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How to Import

Any person/company intending to import plants/plant products shall file an application for Plant Quarantine Clearance (PQC) (BPI Q Form No. 1)(personal purposes) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) (commercial purposes) with the NPQSD prior to importation. Importations which require PQC/SPSIC and are subject to inspection.
1.     Living plants
2.     Nursery stocks, including vegetative parts thereof used as propagating materials
3.     Seeds nut for planting
4.     Fresh fruits, vegetables, and other plant products, which have been declared as prohibited/restricted imports under Special Quarantine Orders by Virtue of their being known hosts of certain plant pests, or because they originate from restricted areas.
5.     Pure cultures of fungi, bacteria, virus, nematodes and other phytopathogenic materials.
6.     Mushroom cultures including spawn
7.     Algae cultures, rhizobial cultures as legume inoculants.
8.     Soil and plant materials for isolation of organism
9.     Other plants cultures
10.   Certain species of animals such as insects, birds, monkeys, reptiles are capable of causing injury to agricultural crops are liable to become agricultural crop pests.
11.   Biocontrol agents and genetically modified organism/materials.
Initial Evaluation Prior to PQC/SPSIC Application
The following processes shall be conducted prior to prior to the issuance of a PQC/SPSIC:

PEST RISK ANALYSIS (PRA)

Before a commodity (plant/plant product) can be imported from a certain country it should first undergo Pest Risk Analysis (PRA)-ISPM 11. It is an international standard Plant Quarantine procedure conducted by the importing country in assessing the risk of entry of any plant/plant product capable of harboring insect pests, plant diseases, and other plant-associated organisms. The result of the PRA will be the basis whether the importation of the commodity will be allowed or not. (Process Flow)

CATEGORIZATION OF COMMODITIES

In accordance with DA Quarantine Administrative Circular No. 01 Series of 2014 Guidelines for Categorization of Commodities of Plant Origin. Provides guidance in categorizing commodities according to their pest risk which is important when establishing phytosanitary import requirements.
Category I
Commodities that have been processed to the point where they do not remain capable of being infested with quarantine pests and therefore, should not be regulated
Category II
Commodities that have been processed to the point where the commodity remains capable of being infested with some quarantine pests. Intended use may be for consumption or further processing. PRA may be required for quarantine pests that may not be eliminated by the process.
Category III
Commodities that have not been processed. Intended use of commodity is for consumption or processing. PRA is necessary.
Category IV
Commodities that have not been processed. Intended use is for planting. PRA is necessary.

APPLICATION FOR IMPORT CLEARANCES/CERTIFICATES

PLANT QUARANTINE SERVICE CERTIFICATE (PQSC)

  • Issued prior to importation for commodities that fall under Category I
                How to apply for PQSC?
  • The importer must submit a letter of application for their specific category 1 commodity.
  • Application will be evaluated, if the commodity does fall under category 1, the registration team will endorse a PQSC to the BPI Director for approval.
  • Upon approval by the BPI Director, the registration team will release the PQSC to the importer.

    PLANT QUARANTINE CLEARANCE (PQC) and SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY IMPORT CLEARANCE (SPSIC)

      • Both are issued for Category II, III and IV commodities however PQCs are issued for importation of commodities for personal consumption while SPSICs are for commercial purposes.
      • Issued prior to importation to ensure that products being imported meet standards to protect human, animal or plant life or health, and to prevent the spread of pests or diseases among animals or plants.
      • Prescribes the condition to be complied by the importer for the maintenance of quality and suitability of product for the intended purposes.

        How to apply for PQC/SPSIC?

        • FOR PQC: Application should be filed personally at the NPQSD Central office with the following requirements:  (Process Flow)
        • For SPSIC: The applicant must be a registered importer of BPI and shall file application through intercommerce.com.ph (Process Flow)

        LICENSE TO OPERATE-IMPORTER  (Process Flow)

        Prior to application of SPSIC for importation of plants, planting materials and plant products for commercial purposes the applicant needs to be registered first as importer. This is pursuant to DA Department Circular no. 04 series of 2016 Guidelines on the Importation of Plants, Planting Materials and Plant Products for Commercial Purposes The company shall submit to NPQSD Central Office the following requirements:
        1. Notarized Application form for Registration
        2. Current Mayor’s Permit or Business Permit (CTC)
        3. Proof of Business Establishment:
        • For Corporation: SEC Registration, Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws (with Cert. of Good Standing)
        • For Cooperatives: CDA Registration, Articles of Cooperation and By-Laws (with Cert. of Good Standing/Cert. of Compliance)
        • For Single Proprietorship: DTI Registration
        • For PEZA Special Economic Zone: PEZA Registration
        1. Proof of Existence and Authority to use Storage/Warehouse (if applicable) or DA Accredited Cold Storage Warehouse (with DA Cert. of Accreditation) as follows:
        • Proof of Ownership (OCT/TCT of Land in the name of importer or valid lease contract with OCT/TCT of lessor;
        • Physical Sketch and GPS of the exact location of the warehouse;
        • 5R pictures of the warehouse with dated newspaper
        • For rice importers: Distribution areas for the imported rice
        1. Updated and Current Registration with BOC Registration of Importer and/or authorized Broker
        2. Special Power of Attorney with two 2×2 ID picture for Representatives (max. of 3 representatives)
        3. Annual Income Tax Return with Audited Financial Statement of the owner/importer for the last 3 years
         For Plant Food Importation refer to this memorandum
        Upon approval of the application and payment of regulatory fee, the PQC/SPSIC is issued to the applicant importer in four copies: the original shall be given to the importer for presentation to the Plant Quarantine officer at the port of entry: the duplicate copy shall be Plant Quarantine of the source country for compliance of the terms and conditions stipulated in the permit: the third copy shall be furnished to the collector of Customs at the port of entry: and the fourth copy shall be filed with the PQS.
     

    Inspection upon Arrival of Commodities

    Application for inspection upon arrival

    The importer shall file with the PQS a duly accomplished Application for Inspection at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to arrival of the consignment. The following documents shall be submitted:
    1. Phytosanitary Certificate (original FAO/IPPC Model) issued by the PQ of the country of origin;
    2. PQC/SPSIC (original copy) issued by PQS
    3. Bill of lading/airway bill;
    4. Inward cargo manifest and Bureau of Customs (BOC) entry declaration (photocopy)
    In the absence of a PQC/SPSIC or Phytosanitary Certificate (PC), the consignment shall be held under BOC custody or transferred (upon importer’s request) to PQS custody until such documents are presented.
    In the absence of both PQC/SPSIC and PC, the consignment shall either be returned to the country of origin or re-exported to another accepting country or destroyed.
    PORTS PROCEDURE
    Upon arrival of the consignment the importer shall apply for inspection (BPI Q Form No. 4) at PQS office in the port of entry. The importer shall provide pertinent documents during inspection, sample will also be collected for laboratory analysis