Legal basis and cited issuances
- Republic Act No. 1556 governs the authority to regulate and control matters addressed through BAI import permits.
- Presidential Decree No. 7 dated September 21, 1972 amends Republic Act No. 1556.
- DA-AO No. 24 dated August 21, 1991 provides authority connected to the BAI import permit framework.
- NFA Circular 1992 No. 41 dated May 18, 1992 is cited in the authority for the Circular’s monitoring and permit controls.
- Ministry Order No. 6-83 of the Ministry of Finance is cited as the basis for inspection-fee rates for sample collection and feed quality control.
- Batas Pambansa Blg. 325 dated August 23, 1983 is cited in connection with Ministry Order No. 6-83.
- DA-AO No. 37 dated 12-20-91 is cited as the approval basis for the import permit processing fee.
Policy, purpose, and monitoring intent
- The Circular directs monitoring of the quality of all imported feeds/feedstuff and veterinary drugs and products.
- The Circular requires permit controls so that imported animal feeds and related veterinary products are subject to feed-quality control sampling and inspection.
- The Circular enjoins applicants and importers to observe the guidelines prior to importation and opening of the Letter of Credit.
Coverage and permit requirement scope
- Prospective importers must obtain a BAI import permit from BAI-AFSD (Animal Feeds Standard Division) before importing covered items.
- The permit requirement covers all applications/requests for import permits for:
- Feeds/feed additive supplements,
- Trace minerals and choline chloride,
- Feed grades or prepared animal feeds/veterinary drug and product premixes,
- Water solubles coded SEP 081.99.01 and other preparations of a kind used for animal food, n.e.s. coded SEP 081.99.09, which do not contain corn or corn substitutes, and
- Feed ingredients of the same kind used for animal food.
- The Circular expressly enjoins applications/requests covering products that do not contain corn or corn substitutes for water solubles coded SEP 081.99.01 and n.e.s. coded SEP 081.99.09.
- All import permit processing and reporting instructions are tied to AFSD Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.
Permit application requirements
- Prospective applicants for BAI import permit submission must file documents with the Animal Feeds Standard Division of BAI.
- For New Applications, applicants must submit:
- a duly accomplished BAI application form,
- a Pro-forma Invoice,
- samples of not less than 250 grams per product for analysis purposes, plus the cost of laboratory,
- test procedures/protocol for feed additives, feed supplements, veterinary drug and product premixes, and water solubles,
- a Certificate of analysis, certificate of free sale, and certificate of product registration of the imported products, duly authenticated by the Philippine consulate from the country of origin,
- brochures, complete technical dossiers/relevant literatures and/or scientific evidences on feed additives, supplements, veterinary drug and product premixes, and water solubles,
- a copy of authenticated Foreign Agency Contract or notarized valid contract of Agreement with the manufacturer, containing a stipulation that the manufacturer and trader are jointly responsible for the quality of the product, and
- a copy of authenticated government certificate attesting to the status of the manufacturers competency and reliability of the personnel and facilities.
- For Old Applications, applicants must submit:
- a valid BAI license,
- a duly accomplished BAI application form,
- a latest import permit for repeat order of products with the same supplier,
- a pro-forma invoice.
- BAI shall not be precluded from requesting importers additional requirements for permit processing.
- Applications with incomplete requirements shall not be accepted/processed.
- Before issuance of the approved permit, the importer must pay the appropriate import permit processing fee as approved under DA-AO No. 37 dated 12-20-91, and the fee covers all expenses incurred by BAI-AFSD in processing the import permit.
Reporting and shipment requirements
- Importers must report all importations contracted or booked to AFSD at Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City of the Bureau of Animal Industry within five (5) working days from the contracted date.
- Reports of importation must be supported by a xerox copy of the Letter of Credit (LC) issued by the Central Bank of the Philippines, Manila or other authorized commercial banks.
- Importers must report the actual arrival of the shipment to AFSD so that a BAI duly authorized representative can:
- collect samples for feed quality control purposes, and
- collect payment of inspection fees.
- Inspection fees are:
- fifty (P0.50) centavos per ton of feeds/feedstuff, and
- twenty (P0.20) centavos per kilogram of feed additives/supplements/premixes imported.
- If a shipment has been cancelled or delayed, the same must be reported to AFSD.
Permit validity and compliance period
- Import permits are generally valid for a maximum of 60 calendar days.
- Permit validity covers the period from the date of issuance of the import permit up to the expected latest date of vessel arrival.
Non-compliance consequences, repeals, and sanctions
- Non-compliance with the Circular subjects the offender to:
- prosecution, and
- the penalties provided for under RA 1556 as amended by PD No. 7, and
- other applicable laws, rules and regulations,
- without prejudice to the imposition of administrative sanctions.
- Any provision of letter circular orders and regulations inconsistent with the Circular’s provisions is repealed and/or modified accordingly.