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IMPORTED rice shipments could still enter the Philippines until September 15 despite the scheduled 60-day ban, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.

This, as President Marcos recently issued an Executive Order (EO) suspending the imports of regular and well-milled rice, effective September 1 until October 30, 2025.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said only rice shipments that left their respective countries of origin by end-August would be allowed entry, citing an order issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

“The BPI will no longer issue an SPSIC [Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance] for shipments on September 1, but for those that left the country of origin before the ban began, they can still enter [until] September 15,” de Mesa said.

He added that only four ports, specifically Manila, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu, would cater to rice imports arriving before the cutoff.

“So, if shipments left the country beyond August 31, they won’t be allowed to enter. If they ever arrive [beyond the allowable period], these will be returned to the country of origin,” de Mesa said.

Meanwhile, the DA official noted there were no major price movements in retail pricing of imported rice in the market at P42 to P45 per kilo, barely two days after the import ban was imposed.

“There are many stocks of imported and local rice in the market right now, so we’re not expecting major increases in the price of rice in the market,” he said.

The government’s decision to impose a temporary import ban comes as farmgate prices of palay plunged to as low as P8 per kilo in some areas. Industry sources cited the unabated entry of imported rice as the reason behind this steady decline.

Based on government data, 2.67 million metric tons (MMT) of rice have entered the country as of August 14.

The country’s rice production fell by nearly a million tons to 19.09 million metric tons (MMT) last year, from a record-high 20.06 MMT recorded in 2023 due to El Niño.

Because of the supply shortfall caused by the drought, the country’s rice imports reached an all-time high of 4.8 MMT last year.

Source : businessmirror