DTI to review rules on cement imports

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said the government would review current rules on cement imports following an ongoing feud among importers and manufacturers on a proposed preshipment inspection.

A draft department order has sparked an ongoing debate among manufacturers and importers regarding the pros and cons of preshipment inspection, which is being considered as a substitute for testing the products upon arrival in the Philippines.

In separate letters addressed to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), several cement manufacturers urged the government to require both manufacturers and traders to have imported cement tested at the port, instead of relying on preshipment inspection, since this might risk consumer safety.

The following cement manufacturers have raised this concern in individual letters to DTI: Eagle Cement Corp., Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc., Mabuhay Filcement Inc., Northern Cement Corp., Republic Cement and Cemex Philippines.

On the other hand, in a statement on Saturday, the Philippine Cement Importers Association (PCIA) pushed for preshipment inspection not only because PCIA said it was consistent with international standards, but because “it prevents poor quality products from reaching the country.”

“If the imported cement products are brought in and tested in the Philippines as proposed by some sectors, what happens if they fail the standards test?” asked PCIA executive director Dani Enriquez.

“What guarantees do we have that they will be shipped back to their country of origin? Unscrupulous importers who are bound to lose hundreds of millions will definitely find a way to smuggle into the market these sub-standard cement, which will be easy since the products are already here in the Philippines.”

For the government’s part, Lopez said that the preshipment testing was proposed “to solve operational delays” after importers complained that the testing processing of checking upon arrival took days.

“Thus, the preshipment testing was proposed to solve the operational delays while still ensuring that the products that will come in are only those that pass the required standards test,” he told the Inquirer in a text message.

“Product standards will be ensured at all times to protect the consumers. Anyway, we will review the issues [the manufacturers] have against preshipment. If we use only accredited testing centers and ensure that the products tested are the exact batch that get in, then we can be assured of standard quality,” he said.