AreaPhilippines

Commodity GroupRice

CommodityAll

Date04/06/2020

Policy CategoryTrade

Policy InstrumentImport requirements

DescriptionDecided that applicants of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) for rice would need to submit payment certification of consignments, as well as a list of distribution points/warehouses for their deliveries. These requirements would come in addition to previously applicable rules rendering the submission of proforma/commercial invoices, GMO/non-GMO and analyses of heavy metals certification requisite for SPSIC applications. Furthermore, it issued a reminder to applicants indicating that a low fulfilment of SPSIC licences for rice could be grounds for application rejections and for their having their status as importers suspended. The measure, which took immediate effect, was intended to address the low fulfilment of SPSIC applications and to ensure sufficient rice supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.