A number of products critical to the fight against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are now EXEMPT from the payment of import duties, taxes and fees (see Guidelines). Per the Joint Administrative Circular No. 2020-02 of the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the following are entitled to such exemption: 

• 1. Medicine identified as critical and necessity by the Department of Health

• 2. Medical Equipment and devices such as test kits, thermometers, thermal scanners, ventilators

• 3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as helmets, masks, goggles, gloves, foot cover, face shields, gowns, as well as other garments or equipment designed to protect the user against health or safety risks

• 4. Surgical equipment and supplies

• 5. Laboratory equipment and its reagents

• 6. Support and maintenance for laboratory and medical equipment

• 7. Medical supplies, tools, and consumables such as alcohol, sanitizers, tissue, hand soap, detergent, sodium hydrochloride, cleaning materials, povidone iodine, and common medicines (e.g. paracetamol tablet and suspension, mefenamic acid, vitamins tablet and suspension, hyoscine tablet and suspension, oral rehydration solution, and cetirizine tablet and suspension)

• 8. Such other supplies or equipment as may be determine by the Department of Health (DOH) and other relevant government agencies

Raw materials and packaging materials, including raw materials thereof, exclusively used for the production of the these products are likewise covered. [See also Guidelines for Duty-Free Importation of Medicines and Medical Supplies Equipment to Combat COVID-19]

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P&L Law

Pamaos & Labao Law Firm (P&L Law) is a full-service professional legal firm, located in Metro Manila, Philippines | Telephone: (+632) 7799-0589 | Email: info@pnl-law.com | Website: http://pnl-law.com

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