The Department of Agriculture (DA) is taking steps to simplify the import process for agricultural products and reduce food prices by establishing a technical working group (TWG).
The TWG, headed by Undersecretary for policy, planning and regulations Asis Perez, will focus on streamlining procedures and eliminating unnecessary hurdles such as non-tariff barriers for importers.
It aims to make it easier for qualified importers to obtain licenses and exempt them from submitting redundant registration documents.
The group will collaborate with the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) Committee on Tariff and Related Matters (TRM) to allow the import of specific agricultural products exceeding the current Minimum Access Volume quotas.
It also seeks to eliminate administrative fees associated with agricultural product imports while the processing and requirements for obtaining sanitary and phytosanitary permits, crucial for agricultural imports, will be simplified.
The group will address inefficiencies in logistics, transportation, distribution and storage of imported agricultural products.
Special Order No. 768 also mandates all concerned DA agencies to publish the streamlined procedures, requirements and policies in the Official Gazette or a national newspaper to ensure transparency and wider communication.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel also established a TWG secretariat which will be responsible for monitoring the TWG’s progress, ensuring efficient operation and submitting regular reports to the DA.
