Policy direction and temporary moratorium
- A temporary moratorium is imposed on the processing and approval of applications to establish and operate Industry-Specific Customs Bonded Warehouses (ICBWs).
- All ICBW applications are covered by the moratorium except those filed on or before 20 September 2004.
- Applications that are not covered by the exception are “outrightly” denied until further instructions from the undersigned.
- The moratorium applies to both processing and approval, not only to final grant.
Coverage, deadline, and scope of denial
- The cutoff date for exemption from the moratorium is 20 September 2004.
- Applications filed after 20 September 2004 are denied outright and are not processed to approval.
- The moratorium is framed as covering “applications to establish and operate ICBWs,” including both establishment and operation.
Exceptions for other customs warehouse programs
- The moratorium does not cover applications for the establishment and operation of Customs Bonded Manufacturing Warehouses under Sections 2001–2004 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended.
- The moratorium does not cover applications for registration as end user-clients (except BOI-DTI registered firms) of existing ICBWs under CAO 7-2002 and CAO 7-2003.
- The moratorium does not cover accreditation as members of existing Common Bonded Manufacturing Warehouses under CMO 39-91.
- Applications within these exceptions may be processed, subject to clearance requirements before approval.
Clearance requirement before approval
- For the exception categories, clearance must be obtained prior to approval from the Commissioner of Customs.
- Processing is permitted for these exception applications, but approval is conditioned on obtaining the required clearance.
- The clearance requirement applies specifically to: establishment and operation of Customs Bonded Manufacturing Warehouses, registration of end user-clients of existing ICBWs, and accreditation of members of existing Common Bonded Manufacturing Warehouses.
Effectivity and duration
- The order takes effect immediately.
- The order lasts until it is revoked.
- No fixed termination date is established; duration continues until revocation by the issuing authority.