The Bureau of Customs (BOC) now requires that values of auto shipments under certain tariff headings be verified by the Import Assessment Service (IAS) prior to release.
Affected by this new policy are all imports of Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors members, and all shipments of buses, trucks, cargo vans, jeepneys/jeepney substitutes, single cab chassis, and special-purpose vehicles, which were excluded from IAS value verification due to Customs Memorandum Circular (CMC) 70-2014 issued by former Customs commissioner John Sevilla.
Under a memo dated January 14, 2019 and signed January 31, 2019, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero suspended the exclusion of some auto shipments under CMC No. 70-2014. (It must be noted though that the subject heading of the Guerrero memo [“Suspension of the Exclusion from the Coverage of Customs Memorandum Circular 7-2013“] conflicts with the circular number actually mentioned [CMC 70-2014] in the body of the very same memo. Based on PortCalls’ verification, CMC 70-2014 [and not CMC 7-2013] appears to be the correct memo alluded to in the Jan 14 circular.).
The Jan 14 memo requires completely built automobiles with AHTN (ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature) headings 87.02 and 97.03 and propelled by gasoline, diesel, electricity, or any other motive power with engine displacement of 2,000 cc and above to be referred to IAS for value verification.
Guerrero said the exclusion was suspended “in order to closely monitor the proper and correct valuation of shipments of motor vehicles…”
He said all shipments of completely built motor vehicles shall be referred to IAS for value verification and proper or correct valuation.
IAS has been directed to ensure that the value verification of motor vehicles “will not in any manner cause delay, obstruct or impede the regular clearance procedure of cargoes.” – Roumina Pablo
