The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 21-12, series of 2021 providing amendatory and supplemental guidelines for the implementation of Department Administrative Order (DAO) 20-09, series of 2020 or “The New Technical Regulation Concerning the Mandatory Product Certification of Ceramic Tiles”. The said MC took effect on 18 April 2021 immediately after its publication in The Philippine Star and Daily Tribune on the same date.
DTI issued MC 21-12 to address issues raised by concerned stakeholders particularly the Philippine Ceramic Products Importer’s Association, Inc. on some provisions and implementation of DAO 20-09 particularly the certification of large profile ceramic tiles, pre-shipment inspection and testing, certification of existing ceramic tile inventories, and product testing considering the delay in setting up necessary additional testing facilities due to COVID-19 pandemic.
MC 21-12 provides for the documentary and process requirements for the issuance of Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Certificate and corresponding stickers to large profile ceramic tiles with nominal length of one side greater than 600 mm. This includes the submission of independent test reports (size-, type-, brand-, and manufacturer-specific) issued by a testing laboratory accredited by an accreditation body signatory to ILAC/APAC MRA within one year before the application date.
To facilitate the processing of ICC applications, importers without a valid PS License and whose shipments of ceramic tiles will arrive on 12 July 2021 onwards may opt to apply for pre-shipment inspection and testing subject to the process prescribed in MC 21-12. In this case, the pre-shipment inspection and sampling will be conducted at the manufacturer’s plant site, exporter’s warehouse, or port of loading while product testing will be conducted by the BPS Testing Laboratory or the identified BPS-recognized testing laboratory. If the result of the pre-shipment inspection and testing showed conformance, the shipment will simply have to undergo product inspection upon arrival in the Philippines. If post-shipment inspection shows that the product shipped is consistent with the importation documents, ICC Certificate and corresponding stickers will be issued and product distribution, retail, or use may commence.
MC 21-12 also contains provisions for the certification of uncertified ceramic tiles in the possession of importers, traders, distributors, and retailers prior to the effectivity of DAO 20-09. The requirements include the submission of inventory report and independent test reports (size-, type-, brand-, and manufacturer-specific) issued within one year before the application date. In the absence of such test reports, sampling and testing consistent with the applicable provisions of DAO 20-09 will apply.
Earlier, the DTI issued MC 21-02 providing additional transitory provisions for shipments of ceramic tiles arriving on or before 12 April 2021 to provide ample time for all stakeholders to adjust and conform to the new certification requirements. Considering the requests for further extension by the stakeholders and the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the timeline was extended in MC 21-12 until 12 July 2021. Hence, mandatory product testing as per requirements of DAO 20-09 will apply for all shipments of ceramic tiles arriving on 12 July 2021 onwards while provisions of MC 21-02 will apply for shipments of ceramic tiles arriving on or before 11 July 2021.
The full copies of MC 21-12, MC 21-02, and other issuances may be downloaded from the BPS Standards and Conformance portal, www.bps.dti.gov.ph. Direct link to BPS’ issuances can be accessed through https://bit.ly/BPSissuances.
For more updates and information on standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures (STRACAP), please visit the DTI - BPS Portal (bps.dti.gov.ph). Emails and messages may also be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through the official BPS Facebook page (facebook.com/PHstandards).