Several regulated products including toys, cosmetics, and over-the-counter drugs may now be brought into the Philippines without prior approval if they pass certain criteria, according to a joint circular signed by three Philippine government agencies.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Health (DOH), and its attached agency Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have signed Joint Circular (JC) No. 1 that allows importation of FDA-regulated products without prior clearance provided they are for personal use and in quantities not exceeding FDA-prescribed limits. The circular was signed by Health Secretary Janette Garin and Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina.
These products should be brought into the Philippines in any of these ways: in passenger baggage, whether accompanied or unaccompanied; in balikbayan (personal effects) boxes; or in parcels sent through mail or delivery service.
The regulated items include childcare articles; toys; cosmetics; household hazardous substance (i. e., detergents, fabric conditioners/softeners, dishwashing liquids.); in-vitro diagnostic products; medical devices (except those used for health maintenance, such as insulin needles and lancets which are sold in packs of up to 100 pieces); over-the-counter drugs; prescription drugs; vitamins, supplements, and other health supplements intended for health maintenance; processed food (including cooked food); and wines and liquor.
Each product has an allowed quantity.
“Any quantity of the covered products, whether declared or undeclared, beyond the specified limits which do not have the required FDA-DOH clearance, will be seized and forfeited in favor of the government,” the circular stated.
“Those within the specified limit shall be allowed without FDA-DOH clearance subject to payment of customs duties, when necessary,” it added.
For fresh or frozen unprocessed foods—including fresh fruits, frozen meat, fresh fish—they may not be brought into, or sent to, the Philippines without prior clearance from the relevant agency of the Department of Agriculture, even in quantities for personal use.
JC No. 1-2015 stipulates, too, that imports of any household urban pesticides will require prior FDA clearance.
“All dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, and other similar or analogous substances are subject to the regulations of Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA),” the circular declared.
The joint circular is effective immediately. Lina, in a memo signed July 13, reiterated the coverage and effectivity of JC No. 1-2015 to BOC officials and concerned stakeholders. – Roumina Pablo
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