THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said importer accreditations are now valid for three years instead of one, citing the need to improve the ease of doing business for users of Customs services.
“We are removing unnecessary burdens on compliant importers while strengthening our systems to ensure transparency and fairness,” BoC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said in a statement on Tuesday.
First proposed in July 2025, the measure is intended to reduce the administrative burden and cost of businesses, allowing accredited entities to plan operations with greater certainty.
The previous one-year validity required repeated document submissions and multiple stages of compliance, which resulted in delays, increased administrative costs, and added burdens on importers.
Importers will now pay a P5,000 accreditation fee for the three-year period, representing savings compared to the previous P2,000 annual fee.
“The BoC will grant automatic renewal to importers with at least six consecutive years of good standing or those accredited under the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) and Super Green Lane programs,” it added.
However, importers must still submit annual reports within 30 days of their accreditation anniversary or risk suspension or revocation.
“By extending the validity of importer accreditation, we are reducing red tape and enabling a more efficient trade system that can meet growing consumer demand and support local industries,” Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said.
“This reform allows businesses to focus more on operations and growth rather than administrative requirements,” he added.
In 2025, the BoC processed 17,757 importer accreditation applications and 2,685 customs broker applications.
In a separate statement, the BoC said it confiscated 22 abandoned refrigerated containers of contaminated frozen meat and fish worth P178 million at the Manila International Container Port.
The shipments consisted of thawed beef, pork, chicken and fish weighing 576,911 kilograms. Sixteen of the containers came from Brazil, while the others were from the Netherlands, the US, the UK, France and Australia.
Since 2025, the BoC has filed 72 criminal cases before the Department of Justice, 24 of which involve the smuggling of agricultural products. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
