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The Department of Finance has approved the proposal to extend validity of importers’ accreditation to three years from the current one year
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The application fee for accreditation will become P5,000 for the three-year period from the current P2,000 yearly rate
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Customs brokers’ accreditation will also be extended to three years
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The proposed extension will amend Bureau of Customs Administrative Order No. 07-2022, which provides procedures for accreditation of importers
The Department of Finance (DOF) has approved the proposal to extend validity of importers’ accreditation to three years from the current one year, according to Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
During the agency’s recent Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council assembly, Nepomuceno announced that Finance Secretary Frederick Go had already signed the proposed extension. DOF is the mother agency of BOC. Its chief needs to approve any new customs administrative order (CAO).
With the extension, the BOC chief said the application fee will become P5,000 for the three-year period from the current P2,000 yearly rate.
In response to the query of Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. national president Norberto Castillo during the assembly, Nepomuceno said customs brokers’ accreditation will also be included in the extension.
The proposed extension will amend BOC CAO No. 07-2022, which provides procedures for accreditation of importers.
The extension is “in direct response to stakeholder sentiments and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve ease of doing business” and aims “to enhance operational efficiency, integrity, and minimize opportunities for corruption,” BOC earlier said.
The agency added this will “not only reduce the administrative burden on importers but also simplify the process, allowing them to focus more on their operations rather than annual renewals.”
The shift is “expected to lead to smoother trade transactions, reducing unnecessary delays and fostering a more predictable regulatory environment for businesses,” BOC said.
The increase in processing fee, meanwhile, will help the agency “better manage the growing demands and enhance the accreditation system’s efficiency.”
Additionally, the application form will be updated to include additional fields, ensuring more accurate data collection and improving compliance monitoring.
To maintain transparency and accountability, the amendment will require importers to submit an annual reportorial compliance 30 days before the anniversary of their accreditation. This report will summarize any updates to business documents or information, ensuring that BOC is consistently up to date on the status of accredited importers.
In response to stakeholders’ feedback, the proposal outlines clear guidelines for automatic renewal of accreditations, simplifying the process for eligible importers. Under CAO 07-2022, accredited importers may also apply for automatic renewal of application. – Roumina Pablo
