Board of Investments hosts workshops to ease permits process for chemical industry

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Investments (BOI) is set to hold workshops with the Samahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Industriyang Kimika (SPIK) in the first quarter of the year to develop recommendations to help streamline processes for permits for chemical industry players.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the workshops are intended to come up with ways to streamline processes for securing the different permits, licenses, and registration documents required by the various regulatory agencies.

The workshops would be participated in by members of associations under the SPIK as well as government agencies involved in issuing permits to the chemicals industry sector.

The workshops are being organized as streamlining of business processes has been identified as one of the hurdles faced by the chemical industry under its industry roadmap. 

The chemical industry sector is highly regulated with at least six different government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority, Philippine National Police - Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and Bureau of Customs (BOC), issuing licenses and permits to chemical companies.

The FDA requires a License to Operate and a Certificate of Product Notification for selected product categories.

The PNP regulates around 109 chemicals, while the PDEA requires a Permit to Import and License to Possess for 24 Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals. 

Some 48 chemicals, meanwhile, require a Priority Chemicals List Certification from the EMB.

“The DTI is working closely with stakeholders, relevant agencies, and the private sector to sustain partnerships which align and strongly link with our common goal to create jobs, and boost economic growth,” Trade Assistant Secretary for Industry Development Rafaelita Aldaba said.