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The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines lauded the implementation of a new Bureau of Customs order extending importer accreditation validity to three years from one year
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ECCP said the new policy reinforces the Philippines’ attractiveness as an investment destination, helps reduce administrative barriers, and allows local industries to focus on economic productivity
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BOC recently issued Customs Administrative Order No. 01-2026, which extended the accreditation validity and changed the requirements for automatic renewal of accreditation
The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) welcomes the implementation of a new Bureau of Customs (BOC) order extending importer accreditation validity to three years from one year.
“By extending accreditation validity and reducing total fees, the DOF [Department of Finance] reinforces the Philippines’ attractiveness as an investment destination. This development helps reduce administrative barriers, allowing our local industries to focus on economic productivity,” ECCP said in a statement.
BOC recently issued Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 01-2026, which amends certain provisions and adds new ones to CAO No. 07-2022, which provides guidelines for importers’ accreditation.
READ: 3-year importer accreditation takes effect under new BOC rules
CAO No. 01-2026 was signed by Finance Secretary Frederick Go on April 9 and Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno on March 31.
With the extension, the fee for new application and renewal will be P5,000 for the three-year period from the current P2,000 per year.
“By extending the validity of importer accreditation, we are reducing red tape and enabling a more efficient trade system that can meet growing consumer demand and support local industries,” Go said in an earlier statement. “This reform allows businesses to focus more on operations and growth rather than administrative requirements.”
The order revises requirements for first-time applicants, expounding on the list of principal officers and responsible officers, and adding the Affidavit of Undertaking to submit annual reportorial compliance, and report of change of business circumstance.
BOC will now also require the accredited importer to submit an Annual Reportorial Compliance (ARC) within 30 days from its accreditation anniversary date, containing the summary of all updated business documents or information within the year, including the fact of compliance under Section 8.4 (reporting of changes in business information) of CAO No. 07-2022.
In case there are no changes in business information within that period, the accredited importer should indicate the same in the ARC.
The new CAO still allows automatic renewal of accreditation, but requirements for such have been revised.
Importers who are holders of a valid Certificate of Accreditation will now be eligible to apply for automatic renewal if, at the time of application, they belong to any of the following categories:
The importer has maintained continuous accreditation for six consecutive years immediately preceding the renewal of its accreditation and with no history of suspension, revocation, or cancellation; or
The importer is an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) or a Super Green Lane (SGL) accredited importer.
Previously, the automatic renewal of accreditation did not have a required period or membership to trade facilitation programs such as AEO and SGL, although it required the importer to not have outstanding liabilities nor any pending case or investigation with BOC, and has not been issued a warrant seizure and detention against their shipments.
An accreditation charge will be paid by the importer once the application for automatic renewal is submitted.
The application for automatic renewal of accreditation should be acted upon within seven working days from receipt of the complete documentary requirements, which are also provided under the new CAO.
BOC earlier said 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 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.”
