Determine the import conditions applicable to the goods imported into the Philipines
Under the Philippines’ Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), goods imported into the Philippines may fall into one of the following categories:
1. Regulated Importation: Goods under this category may only be imported into the Philippines when the importer obtains the required import permit/license and complies with specific conditions.
Enterprises can review details of the List of Regulated Import Commodities and the corresponding administering agencies at:
2. Prohibited Importation: Goods prohibited from importation into the Philippines include items intended to support or incite treason or rebellion, as well as obscene or pornographic materials such as publications, films, and drawings, among others.
3. Restricted Importation: In practice, these are goods that are otherwise prohibited unless expressly authorized by law under specific circumstances. Restricted imports include explosives, weapons, ammunition, marijuana, opium, and devices used for gambling, among others.
Enterprises can find further details on the list of prohibited and restricted goods for importation into the Philippines at:
https://customs.gov.ph/prohibited-restricted-importations/
4. Free Importation: These are goods that may be imported without the need to obtain an import permit/license or to meet any additional pre-import requirements. This category covers all goods that fall outside the above-mentioned lists of regulated, prohibited, or restricted imports.
Therefore, not all goods are permitted to be imported into the Philippines, and not all imported goods are subject to the same import regime. Accordingly, before importing goods into the Philippine market, importers should determine the applicable import category of the goods in order to identify and comply with the corresponding import procedures and requirements.
Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI
