the establishment;  169 
d. Official receipt of payment ; 170 
e. Additional Requirements pursuant to PD 1586 also known as The Philippine EIS 171 
System and i ts Implementing Rules and Regulations, DENR AO No. 30 Series of 2003, 172 
Memorandum Circular 2014 -005, an d Memorandum Circular 2015 -0003  173 
i. For establishments  (manufacturer)  under Category A and B: Photocopy of 174 
Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) ; 175 
ii. For est ablishments under Category D: Photocopy of Certificate on Non 176 
Coverage (CNC) . 177 DRAFT as of May 0 7, 2018  
 178 
SECTION 6 Requirements for Registration of Establishment (Renewal)  179 
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 6.1 Requirements for Both Individual (Sole Proprietorship) and    181 
  Corporation/Partnership/Association  182 
a. Duly accomplished Application Form;  183 
b. Photocopy of previously issued PTO;  184 
c. Certified photocopy  of Business/Mayor’s Permit from the city/municipality where the 185 
establishment is located for the current year;  186 
d. Official receipt of payment  187 
 188 
SECTION 7 Requirements for Product Registration  (Initial and Renewal)  189 
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a. List and technical description of product lines (as per Annex A) 191 
b. Compliance Certificate  192 
c. Additional requirements for importers  193 
• Certificate of Accreditation issued by the Bureau of Domestic Trade ( BDT) of 194 
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)  195 
• Certificate of Origin from Country of Manufacture;  196 
• Distributorship Agreement   197 
 198 
SECTION 8 Facilities and Equipment Requirements  199 
 200 
Facilities/equipment as prescribed in Annex  B are hereby required to be owned and/or rented  by the 201 
establishment concerned as pre -requisite to the registration and issuance of PTO.  202 
 203 
 204 
ARTICLE IV  205 
PROCESSING OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERIES 206 
MACHINERY MANUFACTURERS, FABRICATORS, ASSEMBLERS, DISTRIBUTORS,  207 
DEALERS, IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS AND THEIR PRODUCTS  208 
 209 
 210 
SECTION 9  Filing of Application  211 
 212 
All new a pplications  for PTO  and/or product registration  will be accepted  any time of the year . All 213 
applications for registration shall be made in writing and shall be ac complished in forms provided by  the 214 
BAFE. The accomplished application  form together with the documentary requirem ents be submitted to 215 
the BAFE for review and evaluation .  216 
 217 
Applications for renewal of PTO  and/or product registration  shall be filed three (3) months before the date 218 
of expiration of the permit to the RAED.  219 
 220 
Applications for PTO and product registration c an be done simultaneously. However, no certificate of 221 
product registration shall be issued to non PTO holders.  222 
 223 
SECTION 10 Review and Evaluation Process  224 
 225 
BAFE  shall check the  completeness and veracity of documents submitted based on the Checklist of 226 
Requirements. Only complete  and valid  documents will be accepted and processed during the application. 227 
Incomplete  or falsified  documents shall not be accepted . 228 
 229 
 230 
SECTION 11 Period of Processing  231 
 232 
For new applications  233 
• Receipt and initial evaluation of submitted documents   1.5  hours  234 
• Conduct of on -site inspection and evaluation  (optional)   16   hours  235 
• Preparation of IER       4 hours  236 DRAFT as of May 0 7, 2018  
• Final review by the  SRED -Chief  and BAFE Director    4 hours  237 
• Issuance of PTO  and Certificate of Product Registration   18 minutes  238 
• Release of approved  PTO       10 minutes  239 
 240 
For applications for renewal  241 
• Receipt and initial evaluation of submitted documents   1.5  hours  242 
• Conduct of on -site inspection and evaluation  (optional)   16   hours   243 
• Preparation of IER       4 hours  244 
• Final review by the  SRED -Chief  and BAFE Director    4 hours  245 
• Issuance of PTO and Certificate of Product Registration   18 minutes  246 
• Release of approved  PTO       10 minutes  247 
 248 
SECTION 12 On-Site Inspection and Evaluation  249 
 250 
The on -site inspection and evaluation  shall be conducted  by BAFE in the establishment prior to the issuance 251 
of Permit to Operate and Certificate of Product Registration.  252 
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The result of on -site inspection and evaluation shall form part of the documentary requirements prior to 254 
the final review  of the application and issuance of PTO and certificate of product registration.  255 
 256 
SECTION 13 Approval/ Denial of Application  257 
 258 
Upon evaluation of the application, the SRED through its Division Chief shall recommend the 259 
approval/ denial of the registration  to the BAFE Director.  260 
 261 
