THE regulation requiring exporters and manufacturers to secure permits from the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the importation, handling and transport of controlled chemicals will remain suspended until the new rules take effect.
During a recent consultation on the draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR), Police Director Elmer Soria of the PNP Civil Security Group said they were finalizing the new rules.
The IRR is expected to be signed by the PNP chief on April 15 and by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary on April 22. It is targeted to take effect on May 7.
Until then, the moratorium would be in effect, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in a statement.
“PNP will include a section in the IRR on the transition period and will formally notify the BOC (Bureau of Customs) of the extension,” the DTI stated.
Federico T. Escalona, Philexport Cebu executive director, said the regulation has hurt Cebu’s shellcraft manufacturers and exporters, which are mostly micro, small and medium businesses.
“We’re known as the center of the shellcraft industry in the Philippines. That’s why we lobbied against this regulation,” he said.
A technical working group (TWG) was created to look into the duplication of requirements and processes in the chemicals industry, described by DTI Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba as “one of the most highly regulated industries in the country.”
The industry is regulated by several agencies, namely, Philippine Drugs and Enforcement Agency, Dangerous Drugs Board, PNP, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Customs, and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority.
A total of 41 substances, including common household chemicals and those used by various industries, are regulated.
Importation, handling and transport of these chemicals require a permit from the PNP.
PNP issued a 60-day moratorium from December 9, 2015 to February 9, 2016 on the regulation.
This was extended to April 30, or until the IRR takes effect.
The IRR was drafted pursuant to Section 4-C to 4-F of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act (RA) No. 9516.
This provides the list of chemicals to be controlled as well as the streamlined procedures for the regulation including on storage, handling and transport of controlled chemicals.