DA waives fees on pesticide residue tests in agri exports

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and its satellite laboratories to waive the fees for the pesticide residue analysis (PRA) tests for fruits and vegetable exports to help lift agriculture exports and support economic recovery.

The move was lauded by the multi-sectoral Export Development Council (EDC) and business groups Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) and Philippine Food Exporters (Philfoodex) which earlier petitioned for the removal of the fees, saying these affect the competitiveness of food exporters.

DA Order 11 series of 2021 waives the PRA fees for fresh and primary processed (frozen, dried, pureed) fruits and vegetables that are intended for export by accredited exporters and farmers.

PCCI president Benedicto Yujuico said the recent move would benefit around 150,000 farmers or growers nationwide, including more than 1,000 small and medium processors and exporters engaged in production and processing.

“This is certainly a big boost to the agri-food and export industry especially at this time when businesses have yet to recover from the negative impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic,” he said.

Philexport president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said exporters are hopeful that moving forward, the BPI would implement measures to help achieve export targets by enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector to open and expand global market access and niches.

Philfoodex president Roberto Amores also noted the need for the DA to look into other technical measures that serve as barriers to trade.

In particular, he said Japan, European Union, US, South Korea, China and all other major markets have imposed stringent traceability standards or the maximum residue limit on pesticide to protect their people and consumers, and such move has served as technical barrier to the country’s exports.

The DTI said Philippine exports of fruits and vegetables have been declining over the last 10 years.

While the country used to be the third largest exporter of fresh bananas globally until 2015, and the top exporter of fresh mangoes to Japan from 2005 to 2009, exports have dropped due to chemical residue issues and competition from other suppliers.

Since 2007, the National Pesticide and Analytical Laboratory has not been imposing PRA fees for fresh and frozen mango exports in compliance with Executive Order 554 of 2006.

In 2019,  it started charging residue fees on frozen mangoes amounting to P5,200 for each lot sample.