Further to CMO 19-96 B and to the requirement of Bureau of Plant Quarantine Officials to be present in the examination of garlic and other regulated agricultural products, the following instructions are issued for the observance of all concerned.

1. Importations of garlic, whether fresh or dried must be examined in the presence of representatives from the Bureau of Plant Quarantine. For Metro Manila Ports, the Chief, FED must require the Bureau of Plant Quarantine at the port for the detail of quarantine offices to undertake the DBI examination with the FED.

2. After examination, the Bureau of Plant Quarantine Representative must notify in writing to the assigned customs examiner whether or not the shipment needs certain requirements such as need for FUMIGATION, for quarantine clearance or further test from Bureau of Plant Quarantine. If there is such NO written requirement, then the shipment shall be released upon payment of duties and taxes and compliance with all existing laws, rules and regulations.

3. If there are plant quarantine requirements given in writing, the entry must be processed nonetheless, the duties and taxes collected and delivery permit processed after lifting duty stop ports with On Line Release System. Provided that in these cases, the working copy of delivery permit must be endorsed and officially transmitted to the Chief Representative, Bureau of Plant Quarantine Office at the port and the importer notifies that as far as Customs is concerned, the Bureau has given clearance and the shipments' other requirements must be cleared in the Bureau of Plant Quarantine.

The above instructions are being given to pinpoint responsibility and to expedite the clearance process of this highly perishable commodity.

Adopted: 22 July 1996

(SGD.) GUILLERMO L. PARAYNO, JR.
Commissioner