All imported cement to undergo test – DAO draft
All cement importation will have to undergo mandatory testing upon arrival at the port of entry, regardless if it had undergone pre-shipment inspection or not at the manufacturer’s plant, according to the draft administrative order (DAO) on cement importation rules and regulations.
Upon arrival at the port of entry, the shipment will be allowed conditional release but cannot be distributed to the market until after test results are completed.
The draft DAO also allows importers. whether they are local cement manufacturers or pure traders, to have the option to avail of pre-shipment inspection or straight inspection and testing upon arrival of the product at the port of entry.
To those availing of the pre-shipment, Rule 6 of the draft DAO provides that to ensure that the imported cement was sourced from a manufacturer with a valid license and consistently conforms to the requirements of the Standards, the importer shall apply for Statement of Confirmation (SOC) on a per product, per shipment, per bill of lading basis.
The application for SOC shall be filed together with the request to utilize the services of the Bureau of Product Standards’ recognized inspection body and testing laboratory. Upon receipt of the complete application and request, the BPS shall issue the written authority to conduct inspection.
Product inspection shall be conducted at the declared manufacturer’s/ exporter’s warehouse by the BPS or the identified BPS recognized inspection body in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof.
Product testing shall also be conducted by the identified BPS recognized testing laboratory in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof. The BPS recognized testing laboratory is required to submit directly to the BPS the original copy of test reports of the 3-days, 7-days, and 28-days (if needed) result of testing. If the result of 3 or 7-days compressive strength testing meets the 28- days compressive strength requirements as well as the chemical composition conforms to the requirements of the standards, Certificate of Conditional Release shall be issued.
Upon arrival of shipment at the port of entry, product inspection and sampling shall be conducted within 16 working hours from receipt of the written notice at the port of entry, vessel, or the importer’s warehouse, whichever is applicable.
If inspection shows that the product shipped is consistent with the importation documents as well as with the preshipment inspection report submitted, SOC shall be issued by the BPS within 16 working hours from receipt of the inspection report, provided that the shipment arrives at the port of entry within 30-days from the date of product testing. Otherwise, full testing shall be conducted.
The drawn samples shall be submitted to the BPS recognized testing laboratory within
16 working hours from the date of inspection and sampling for the conduct of Critical Test.
For importers applying for SOC without pre-shipment inspection and testing, the same procedures apply where the applicant shall submit the duly accomplished and subscribed application form and requirements to the BPS or to the nearest DTI regional/provincial office.
Upon receipt of the application complete with all the requirements, Certificate of Conditional Release shall be issued.
Upon arrival of shipment at the port of entry, the importer shall notify in writing the BPS/ DTI regional/provincial office that the shipment has been transferred and/or is ready for inspection. The shipment shall be transferred only to the warehouse address indicated in the application and shall not be used or offered for sale before results are completed.
The Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) expressed hope that once the new draft DAO becomes final, it will not be challenged as a technical barrier to trade in the World Trade Organization by exporting countries like Vietnam and China.
“At best the bias in favor of the local plants importing cement was taken out because all inspection will be done here,” said LKI President Victorio Mario Dimagiba.
The only problem though is the government has only one testing facility.
The post shipment inspection is also expected to cost pure importers additional cost in warehousing.
As such, Dimagiba would like DTI to set an SRP (suggested retail price) for imported and locally manufactured cement. (BCM)