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Prohibited and Regulated Import Products

Prohibited and Regulated Import Products

Classification of Imports

Before any importation into the Philippines can be made, the particular item or sub-item is identified within the Philippine Standard Commodity Classification Manual (PSCM) as to where the imported goods belong to. This commodity classification is the general basis for determining whether the item is freely importable, prohibited, or regulated.

a. Freely Importable - These are commodities, which importation is neither regulated nor prohibited. The importation may be effected without prior approval of or clearance from any government agency.

b. Regulated Commodities - These are commodities which importation requires clearances/permits from appropriate government gencies including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

c. Prohibited or Banned - These are commodities which importation is not allowed under the existing laws.

Absolutely Prohibited:

Those specifically listed under Section 101 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines
Used Clothing and Rags under Republic Act (RA) 4653, dated 06 June 1966
Toy Guns under LOI 1264, dated 31 July 1982
Right-Hand Drive Vehicles under RA 8506 dated 13 February 1998
Laundry and Industrial Detergents containing hard surfactants under RA 8970 dated 31 October 2000

Conditionally Prohibited:

Ammunitions, firearms
Cinematographic films, photographs, paintings, drawings or other representation of any obscene/immoral character
Heroin or other synthetic drugs

Click here to download prohibited and Regulated Imports.

Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines: Section 101

The importation into the Philippines of the following articles is prohibited:

Dynamite, gunpowder, ammunitions and other explosives, firearms, and weapons of war, and parts thereof, except when authorized by law
Written or printed articles in any form containing any matter advocating or inciting treason, or rebellion, insurrection, sedition, or subversion against the Government of the Philippines, or forcible resistance to any law of the Philippines, or containing any threat to take the life of, or inflict bodily harm upon any person in the Philippines
Written or printed articles, negatives or cinematographic film, photographs, engravings, lithographs, objects, paintings, drawings, or other representation of an obscene or immoral character
Articles, instruments, drugs and substances designed, intended or adapted for producing unlawful abortion, or any printed matter, which advertises or describes or gives directly or indirectly information where, how or by whom unlawful abortion is produced
Roulette wheels, gambling outfits, loaded dice, marked cards, machines, apparatus or mechanical devices used in gambling or the distribution of money, cigars, cigarettes, or other when such distribution is dependent on chance, including jackpot and pinball machines or similar contrivances, or parts thereof
Lottery and Sweepstakes tickets except those authorized by the Philippine government, advertisements thereof, and list of drawings therein
Any article manufactured in whole or in part of gold, silver or other precious metals or alloys thereof, the stamps, brands or marks or which do not indicate the actual fineness of quality of said metals or alloys
Any adulterated or misbranded articles of food or any adulterated or misbranded drug in violation of the provisions of the "Food and Drugs Act"
Marijuana, opium, poppies, coca leaves, heroin or any other narcotics or synthetic drugs, which are or may hereafter be declared habit forming by the President of the Philippines, or any compound, manufactured salt, derivative, or preparation thereof, except when imported by the Government of the Philippines or any person duly authorized by the Dangerous Drugs Board, for medical purposes only
Opium pipes and parts thereof, or whatever material
All other articles and parts thereof, the importation of which is prohibited by law or rules and regulations issued by competent authority as amended by Presidential Decree (PD) No. 34