DTI orders action on backlog in clearances

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) ordered the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) to immediately process applications for import commodity clearance (ICC), as delays are costing importers “millions of pesos in demurrage.”

Memorandum Order No. 15752, a copy of which was published yesterday in a newspaper, noted the delayed release of importers’ shipments from the Bureau of Customs.

This stemmed from the BPS’ failure to process new ICC applications since 2014, because of the “sheer number” of previously issued show cause orders that the agency has yet to resolve.

“Long queues of products for testing in some testing laboratories and non-payment of fees to inspection bodies as well as other administrative concerns were also observed to be contributing to the delays in the issuance of the ICC,” read the memorandum, which was signed by Undersecretary of Consumer Protection Group Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba.

The DTI laid down rules for processing applications to transfer warehouses, importations intended for the importer’s own use, and applications with new bills of lading, among others.

The department also told importers to “immediately settle” their unpaid inspection fees with the BPS- designated inspection bodies.

“All employees and officials of BPS, inspection bodies and testing laboratories, as well as all importers, traders, brokers, indentors, and manufacturers are reminded and encouraged to police their own ranks and that they shall report any and all forms of delay for no good reason,” the memorandum read.

Cases of bribery, as well as graft and corrupt acts must also be reported, “whether directly or indirectly solicited by any parties.”

“This Order shall take effect immediately and may be amended or revised as and when necessary,” the memorandum read.

At present, the pending ICC applications are under various stages of certification. These include those awaiting product inspection and sampling; test reports from test laboratories; test report evaluation by the BPS product managers; or the issuance of the ICC itself. —