Gov’t opens application for 2027 import quotas
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has opened the application for the 2027 import quotas for five commodities, including pork and chicken.
According to the notice posted on its website, the agency said interested parties may submit their applications under the minimum access volume (MAV) for calendar year 2027.
MAV is a trade mechanism that allows importing certain quantities of agricultural products at lower tariff rates. It is part of the Philippines’ commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to help facilitate global trade.
Among the five commodities, corn received the highest MAV allocation of 220,000 metric tons (MT) for the 2027 beginning year pool.
The agency also allotted 55,000 MT for pork, 25,000 MT for poultry, 60,000 MT for chipping potato and 1,500 MT for coffee beans.
The application period will run from Nov. 2 to Nov. 30.
Earlier this year, the DA overhauled the system of allocating import quotas under MAV to ensure equitable participation among agricultural stakeholders.
The issuance of Joint Department Circular No. 1, promulgated on March 31 this year, cancelled all previously issued import quotas and consolidated those into a single pool for redistribution.
Under this circular, 50 percent of pork MAV will be earmarked to meat importer processors with verified local processing facilities and 30 percent to all other qualified pork importers. About 20 percent will be given to state trading enterprises to support food security and stabilize retail prices.
The DA is adopting the systematic distribution procedure in setting the import allocation under MAV.
Each qualified participant will be assigned numbers based on the order of submission. Numbers will be drawn using a random number generator via electronic raffle or manually using a tambiolo in the presence of all participants.
The DA amended the decadeslong policy of providing import quotas to ensure a level playing field among industry stakeholders.
This was after the agency discovered that consumers didn’t benefit from reduced tariffs through lower retail prices while a “handful” of industry players control 70 percent of the import allocation.
