Due to the acute shortage of cement in the country necessitating the importation of cement, these guidelines are issued for the guidance of cement importers.

I
Inspection Requirements

1. If records from the cement plant, which is the source of imports, show that it has been exporting to other countries for at least six (6) months, inspection and sampling of cement from the plant shall be done by a recognized and independent third party inspection company on two different days prior to shipment.
2. If the company lacks the minimum six-month export track record, sampling shall be conducted by the third party inspection company on the actual full shipment either at the cement plant or at the port of loading.
3. Testing of samples drawn from the cement plant shall be conducted by the recognized inspection company, or the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) based on cement standards PNS 07, ASTM C150, or BS 12/1978.
4. If the testing of samples is not done by BPS, the quality certification of the import shipment issued by the inspection company or its certified laboratory shall be submitted to BPS for evaluation.
5. The quality certification of the shipment from the inspection company of the BPS will be based on the results of chemical and physical tests.  For comprehensive strength, however, results of the 3- and 7-day tests are deemed sufficient.
6. In addition to the above, spot inspection of shipments may be conducted by BPS from time to time at the port of entry for quality verification.
7. In case an import shipment does not have the quality certification from a third party inspection company, the BPS standard operating procedure for inspection and certification of importation as per Department Administrative Order No. 4 Series of 1988 dated May 25, 1988 shall be allowed.

II
Issuance of Import Commodity Clearance

The Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) shall be issued for each import shipment by the BPS or the DTI Regional or Provincial Office as deemed appropriate.  This ICC is based on the quality certification of the inspection company as approved by the BPS or the inspection results of the BPS itself.

III
Standard Requirements

1. Evaluation of test results shall be in accordance with the relevant standards.
2. Markings in English of imported cement shall include the following:
3. Country of Origin
4. Name and Address of Manufacturer
5. Type of Cement
6. Net Mass of Cement in kilogram
7. Brand Name/Recognized Trade Mark
8. Standard Adopted

IV
Inspection and Clearance Fee

1. Inspection service fees which may include testing of samples shall be payable to the recognized inspection company.
2. The Import Commodity Clearance Fee of Two Thousand Pesos (P2 ,000 shall be payable upon issuance of the ICC by the BPS or the DTI Regional or Provincial Office as deemed appropriate.

V
Penalty

In the event BPS finds that any shipment of imported cement that has arrived is not in accordance with acceptable standards (PNS 07, ASTM C150 or BS 12), or the same is not in accordance with the representations made by the importer in his import documents, BPS has the power to do any or all of the following:

1. Reclassification of the imported cement in accordance with the BPS findings, to be published in newspapers of general circulation, the expenses of which shall be borne by the importer;
2. Penalty of up to P150 ,000 in accordance with E.O. 913;
3. Seizure of the imported cement wherever located should the same fail the minimum requirement for comprehensive strength.

VI
Repealing Clause

Any provisions in previous Department Administrative Orders which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed accordingly.

VII
Effectivity

These guidelines shall take effect immediately upon publication in two newspapers of general circulation.

Adopted 2 April 1990

(SGD.) JOSE S. CONCEPCION, JR.

Secretary