DA lowers export fee this month

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has started implementing the 0.2 percent export fee for all species caught in Philippine waters that are processed and then sold abroad.

Based on Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 233-1, the fee, which is lower than the three percent under the amended FAO 233 approved in 2010, is imposed starting this month. The revised FAO also stipulated fees for the issuance of export and re-export permits.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala approved FAO 233-1 during the 13th National Tuna Congress in General Santos City last year.

The export fee is computed based on the net weight of raw material/commodity in kilogram multiplied by the prescribed rate in percent, multiplied by the price of the raw material/commodity in Philippine currency, which is the nationwide average wholesale price of the species or commodity of the previous year. This is based either on the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (DA-BAS) data or market monitoring reports of the BFAR on a per shipment basis.

Export fees on captured aquatic wildlife caught/gathered in Philippine waters gets a 0.2 percent or P1,650 export fee, whichever is higher. On the other hand, aquatic wildlife caught outside Philippine waters and imported are exempted, according to FAO 233-1.

Edwin Alesna, section chief of the Fisheries Quarantine and Wildlife Regulation Section of BFAR said that they slated three batches of orientations at the One-Stop Export Documentation Center (OSEDC) of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) in February this year at Pasay City.

The said orientations aim to clarify the coverage of FAO 233-1 for all exporters of fresh, chilled, frozen, live and decorative fishery and other aquatic products.

The orientations are set on Feb. 8 for live tropical fish, Feb. 16 for live food fish, and Feb. 23 for shell crafts and others. – PHILEXPORT News and Features.