Gov’t eases rules on ICC issuance

The Department of Trade and Industry has issued an administrative order to facilitate the issuance of import commodity clearances (ICC), as part of the government’s efforts to further ease doing business in the country.

“There are significant increases in the number of ICC applications and number of test reports received and evaluated by the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS). To expedite the process, I directed the BPS to adopt and implement stop-gap measures to facilitate ease in doing business which resulted to the issuance of Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 15-01, S.2015,” Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said in a statement.

“With the new DAO, the processing time for ICC applications is now limited to three working days. This further enhances DTI’s performance in ensuring ease in doing business without compromising product safety,” Domingo added.

Under the said order entitled “Measures to Facilitate the Issuance of the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC),” only products considered “life threatening” will be retained in the list of products under mandatory certification, while the rest of the products will be under “mandatory labeling.”

Products listed under mandatory certification will be subject to test procedures based on specified requirements while those under mandatory labeling will be subject only to visual inspection of markings or labels.

The new order identified products whose test reports would have a one-year validity from the date of issuance, provided that the imported products were manufactured by the same company, with the same type and model.

The list included blender; magnetic/electronic ballast; CD/VCD/DVD player; oven toaster; circuit breaker; plug, socket outlet and extension cord; coffee maker; pneumatic tires; electric cables/wires; rice cooker; electric fan; switch; electric flat iron; sanitary wares; electric stove; starters/lamp holders; fuse and fuse holder; washing machine; and glow starter.

There are products that have been delisted from mandatory certification,  meant to complement the new policies aimed at  fast-tracking the processing of ICC applications, said Trade Undersecretary Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba.

These products are ceramic tiles; plywood; flat glass; common nails; GI sheets; performance and labeling standards of self-ballasted lamps, single-capped fluorescent lamps, double-capped fluorescent lamps, and magnetic and electronic ballast.