Mannage Resources Trading bucks additional testing of imported steel

MANILA, Philippines – Steel trader Mannage Resources Trading Corp. (MRTC) lauded the Department of Trade and Industry for welcoming importers’ opposition to a draft regulation imposing additional testing requirements for cement, pipes, flat glass and steel products.

MRTC is bucking a proposed Department Administrative Order (DAO) that seeks to amend an existing product certification scheme by imposing additional testing on imported steel and other products, saying this violates World Trade Organization rules and the Philippines’ free trade commitments.

Lawrence Sy, president of MRTC, said the draft DAO has unclear objectives and no scientific basis.

“The principle of National Treatment (Article 3 GATT) which upholds equal treatment for imported and locally-produced products is violated by the proposed DAO amendments,” he said.

Under a proposed DAO, imported products like cement, BI/GI pipes, flat glass and steel shall be subjected to further testing upon arrival in the Philippines.

In the case of steel, the proposed sample collection and testing shall be done inside the premises of the Bureau of Customs.

“Since imported steel undergoes mandatory testing based on Philippine National Standards by duly–accredited international testing laboratories at their point of origin, imposing additional conformity assessment requirements like product inspection and testing upon arrival in the Philippines discriminates them from locally-produced steel,” Sy said.

MRTC said the proposed regulation also violates the “one-test-recognized-globally” principle since the Philippines is a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) under the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC).

“The Philippines, particularly BPS, should recognize foreign test data and results from laboratories accredited by National Accreditation Bodies which are signatories to the ILAC/APLAC MRA to avoid multiple testing and inspection of products. Imposing additional testing in the Philippines under the proposed DAO is tantamount to a repudiation or non-recognition of international test results,” Sy said.

Aside from violating international rules, Sy said multiple testing would mean additional costs to the importer, prolonged processing time, delays caused by port congestion and additional “red tape.”