Philippines: New rules released on importing US green veggies
In DA administrative Circular No. 02, Series of 2014, which ran in a broadsheet, the regulator said that it issued the rules mainly to “determine potential risks of introducing quarantine pests of vegetables from the US” and establish pertinent measures such as quarantine and treatment.
The order covers celery, lettuce, and crucifers such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy (Baguio pechay), turnips, and wasabi.
Importers must apply for accreditation by paying an initial P5,000 and an annual renewal processing fee of P3,000 in addition to attending a seminar, submitting facilities to inspection, and presenting valid state permits including papers from the local government, the Bureau of Customs (BoC), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Applicants must also have a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Import Clearance from the BPI, which is valid for two months, and Plant Quarantine Clearance (PQC), which is non-transferable.
Vegetables bound for the Philippines must only come from the states of California and Arizona, and must be washed and subject to random inspection, before packing into boxes properly labelled as destined for the country.
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