In case of denial  of application,  the BAFE shall notify the applicant in writing stating the grounds of denial.  262 
 263 
The decision of the Director approving or denying the application shall be final.  264 
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SECTION 14 Surveillance Monitoring  266 
 267 
After the grant of  PTO and CPR , the establishment shall be subjected to monitoring any time of the year to 268 
ensure their continued compliance with the conditions of the registration to be conducted by BAFE, with 269 
or without prior notice.  270 
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ARTICLE V  272 
PERMIT TO OPERATE AND CERTIFICATE OF PRODUCT REGISTRATION  273 
 274 
SECTION 15 Issuance of Permit to Operate and Certificate of Product Registration  275 
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Upon evaluation, verification, inspection and approval of the application and payment of the corresponding 277 
fee, a Permit t o Operate (PTO)  and Certificate of Product R egistration  (CPR)  shall  be issued by the 278 
BAFE Director. The PTO shall be placed conspicuously in the place of business readily visible to the public.  279 
 280 
The PTO  shall include the following information:  281 
a. Name and location of establishment;  282 
b. Classification of establishment;  283 
c. BAFE R egistration number of the establishment;  284 
d. Validity of the PTO;  285 
e. Signature of the BAFE Director  286 
 287 
The Certificate of Product Registration shall include the following information:  288 
a. The name and ad dress/es of the establishment ; 289 
b. The establishment registration number ; 290 
c. The list of products registered ; 291 
d. The date of issuance and expiration of registration ; and  292 
e. Signature of the BAFE Director  293 
 294 DRAFT as of May 0 7, 2018  
In case the PTO /CPR  is lost or destroyed, the applicant may request for a certified true copy to BAFE  upon 295 
payment of the prescribed fee.  296 
 297 
If and when at any time of the year the business operations of the establishment ceases, the registration fee 298 
paid shall not be refunded.  299 
 300 
In considering the application for renewal, the BAFE shall ascertain the continued compliance of the 301 
establishment with the rules and regulations stipulated in this Circular . 302 
 303 
SECTION 16 Validity Period of PTO and CPR  304 
 305 
The following criteria sets the validity period of PTO and CPR:  306 
 Validity  
For MFADDIE engaged in the business for greater than or equal to five (5) years  3 years  
For MFADDIE engaged in the business for less than five (5) years  1 year  
 307 
SECTION 17  Amendments to Registration  308 
 309 
In case of  any change in the circumstances described in the application such as change of name of the 310 
establishment, change of location/address, change of ownership, etc., proper notification through writing 311 
shall be sent to the BAFE Director who shall require a new  application to be filed for the registration of the 312 
establishment . The original copy of the PTO  and CPR  previously issued under the name of the former 313 
establishment shall be surrendered to the BAFE.   314 
 315 
SECTION 18  Closure of Establishment and Cancellation of PTO  316 
 317 
The PTO holder shall notify BAFE  on the closure of establishment and cancellation  of PTO through a Notice 318 
of Cease of Operation. No person or entity shall engage in any or all lines of activity stated in this Circular  319 
with cancelled  PTO.  320 
 321 
SECTION 19.  Suspension, Revocation, Withdrawal or Cancellation  322 
 323 
Permit to Operate (PTO) and Certificate of Product Registration (CPR)  issued under this Guidelines may be 324 
suspended, revoked, withdrawn or cancelled due to any of the following grounds:  325 
 326 
a. The holder made false statements in connectio n with the application of the PTO and/or CPR ; and  327 
b. The holder violates any of the provisions of this Guidelines.  328 
 329 
A Notice of Violation shall be sent to the holder stating the grounds for the contemplated action. An  appeal 330 
on the notice shall only be accepted within ten (10) working days upon the receipt of the notice. The appeal 331 
shall be subjected to the evaluation of BAFE.  332 
 333 
In case of suspension, a motion for reconsideration in lifting the suspensi on shall be subm itted to BAFE . 334 
The BAFE shal l send a Lifting Notice to the holder  once the motion for reconsideration is approved. On the 335 
other hand, a notice on revocation, withdrawal or cancellation of the PTO/CPR  shall be sent to the holder 336 
that does not comply with th e violated acts within the period as deemed appropriate by BAFE.  337 
 338 
The holder who have been suspended for three times on any of  the grounds stated in Section 23  shall  result 339 
to an automatic revocation, with drawal or cancellation of the PTO/CPR . 340 
 341 
ARTICLE VI  342 
