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Exporting to the Philippines — AIFTA, FDA registration and ICC clearance

Last reviewed 2026-10 · 4 sections

The Philippines is an English-language ASEAN market with a real preference for Indian-origin goods — and a registration and clearance regime that has to be in place before anything arrives.

Preference plus two layers of approval

  • AIFTA. Preferential rates for Indian-origin goods meeting the rules of origin, claimed with the certificate of origin (Form AI).
  • FDA Philippines. Health-related products — food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices — require a Licence to Operate for the importer and a Certificate of Product Registration for the product itself. Both are Philippine-side processes, but they depend on your data and dossiers.
  • Import Commodity Clearance. For products under mandatory standards, the bureau of product standards requires an ICC before the goods can be released into the market. Some products carry a standards mark instead.

Food, labelling and residue limits

  • The Philippines maintains its own maximum residue limits and food-safety requirements; imported food is subject to inspection.
  • Labelling content and language are prescribed — English is accepted, which removes one barrier, but the content requirements still apply.
  • Dosage, health claims and advertising of food and health products are regulated; claims that would be legitimate marketing elsewhere can be non-compliant here.

Tax and import mechanics

  • Duty follows the Philippine tariff schedule, with the AIFTA rate available only on valid origin evidence.
  • VAT applies on import and is handled by the importer.
  • The importer must be registered with the customs authority and the bureau of internal revenue; a first-time buyer may need to establish that before your first shipment.

Documents and reading the market

  • Commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, Form AI for a preference claim, FDA licences and registrations, import commodity clearance.
  • The Philippines is an archipelago, so domestic logistics is part of the landed-cost story in a way that is easy to underestimate from an import-value chart.

Use the tools

Sources & further reading

Philippine FDA Bureau of Product Standards (DTI) Bureau of Customs

These guides summarise public material from the bodies named above. They are general information, not advice on a specific shipment, and they are not a substitute for a ruling from your customs authority or a qualified customs broker / consultant.

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