BOC reimposes special safeguard duty on poultry

The Bureau of Customs has re-imposed the special safeguard duty (SSD) on imported chicken and chicken products upon the request of the Department of Agriculture which said the supply situation has stabilized.

Customs Commissioner George Jereos issued yesterday Customs Memorandum Order 27-2004 directing all district collectors to impose a P1-million SSD for every 40-footer container van of imported chicken and chicken products on top of the three-percent rate of duty.

"Inasmuch as the supply of chicken and chicken products has stabilized and the trigger price of these commodities has been breached as determined by the industry and relevant government agencies, the SSG on imported chicken and chicken products is hereby reinstated for imposition pursuant to the letter of the Secretary of Agriculture dated Sept. 13, 2004," Jereos ordered.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said that based on the findings of other relevant government agencies and the industry that the supply situation of chicken and chicken products has already stabilized, there is a need to reinstate the SSD on the importation of chicken and chicken products to protect the local poultry growers.

The SSD on the importation of chicken and chicken products was temporarily lifted last May due to the shortage brought about by the avian flu raging in Southeast Asia which was blamed for the shortage of supply of the basic commodities.