The Bureau of Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport has destroyed another three tons of unsafe goods in Trece Martires, Cavite on Monday.
Among the items disposed include hazardous mobile phones, expired food supplies, dietary supplements and medicines which were imported without the necessary clearances and permits from concerned agencies.
The continuous condemnation of overstaying and unsafe goods is part of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s thrust to inspect all abandoned and overstaying cargoes and the immediately disposal of the same.
The Customs collection district in NAIA under the supervision of Collector Carmelita Talusan has also been in the forefront of expediting releases of all Covid-19 related items such as face masks, face shields, medicines and Personal Protective Equipment with complete manpower in all warehouses and all passenger terminals of the airport.
As of August 19, Talusan’s office facilitated the release of 260 boxes of face shields for Impaxive Import and Export Trading and 1,288 Packages Coverall Protection, and 103 Boxes Surgical Mask for the United Children’s Fund Inc.
The agency also organized a One Stop Shop at the airport to facilitate the release of those items.
As a general rule, importers of all products are required to obtain appropriate marketing authorization from the Food and Drug Administration in the form of either a Certificate of Product Notification or Certificate of Product Registration depending on the health risk of their products prior to customs release.
Considering the Covid-19 outbreak, the FDA coordinated with the bureau that foreign donations of PPEs (Face Masks including N95 Masks, Shoe Covers, Gloves, Head Covers, and Gowns) are exempted from securing an FDA clearance.
The FDA also said that companies, other than medical device establishments, who use facemasks in the performance of their jobs and are strictly for company use are allowed to make direct importation without any certification from the agency.
As to PPEs intended to enter the local market for commercial purposes, the FDA clarified that importers of PPEs for commercial purposes are exempt from presentation of certificates prior customs release provided that they are able to provide a copy of License to Operate and proof of application for product notification with the FDA.
Both agencies assured the public that they are prioritizing the expeditious facilitation of PPEs for donation and commercial purposes.
