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The Philippine Competition Commission and the Anti-Red Tape Authority held a policy dialogue on May 5 to address potential competition issues in livestock and poultry imports
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PCC flagged excessive sanitary and phytosanitary measures as possible non-tariff barriers
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ARTA cited the dialogue as a step toward reviewing regulatory bottlenecks and overlapping mandates
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) are looking to improve regulatory efficiency and market competition in the livestock and poultry sectors through streamlined implementation of non-tariff measures.
In a policy dialogue held on May 5 at the PCC office, both agencies discussed competition concerns linked to inconsistent and burdensome sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, documentation requirements, and procedural delays that may deter imports.
The dialogue followed a recent PCC study that identified livestock, poultry, and dairy as major contributors to the agricultural sector, accounting for about one-third of total output.
Domestic meat consumption is expected to rise by 3.45% annually between 2023 and 2028, underscoring the need for efficient import processes to meet demand.
While SPS measures serve legitimate health and safety purposes, the PCC emphasized that when they are excessive or inconsistently applied, they may act as trade barriers and restrict competition.
The agency also pointed to gaps in policy implementation, including inconsistent guidelines and documentation requirements across regulatory bodies, which add cost and delay to importers.
ARTA shared its ongoing efforts to harmonize regulatory mandates through inter-agency collaboration. It highlighted capacity-building initiatives such as regulatory impact assessments (RIA) designed to ensure that policies are evidence-based, cost-effective, and competition-friendly.
According to ARTA, the PCC’s findings will be used to identify specific bottlenecks for review and coordination with other agencies.
Both ARTA and PCC are mandated under Chapter 10 of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 to enhance regulatory quality and promote fair competition.
The dialogue is part of the PCC’s broader agenda to work with regulators in reviewing sector-specific rules and practices that may hinder market entry or restrict trade.
READ: PCC, DA collaborate vs anti-competitive practices in agriculture
