The Department of Agriculture (DA) has opened applications for the government’s import quota allocations next year, marking the start of the selection process for traders seeking to bring in pork, poultry, corn, potatoes and coffee at lower tariff rates.
In a public notice, the DA said the applications under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) program will be from Nov. 2 to 29 for the 2026 Beginning Year Pool, which sets the annual import quotas allowed at lower tariff rates under the country’s World Trade Organization commitments.
‘All applications with complete requirements received after the deadline shall no longer be accepted,’ the DA said.
Available volumes for next year include 54,210 metric tons of pork, 23,490 MT of poultry meat, 60,000 MT of chipping potatoes, 1,457 MT of coffee beans, 216,940 MT of corn and 37 MT of coffee extract.
The DA said importers must submit applications online through the MAV portal and attach certified true copies of required documents.
These include valid licenses from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) or the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), proof of import history, updated permits and tax registration certificates.
New entrants must also have a history of importing at least nine MT of pork and poultry, six MT of potatoes, 12.5 MT of corn and six MT of coffee.
According to the government agency, all approved applications must be submitted in printed form to the MAV Secretariat in Quezon City from Nov. 2 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 29.
The MAV system allows limited imports of certain agricultural commodities at reduced tariffs to help stabilize food supply and prices while balancing support for local producers.
Under Administrative Order 1 series of 1998, MAV certificates are valid for three months from issuance and may be revalidated until February of the following year.
According to the DA, pork imports are taxed at 15 percent within quota compared with the regular 25 percent.
Corn imports under the quota enjoy an even steeper relief of just five percent for in-quota imports versus the 15 percent rate for those entering the country outside the MAV window.