Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
	PRESS RELEASE MJBA-020-2011
	Revised Guidelines in the Shipment of Drugs and/or Medicines, Medical Supplies and Medical Equipment to be Donated or Used During Medical Missions in the Philippines
	Los Angeles, 29 March 2011 – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) wishes to inform that all Foreign Surgical and Medical Missions (FSMM) are subject to guidelines, pursuant to item VII, No. 3 (f) of the Joint Administrative Order No. 2009-0030 of the Department of Health (DOH), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). FSMM are activities where surgical and medical care are provided by local and foreign organizations upon the initiatives/requests of various local government units and groups.  Per Joint Administrative Order no. 2009-0030, if FSMM team members intend to bring drugs, and/or medicines, medical supplies and medical equipment to be donated or used during the mission, the requirements and guidelines listed below must be followed: 1. Itemized list of the items together with the quantity and the expiration dates for drugs and medicines; 2. Flight details; 3. Deed of donation authenticated at the country of origin; 4. Deed of acceptance from the host hospital/Local Government Unit (LGU); 5. Drugs and medicines to be donated should have a shelf life of at least 12 months upon arrival in the country and the said medicine shall be used solely for the scheduled mission; and, 6. Application must be submitted 60 days before the date of mission to facilitate clearance/s from DOH and other agencies. Please be informed that the donated medicines are subject to duties and taxes.  These shall only be exempted from duties if these are consigned to government and private (primary and secondary) hospitals duly licensed to operate by the DOH, and welfare/relief dispensing organizations/agencies registered and/or accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Even if the donation is exempted from duties, it will still be subject to Value-Added Tax (VAT), which is computed at twelve percent (12%) of the total cost of shipment. In securing duty-free clearance, the following documents must be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Finance (DOF): A. From the Donor: a. Deed of Donation duly authenticated by the Philippine Consulate; b. Packing list of donated items.  If medicines would be included in the shipment, kindly submit the itemized list of drugs and quantity to be donated indicating brand/generic name, dosage forms/strengths, batch/lot number, expiration date of at least one (1) year upon receipt, and name/address of the manufacturer; and, c. Shipping documents (i.e. bill of lading).  The original copy will be needed by the consignee/local counterpart in processing the release of donation. B. From the Donee/Consignee: a. Letter to the DOH-Bureau of International Health Cooperation (DOH-BIHC) requesting endorsement to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the issuance of clearance. The letter request should be submitted with the complete list of drugs and quantity to be donated, with the following information: brand/generic name, formulation (with English translation), dosage forms/strengths, batch/lot number, expiration date of at least one (1) year upon receipt, and name/address of manufacturer; b. Letter to the NEDA and DOF requesting for the issuance of duty-free clearance for the donation; c. Duly notarized Deed of Acceptance; d. Distribution plan for medicines; e. Current and valid DOH License to Operate, if hospital; f. DSWD License to Operate and Certification of Accreditation, if non-government organization; and, g. FDA Certificate of Product Registration (for medicines) The donee/consignee in the Philippines may apply for the clearances for the donated items.  It is important that the name listed as donee/consignee in the deed of donation must be the same as that appearing in the shipping documents. It is also suggested that the shipment of any of the donation to the Philippines should be withheld unless prior coordination with the done/consignee has been made, and appropriate endorsements/clearances from government agencies have been secured. The complete guidelines in the Conduct of Foreign Surgical and Medical Mission (FSMM) in the Philippines, pursuant to the Joint Administrative Order No. 2009-0030 of the DOH, the PRC, and the DILG can be downloaded from the following websites: CFO website: www.cfo.gov.ph and the Consulate website: www.philippineconsulatela.org. For additional information, interested parties may communicate with Ms. Marissa del Rosario of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas through email at info@cfo.gov.ph. ###end