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Importing electrical appliances into the Philippines
Updated 2026-10-18 · Philippines
In the Philippines the product certification mark splits in two: locally manufactured goods carry the PS mark, imported goods carry the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC). The ICC is not a certificate that lives with the product — it is tied to a shipment, and it is released against documents including the packing list, invoice, bill of lading and a summary of batch or serial numbers. Buyers who plan the ICC like a certificate (one-time, reusable) discover at the port that it behaves like a per-shipment clearance.
In short
- The mandatory list is explicit. BPS lists 25 household appliances under mandatory certification; electric ovens, electric fans, rice cookers, multi-cookers, induction cookers and microwave ovens are all named.
- ICC is per shipment. The application requires shipment-level documents — packing list, import entry, invoice, bill of lading, batch/serial summary — so a previous ICC does not automatically cover the next container.
- The manufacturer's ISO 9001 is on the checklist. A valid test report alone is not enough.
- Three instruments, not one: ICC, Certificate of Exemption, and Statement of Confirmation. Choosing the wrong one wastes the whole cycle.
PS mark or ICC — which one applies
| Where the product is made | Instrument | Issued to |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured in the Philippines | PS (Philippine Standard) mark licence | Local manufacturer |
| Imported | ICC — Import Commodity Clearance | Importer, per shipment |
| Imported but outside the mandatory list | No mandatory ICC (check exemption rules) | — |
Product classification decides the entry. An air fryer sold as a "multi-cooker" and an air fryer sold as a "small oven" can land on different lines of the BPS list. Settle the classification before you settle the price.
The documents BPS asks for (ICC)
This is the official application checklist from the Bureau of Philippine Standards. It is worth reading before you book the vessel, because several items are produced by the importer, not the factory.
- Packing list, commercial invoice, bill of lading / airway bill.
- Import entry — not required at filing, but needed before the ICC certificate is released.
- Summary of batch numbers or serial numbers of the products.
- Importer's registration: DTI business name registration (single proprietor) or SEC certificate of incorporation (corporation).
- Authority to file: special power of attorney, or board resolution / notarised secretary's certificate naming the authorised representative.
- Surety bond, and the BIR Importers Clearance Certificate.
- Current proof of billing for the office and the warehouse.
- The manufacturer's ISO 9001 certificate.
- A valid test report.
Photocopies have to be certified true and correct by the authorised signatory of the applicant company. Missing this is a common, entirely avoidable delay.
The other two instruments
BPS runs more than one pathway for imported goods, and they are not interchangeable.
| Instrument | What it is for |
|---|---|
| ICC (Import Commodity Clearance) | The normal route for imported products covered by a mandatory standard |
| Certificate of Exemption | For cases where the mandatory certification does not apply; a shorter document list, still needs importer registration and BIR clearance |
| Statement of Confirmation | Filed through BPS's PCIMS system for the relevant cases; same shipment documents |
The three share most shipment documents but differ in what BPS is confirming. Ask which one applies to your product before preparing the file — the wrong choice is typically discovered after the container has arrived.
Sequence at the border
| # | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm the product is on the mandatory list and which standard applies | Importer / BPS |
| 2 | Test the model at a BPS-recognised laboratory | Factory / laboratory |
| 3 | Assemble the ICC application: shipment documents + ISO 9001 + surety bond + BIR clearance | Importer |
| 4 | Apply through BPS (PCIMS), pay fees, respond to queries | Importer |
| 5 | ICC released; ICC stickers applied per unit | Importer |
| 6 | Customs release with the ICC in place | Importer / broker |
Where shipments stall
- Classification argument — the product sits between two lines of the mandatory list, and the file is prepared for the wrong one.
- Test report scope — the report does not cover the model, rating or variant actually shipped.
- No manufacturer ISO 9001 — it is on the official checklist; a factory without it stalls the file.
- Importer-side documents missing — surety bond, BIR importers clearance, proof of billing for office and warehouse. These are not the factory's to provide.
- ICC treated as reusable — the next shipment needs its own file and its own batch/serial summary.
- Energy labelling overlooked — specified appliances also fall under the Philippine energy label programme, administered separately from BPS certification.
What we check, and what we do not do
We do not issue Philippine certificates and we do not act as the importer of record. What we can do is make the factory-side part of the file usable: tested model, ISO 9001, consistent nameplate and invoice data, and batch/serial lists that match the packing list.
- Confirm the BPS list entry for the exact product before quoting.
- Check that the factory holds a current ISO 9001 certificate — and that its scope covers the product.
- Keep model, rating and batch references identical across the test report, invoice, packing list and ICC application.
- Flag the importer-side items (surety bond, BIR clearance, warehouse billing) so they are not discovered at the port.
Categories this applies to
Electric oven · Stand fan · Air fryer & multi-cooker · Induction cooker · Blender & food processor · Electric hair dryers
Buyer questions
Is an ICC required for every shipment of electrical appliances to the Philippines?
For products on the BPS mandatory list, imports are covered through the ICC, and the application is built on shipment-level documents. Treat it as per shipment: a new container needs a new file and a new batch/serial summary.
Are electric ovens on the Philippine mandatory list?
Yes. BPS lists electric ovens among the household appliances under mandatory certification, alongside electric fans, rice cookers, multi-cookers, induction cookers and microwave ovens.
Can the Chinese factory apply for the ICC?
No. The ICC is applied for by the importer, using the importer's registration, surety bond and BIR clearance. The factory's contribution is the test report, the ISO 9001 certificate and production consistency.
What is the difference between PS and ICC?
PS is the mark for products manufactured in the Philippines and licensed to the local manufacturer. ICC is the clearance for imported products covered by a mandatory standard. Same standards, different instruments.
What if our product is not on the mandatory list?
Then mandatory ICC does not apply, but check whether an exemption document is still needed and whether another regime applies (for example energy labelling, or radio approval for wireless products). "Not on the list" is a conclusion to verify, not an assumption to start from.
How do buyers verify an ICC?
BPS publishes the ICC verification route, including a mobile app for checking ICC markings. That is useful for you as a seller too: it tells you what the buyer will look at when the goods land.
Primary sources
Checked 2026-10-18. Rules change; verify with the authority before you ship.
- BPS — List of Products Under Mandatory Certification
- BPS — PS and ICC Application Requirements
- BPS — PS and ICC Process Flowcharts
- BPS — PS and ICC Marks
- BPS — Product Certification Information Management System (PCIMS)
- BPS — ICC Verification Mobile App
Ask about your product
Not sure whether this applies to what you are buying? Send the specification and we will tell you what has to be in whose name — request a quote, or email sales@xinhuichuan.com.