New AO aims to enhance import monitoring with electronic invoicing

MANILA, Philippines — The government will implement a digital and integrated system for pre-border technical verification and cross-border electronic invoicing of all imported commodities to speed up inspections and keep out unsafe products, Malacañang said. 

Administrative Order 23, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on May 13, stated that a single invoicing system controlled by the Philippines is “necessary to effectively monitor international trade transactions of all imported goods.” 

“The implementation of a pre-border technical verification of all imported goods aims to expedite the inspection of all imported goods entering the country, and further strengthen nationals security, safeguard consumers’ rights, and protect the environment against substandard and dangerous imported goods,” the order read. 

AO 23 creates the committee for pre-border technical verification and cross-border electronic invoicing chaired by the finance chief. 

The committee’s members include the secretaries of the agriculture, trade and industry, energy, health, environment and natural resources and information and communications technology, commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and two non-voting representatives from industry associations. 

The committee will formulate guidelines and implementing rules and regulations for the conduct of pre-border technical verification as well as procedures for the procurement of cross-border electronic invoicing systems. 

The provisions of AO 23 will be applied to all imported commodities in three phases. Phase one will cover agricultural goods, phase two will focus on non-agricultural items with health and safety concerns, and phase three will target other goods with misdeclaration to avoid duties and taxes.