Philippines

Distributing a product

Organizations in the retail sector

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Non tariff barriers

Imports generally benefit from a liberalised regime. However, the imports of certain products are regulated and sometimes forbidden in accordance with the current laws, for health, national safety, or international requirements reasons or in order to protect the development of local industry.
Imports are currently classified into three categories according to the degree of restriction they are submitted to: freely imported products, regulated and forbidden products.
For regulated products, an import license is necessary. It is obtained by applying to the concerned authorities (for example, certain foodstuffs or pharmaceutical products require the authorisation of the Food and Drug Authority).
The third category consists in products forbidden on import, in accordance with the laws in application, such as, explosives, firearms and war weapons, precious metals, narcotics, drugs, coffee, etc.

Customs classification

The Filipino customs system is based on the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) of the United Nations (Revision 2). Duties are usually calculated ad valorem, and specified in the Philippines Customs Code. There is a programme of reduction and simplification of the duties in conformity with the liberalisation policy of the Philippine Government. In that perspective, the planned a customs system that will classify imported products only into two categories: raw materials and finished products. For these categories, fixed rates of respectively 3% and 10% duty will be applied. The objective of this programme should be achieved by January 1, 2003.

Import procedures

The Filipino customs system is based on the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) of the United Nations (Revision 2). Duties are usually calculated ad valorem, and specified in the Philippines Customs Code. There is a programme of reduction and simplification of the duties in conformity with the liberalisation policy of the Philippine Government. In that perspective, the planned a customs system that will classify imported products only into two categories: raw materials and finished products. For these categories, fixed rates of respectively 3% and 10% duty will be applied. The objective of this programme should be achieved by January 1, 2003.

For further information

Organizing goods transport

Ports

The Philippine airline company Airways
The international airport of Manilla

Airports

Sea transport organizations

Air transport organizations

Road transport organizations

Rail transport organizations