CM 1

TYPES OF IMPORTATION
BSP RULES AND REGULATIONS ON IMPORT TRANSACTION
UNDER CIRCULAR NO. 13-89, SS. 1993 AS AMENDED.

All kinds of merchandise are allowed except certain commodities that are:
- regulated or prohibited for reason of public health and safety,
national security, international commitments and
development or rationalization of local industry.
 CHAPTER 3

TYPES OF IMPORTATION
 SECTION 115:
TREATMENT OF IMPORTATION

Imported goods shall be deemed “ENTERED” in

the Philippines for CONSUMPTION when the
goods declaration is electronically lodged,
together with any required supporting
documents, with the pertinent customs office.
 TYPES OF IMPORTATION

Free Regulated
Importations importations

(goods that are not (goods regulated by

regulated, restricted government
or prohibited) regulating agencies)

Restricted
importations
(goods that are allowed only
under very specific conditions
provided in the CMTA)
Prohibited
importations
(goods that are absolutely
prohibited by reason of public
health, morals and safety)
 SECTION 116:
FREE IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

Unless otherwise provided by law or regulation,

all goods may be freely imported into and
exported from the Philippines without need
for import and export permits,
clearances or licenses.

– commodities the importation of which is neither

regulated, restricted nor prohibited
 SECTION 117:
REGULATED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

GOODS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO REGULATION

- shall be imported or exported only
- AFTER SECURING the necessary goods
declaration or export declaration,
CLEARANCES, LICENSES, and any other
requirements, PRIOR to importation or
exportation.
 SECTION 117:
REGULATED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

Goods which are subject to regulation

- shall be imported or exported only after securing the
necessary goods declaration or export
declaration, clearances, licenses, and any
other requirements, prior to importation or
exportation.
- In case of importation, submission of requirements
after arrival of the goods but prior to release
from customs custody shall be allowed but only in
cases provided for by governing laws or regulations.
- A broad range of commodities require import
clearance/licenses from appropriate
government agencies prior to importation into
the Philippines.
- Discretionary licensing arrangements are in
place for rice imports.
- The National Food Authority (NFA) is the sole
importer of rice and continues to be involved
in the importation of corn. Private grain
dealers with import clearance are allowed to
import rice.
- Furniture manufacturers and agents, as well
as log and lumber contractors and lumber
dealers, may import wood materials under
several different licensing regimes.
- Importers must submit a Phytosanitary
Certificate issued by the country of origin to
the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of
Plant Industry (DA-BPI).
- The Department of Agriculture also issues
biosafety permits for the use of genetically
modified (GM) plant and plant products for field
trials, commercial propagation, and/or direct
use as food, feed, or processing.
Commodity Description/Commodity Government Agencies Issuing
Group Permits/Clearance

Essential Chemicals & Controlled Precursors;

and Dangerous Drugs (Ketamine, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
Pseudoephedrine, Oripavine, Ameneptine, etc.) and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB)

Department of Environment and Natural

Chemicals under the Philippine Priority Chemical
Resources – Energy Resource Development
List (PCL)
Bureau (DENR-ERDB)
Cyanide, Mercury, Asbestos, Polychlorinated
Department of Environment and Natural Resources -
Biphenyl, Chlorofluorocarbon and other ozone
Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)
depleting substances
Department of Environment and Natural Resources –
Energy Resource Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB)
Recyclable materials containing hazardous
substances, i.e. scrap metals, solid plastic materials,
electronic assemblies and scrap, used oil, fly ash, and
used lead acid batteries

Department of Environment and Natural Resources –

Coal, Anthracite Energy Resource Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB)

Wildlife
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) – Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB)

Live animals
Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Animal
Animal products and byproducts
Industry (BAI)
Fishery and aquatic products Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)

Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Plant

Plants, planting materials, and plant products
Industry (BPI)

Cane or beet sugar, and other artificial sweeteners Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA)

Chainsaws Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Wood products (DENR) - Forest Management Bureau (FMB)

Semi-synthetic antibiotics (all form and salts of

ampicillin, amoxicillin, and cloxacillin) Department of Health (DOH) - Food and
Drug Administration (FDA)
wheat flour; iodized salt; and all health products

Color reproduction machines with 2,400 dots per inch National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and
(dpi) or higher Central Bank
Explosives, blasting agents, and detonators
Philippine National Police (PNP) - Firearms and Explosive
Chemicals used as ingredients in the manufacture of
Office
explosives (e.g. chlorates, nitrates and nitric acid, etc.)

