Individuals, institutions may import books tax and duty-free – Finance Dept.

Individuals may import up to six pieces per title of books, newspapers, and other educational, scientific and cultural materials tax and duty-free, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Wednesday.   For institutions, it is up to 12 pieces per title, the department noted.   Beyond the 6- and 12-piece ceilings, the quantities are deemed commercial and no longer covered by the international convention known as the Florence Agreement —  cited as basis of Department Order No. 57-2011, dated Dec. 9, 2011 and published on Dec. 25 in a national newspaper.   The Florence pact provides that its contracting states will not apply customs duties or other charges on “educational, scientific and cultural materials” such as books and newspapers, except on those published “essentially for advertising purposes,” said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.   This means that extensive documentary requirements are waived on imported books for personal use, Purisima added.   “This was in accordance with the Florence Agreement, initiated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and to which the Philippines is signatory since 1952,” according to a DOF statement Wednesday.   The Finance Department order is intended to guide importers of books and other educational, scientific and cultural materials.   “This is in order to put everything into black and white and to provide importers with a document they can refer to whenever they have questions regarding book importations and when they are tax- and duty-free,” the Finance chief said.  — ELR/VS, GMA News