DA eyes post-harvest facility requirement for rice importers once RICE Act is passed

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering a policy that would require rice importers to have post-harvest facilities, such as drying and milling systems, before they can import rice into the country. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated at the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Food Security Forum that ideally, by 2028, only those with a mill, a drying system, or a complete rice processing system should be allowed to import rice, if legally feasible. "Basically, the general idea is that by 2028, if legally feasible, the only ones who should ideally be allowed to import rice are those who have a mill, a drying system, or a complete rice processing system," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. at the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Food Security Forum. The Secretary emphasized that importers must have bought from local farmers or have processed a certain quantity. "And they must have bought [palay/rice] from a farmer or have a throughput, a specific quantity that they processed. It shouldn't be that you just simply have a facility. Because that will protect the farmers as well as the consumers," he added. He noted that similar policies have worked with the sugar and marine industries. Currently, simple importers from other countries who have no investment and do not buy locally technically have no stake in the farmers or rice processors, according to the DA chief. Details of this requirement are expected to be outlined in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to be released by the DA once the Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act is passed. "In the RICE Act, we are trying to put in the language of the RICE Act parang may phrase that says that. But yung details nun will be an IRR , ilalabas natin once the RICE Act has been passed," said Tiu Laurel. The proposed RICE Act aims to restore the regulatory powers of the National Food Authority (NFA) to ensure stable rice supply and pricing, while safeguarding the welfare of both farmers and consumers. The measure proposes to re-empower the NFA with key functions such as registration, licensing, and supervision of rice industry participants; inspection of warehouses and storage facilities; seizure of hoarded rice and grains; strategic buffer stock management; and regulation of rice importation and exportation. —VAL, GMA News