Attached is a copy of the letter^* dated 21 June 1996 of Assistant Secretary MARINELA R. CASTILLO for Policy and Planning of the Department of Agriculture clarifying its position on the implementation of EO 313, particularly on the importation of garlic. More importantly, attention is invited to its recommendation that "the Bureau of Customs start assessing all shipments of garlic under the out-quota tariff rate" because it will not establish any Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for garlic this year.

In view thereof, effective immediately and until further notice all shipments of garlic must be assessed the out-quota tariff rate. The Department will not be issuing Minimum Access Volume Import Certificates (MAVIC) for garlic and therefore the presentation of such (if ever) can only be taken as fraudulent.

CMO No. 19-96, as amended by CMO No. 19-96 A, shall be further amended accordingly.

For information, guidance and compliance.

Adopted: 25 June 1996

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