Attached is the letter^* dated February 4, 1999 of Acting Secretary William D. Dar referring to the implementation of Annex A of the Joint Department Administrative Order (JDAO) No. 1, series of 1998, entitled "Implementing Rules And Regulations Governing The Grant Of Tariff Exemption On The Importation Of Agriculture And Fisheries Inputs, Machinery And Equipment Under Sections 108 TO 110 OF RA 8435 - The Agriculture And Fisheries Modernization Act Of 1997" which was disseminated through CMC 7-99 issued on January 8, 1999.

Third paragraph of said letter states:

"In this regard, we wish to clarify that Rule II (Covered Imports) Section 1a) of the JDAO provides that the first batch, which is attached as Annex A, covers products which shall be imported duty-free and where the rules on the application/certification and monitoring procedures of this JDAO shall not apply. As such, all enterprises whether or not engaged in agriculture and fisheries activities are not required to secure a Certificate of Eligibility and other certifications other than those required under normal course of importation (e.g. sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, quality and grade standards, environmental requirements, performance standards, among others) and thus are covered by the incentive (duty-free) provided under this Section. Moreover, all provisions of the JDAO, except Rule II, Sections 1a) are not applicable to those products covered in Annex A."

For your information and guidance.

Adopted: 24 Feb. 1999

(SGD.) JULITA S. MANAHAN
Deputy Commissioner
Internal Administration Group

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^* Text Available at Office of the National Administrative Register, U.P Law Complex, Diliman, Quezon City.