COMPLIANCE OF AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERIES MACHINERY TO STANDARDS  343 
 344 
SECTION 20 Compliance of Registered Products to Standards  345 
 346 
All applicants  shall provide  a copy of Compliance Certificate (CC) for each of the product  to be registered  to 347 
BAFE.  348 
 349 DRAFT as of May 0 7, 2018  
Pending the is suance of Compliance Certificate for agricultural and fisheries machinery as implemented 350 
under of the Department Circular No ____ Series of 2018 , submission of said certification for product 351 
registration is waved.  352 
 353 
SECTION 21 Registry of MFADDIE and their Products  354 
 355 
The BAFE shall keep national registry of manufacturers, fabricators, assemblers, and importers and 356 
complete list of all agricultural and fisheries machinery products re gistered . Likewise,  the regional registry 357 
shall be kept by the  respective  DA RFO RAED -SRES . The registry shall be for purpose of information 358 
generation and monitoring only.  359 
 360 
SECTION 2 2 Fees and Charges  361 
 362 
Collection of all fees and charges shall be paid at the BAFE cashier. Fees and charges may be subjected to 363 
changes, as deemed necessary. The fees and charges collected are non -refundable and subject to the usual 364 
government accounting and auditing rules and regulations.  365 
The following fees and charges shall be collected:  366 
 367 
Application Fee  368 
Issuance Fee (New)  369 
Issuance Fee (Renewal)  370 
Change of Circumstance  371 
Certified True Copy of PTO / CPR  372 
 373 
A separate guideline s relative to the issuance of PTO and CPR  detailing the schedule of fees and charges 374 
will be issued by BAFE.  375 
ARTICLE VII  376 
FINAL PROVISIONS  377 
 378 
SECTION 23.  Prohibited Acts  379 
 380 
The BAFE shall impose penalties after due notice and hearing to any of the following justifiable grounds:  381 
a. Commission of fraud an d misrepresentation in the filing of the application and its operations;  382 
b. Failure to comply with the standard requirements herein provided in this Circular  and other laws;  383 
c. Giving permission of the use of PTO to non -holder of the permit;  384 
d. Manufactur e, fabrica te, distribut e, sale, offer for sale of any agricultural and fisheries machinery 385 
without valid, withdrawn, suspended or cancelled PTO  and CPR ; 386 
e. Refusal to give access to/copying of required documents to the BAFE  during the on -site inspection 387 
and validation of the establishment’s premises;  388 
f. Continuous manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, distribution, dealing, importing and exporting 389 
of agricultural and fisheries machinery but fails to file an application for renewal ; 390 
g. Non -display of PTO in a conspicuous place  in the establishment ; 391 
h. Commit any misconduct in selling agricultural and fisheries machinery.  392 
 393 
SECTION 2 4. Penalties and Sanctions  394 
 395 
24.1 Penalties  396 
 397 
Any person who shall violate any provision of this Guidelines shall, upon conviction be subject to a fine of 398 
not less than One thousand pesos (Php1,000.00) but not more than Ten thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) or 399 
imprisonment of not less than two (2) months but not more than one (1) year, or both, upon the discretion 400 
of the court and/or other applicable penalties imposed under the AFMech Law.  401 
 402 
In case of cancelled PTO and blacklisting, the applicant may re -apply after two (2) years and upon 403 
compliance to all the requirements stated in this Circular . 404 
 405 
24.2 Sanctions  406 
 407 DRAFT as of May 0 7, 2018  
This provision shall take effect upon the enactment of this Guidelines. The BAFE Director or his/her duly 408 
authorized representative has the power to take the following actions:  409 
 410 
a. Issuance of a cease  and desist order;  411 
b. Cancellation, revocation or withdrawal of PTO/CPR  or suspension of the validity;  412 
 413 
 414 
SECTION 25  Separability Clause  415 
 416 
Should any provision of this Department Circular or any thereof be declared invalid, the other provisions, 417 
so far as they are separable, shall remain in force and effect.  418 
 419 
SECTION 26  Repealing Clause  420 
 421 
All existing Circulars , rules and regulations, or par ts thereof, in conflict with, or  inconsistent with any 422 
provisions of this Regulation are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  423 
 424 
SECTION 27  Effectivity  425 
 426 
This Circular  shall take effect upon approval of the DA Secretary and fifteen (15) days upon its publication 427 
in a newspaper of general circulation. Three (3) copies of this Circular shall be sent to the University of the 428 
Philippines Law Center.  429 
 430 
App roved and promulgate d this _________ day of ___ _____ ___________ 2018.  431 
 432 
 433 
 434 
EMMAN UEL F. PIÑOL  435 
Department of Agriculture  436 
Secretary  437