BOC implements tax, duty-exempt importations of PPEs, medical emergency supplies
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has issued Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 07-2020 that will serve as the guidelines for the tax and duty-exempt importations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical emergency supplies under Section 4(O) of Republic Act (RA) No. 11469, otherwise known as the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, in support of the nation’s fight against COVID-19.
Bureau of Customs (MANILA BULLETIN)
The CAO expedites customs clearance of tax and duty-exempt importations of PPEs and medical goods which are urgently needed by the country’s citizens, frontliners, and medical supplies manufacturers to deal with the public health emergency.
To achieve this, importers of PPEs and medical equipment and supplies for commercial purposes are now exempted from presenting the certificate of product notification (CPN) or certificate of product registration (CPR) issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) prior to release from the BOC, provided that they present a copy of their license to operate (LTO) and proof of application for product notification with the FDA.
Those importing ventilators, respirators, and their respective accessories for commercial purposes only need to present a copy of their LTO.
In addition, imported health products for donation which are certified by regulatory agencies or accredited third party organizations in the originating countries shall be automatically cleared, while an FDA clearance will not be required prior to release of foreign donations of PPEs, ventilators, respirators, and their respective accessories that will be used to treat COVID-19 patients.
Imported goods under Section 4(O) of RA 11469 which are released under provisional goods declaration are subject to the submission of a tax exemption indorsement (TEI) issued by the Department of Finance-Revenue Office (DOF-RO) after April 12 or upon lifting of the declaration of enhanced community quarantine, whichever comes earlier.
In relation to this order, the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Memorandum Order 10-2020 in which an authority to release imported goods (ATRIG) is no longer required for importations of PPEs and medical emergency supplies.
CAO 07-2020 was published today (April 1) and is effective immediately.
Bureau of Customs (MANILA BULLETIN)
The CAO expedites customs clearance of tax and duty-exempt importations of PPEs and medical goods which are urgently needed by the country’s citizens, frontliners, and medical supplies manufacturers to deal with the public health emergency.
To achieve this, importers of PPEs and medical equipment and supplies for commercial purposes are now exempted from presenting the certificate of product notification (CPN) or certificate of product registration (CPR) issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) prior to release from the BOC, provided that they present a copy of their license to operate (LTO) and proof of application for product notification with the FDA.
Those importing ventilators, respirators, and their respective accessories for commercial purposes only need to present a copy of their LTO.
In addition, imported health products for donation which are certified by regulatory agencies or accredited third party organizations in the originating countries shall be automatically cleared, while an FDA clearance will not be required prior to release of foreign donations of PPEs, ventilators, respirators, and their respective accessories that will be used to treat COVID-19 patients.
Imported goods under Section 4(O) of RA 11469 which are released under provisional goods declaration are subject to the submission of a tax exemption indorsement (TEI) issued by the Department of Finance-Revenue Office (DOF-RO) after April 12 or upon lifting of the declaration of enhanced community quarantine, whichever comes earlier.
In relation to this order, the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Memorandum Order 10-2020 in which an authority to release imported goods (ATRIG) is no longer required for importations of PPEs and medical emergency supplies.
CAO 07-2020 was published today (April 1) and is effective immediately.