Secretary of Agriculture William Dar directed the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and its satellite laboratories to reinstated the free Pesticide Residue Analysis (PRA) tests to duly accredited exporters and farmers in order to boost the country’s agricultural exports.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) released Administrative Order No. 11, discontinuing the charging of fees for all fresh and primary processed fruits and vegetables for export. This came about as the result of an appeal to the DA and BPI made by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), and the Philippine Food Exporters (PHILFOODEX), led by EDC Vice Chair Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. and EDC Agriculture Sector Representative Roberto Amores.
The Export Development Council (EDC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) commend this prompt action of the DA in an effort to strengthen the country’s agricultural export. This amendment would undoubtedly assist our agribusiness in becoming more competitive by removing restrictions that limit the productivity of our food exporters, especially during these trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic. EDC Chairman, DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez commented that it’s also expected to contribute to higher agricultural exports, which would help the country’s recovery and overall export targets. -ADSC