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Importers are once more required to submit an Import Assessment Service clearance before release of certain goods, including cars, processed meat products, and iron and steel
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Office of the Commissioner Memorandum No. 03-2023 revoked OCOM Memorandum 43-2022 issued in April last year dropping the IAS clearance requirement
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The requirement to secure IAS clearance takes effect immediately
Shipments of cars, processed meat products, and iron and steel, among other products, need an Import Assessment Service (IAS) clearance before they are released by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The BOC recently reimposed the requirement via Office of the Commissioner Memorandum No. 03-2023 dated January 10. Signed by acting Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, the order revoked OCOM Memorandum 43-2022, which removed in April last year the IAS clearance requirement prior to release of certain goods in the exigency of trade facilitation.
Ruiz said the revocation of OCOM Memo 43-2022 aims to protect government revenue and is pursuant to the mandate of the IAS under Executive Order No. 127 series of 1987, which reorganized the Ministry of Finance (now Department of Finance) and its attached agencies such as the Bureau of Customs.
The requirement to secure IAS clearance prior to release takes effect immediately, according to OCOM Memo 03-2023.
Imported items covered by the IAS clearance requirement include the following:
- Automobiles propelled by gasoline, diesel, electricity, or any other motive power with engine displacement of 2,000 cc and above, including car shipments of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and members of the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors. This category includes all shipments of buses, trucks, cargo vans, jeepneys/jeepney substitutes, single-cab chassis, and special-purpose vehicles
- Processed meat products
- Yarn and fabric
- Resin
- Iron and steel
- All other commodities previously required to be referred to IAS for clearance prior to release
All issuances contrary to OCOM Memo 03-2023 are ordered nullified. IAS, an office under the Assessment and Operation Coordinating Group, is in charge of monitoring the assessment of all imported goods. – Roumina Pablo
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