MALACA ANG has issued four orders, all dated Sept. 21, to help improve supply of agricultural products in the market.
Administrative Order No. 13 directed the National Food Authority (NFA), the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to lift non-tariff barriers and streamline administrative procedures in the importation of such products.
Among others, the agencies were told to streamline procedures and requirements in accreditation of importers; minimize processing time for approval of applications for imports; exempt traders that are already accredited from registration requirements; facilitate importation of select farm products beyond their authorized minimum access volume (MAV) by reducing or removing fees involved; liberalize issuance of permits and accreditation of traders who want to import rice and, when necessary, temporarily allow direct importation of sugar-using industries to cut their input cost.
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