Department of Agriculture (DA)-Fertilizer and

All fertilizers, pesticides and other such chemicalsproducts
Pesticide Authority (FPA)
intended for agricultural use

Used motor vehicles, trucks, and buses – including used

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Bureau of Import
parts and components
Services (BIS)

Used vehicles for the use of foreign diplomatic corps and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
accredited international organizations

Aircrafts, engines, propellers Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)

All types of ships not wooden hulled, including fishing

vessels/boats Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)

All commodities originating from the following

socialist and centrally-planned economy
countries: Albania, Angola, Ethiopia, Laos, Libya, Mongolia, Philippine International Trading Corporation
Mozambique, Myanmar, (PITC)
Nicaragua, and North Korea
 -
Nuclear and radioactive materials; Nuclear-related Department of Science and Technology (DOST) –
dual-use equipment and materials Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Household appliances and lamp/lighting products;

Wiring devices, wires and cables, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Bureau
mechanical/construction materials of Product Standards (BPS)

Department of Health (DOH) - Food and

Selected medical devices; toys; water and medical
Drugs Administration (FDA)
waste treatment devices

Radio transmitters/transceivers
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)

Optical Media Board

Optical and magnetic media products
Electronic gaming machines and products Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
(PAGCOR)

Legal tender Philippine notes and coins,

checks, money order, and other bills of
exchange drawn in pesos against banks Central Bank
operating in the Philippines in amount
exceeding PhP10,000
Exports Needing Export Clearances from Regulating Agencies

a. antiques, cultural artifacts and historical relics – NM - National Museum

b. Animal and animal products – BAI - Bureau of Animal Industry
c. Plants and plant materials capable of introducing pets or insects – BPI -
Bureau of Plant and Industry
d. Bangus fry or mother bangus, prawn – spawner and fry – BFAR – Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
e. Coffee – ICO – International Coffee Organization – DTI
f. Logs or lumber - FMB ⁄ DENR – Forestry Management Bureau
i. Wild species and other exotic wildlife species – BMB – Biodiversity
and Management Bureau
j. Sugar and molasses – SRA – Sugar Regulatory Authority
k. Motion pictures, television films and related materials – MTRCB –
Movie Television Review Classification Board
l. Grains and grain by products – NFA – National Food Authority
m. Firearms and ammunitions – FEO ⁄ PNP – Firearms and Explosives
Office
n. Radioactive materials – PNRI – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
o. Legal tender Philippine notes and coins, checks, money order and
other bills of exchange drawn in Philippine pesos against banks
operating in the Philippines in an amount exceeding P50,000.00 –
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
 SECTION 118:
PROHIBITED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

Prohibited commodities
– importation is not allowed under the existing law.
 SECTION 118:
PROHIBITED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION
• Used clothing and rags;
• Toy guns;
• Right-hand drive vehicles;
• Hazardous waste, even in transit into Philippine territory;
• Laundry and industrial detergents containing hard
surfactants;
• Used motorcycle parts, except engine; and
• Live piranha, shrimp, and prawns.
 SECTION 118:
PROHIBITED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(a) 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 up on
any person in the Philippines;
In the Presence of My Enemies, the
gripping true story of American
missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham’s
year as hostages in the Philippine jungle,
was a New York Times best seller and has
sold nearly 350,000 copies. This updated
edition contains never-before-published
information on the capture and trial of the
Burnhams’ captors; Gracia’s secret return
trip to the Philippines; and updates on
recent events in Gracia’s life, ministry, and
family.
 SECTION 118:
PROHIBITED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(b) 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;
 SECTION 118:
PROHIBITED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(c) Written or printed goods, negatives or

cinematographic films, photographs, engravings,
lithographs, objects, paintings, drawings or other
representation of an obscene or immoral
character.
 SECTION 118:
PROHIBITED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(d) 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;
 SECTION 118:
PROHIBITED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION
(e) Any adulterated or misbranded food or goods for human
consumption or any adulterated or misbranded drug in violation
of relevant laws and regulations;
 SECTION 116:
FREE IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION
Misbranded goods
 SECTION 118:
PROHIBITED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(f) Infringing goods as defined under the Intellectual

Property Code and related laws; and
 SECTION 118:
PROHIBITED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(g) All other goods or parts thereof which importation and

exportation are explicitly prohibited by law or rules and
regulations issued by the competent authority.
 SECTION 119:
RESTRICTED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

CONDITIONALLY PROHIBITED COMMODITIES

- when authorized by law or regulation
- Need clearance or permit prior to importation or
exportation
 SECTION 119:
RESTRICTED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

Except when authorized by law or regulation,

the importation and exportation of the following
restricted goods are prohibited:
 SECTION 119:
RESTRICTED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(a) Dynamite, gunpowder, ammunitions and other explosives,

firearms and weapons of war, or parts thereof
 SECTION 119:
RESTRICTED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION
(b) Roulette wheels, gambling outfits, loaded dice, marked cards,
machines, apparatus or mechanical devices used in gambling or the
distribution of money, cigars, cigarettes or other goods when such
distribution is dependent on chance, including jackpot and pinball
machines or similar contrivances, or parts thereof;
 SECTION 119:
RESTRICTED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(c) Lottery and sweepstakes tickets, except advertisements

thereof and lists of drawings therein;
 SECTION 119:
RESTRICTED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION
(d) Marijuana, opium, poppies, coca leaves, heroin or other narcotics or
synthetic drugs which are or may hereafter be declared habit forming by the
President of the Philippines, or any compound, manufactured salt, derivative, or
preparation thereof, except when imported by the government of the Philippines
or any person duly authorized by the Dangerous Drugs Board, for medicinal
purposes;
 SECTION 119:
RESTRICTED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(e) Opium pipes or parts thereof, of whatever

material
 SECTION 119:
RESTRICTED IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION

(f) Any other goods whose importation and

exportation are restricted.

The restriction to import or export the above

stated goods shall include the restriction on
their transit