Philippines: Rice Tariffication Guidelines Approved
On March 5, 2019, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs) of the Rice Tariffication Act were signed, specifying how the Philippines will replace its quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariffs. The IRRs provide the details to the trade liberalizing law that President Duterte approved on February 14, 2019. Foremost is the National Food Authority’s (NFA) drastically reduced role, with NFA import permits no longer required. Traders now only need a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry to import rice. Over the long term, increased rice shipments to the Philippines are expected from Association of Southeast Asian member countries as a result of rice tariffication, although the immediate impact may be muted.
