What Import Duty and Certification Apply to Solar Equipment in the Philippines?

• Solar panels enter at 0% duty and 0% VAT for DOE-registered renewable energy developers under RA 9513 and the CREATE MORE Act.
• A BPS mandatory certification regulation passed on 30 June 2026 now covers solar panels, inverters, charge controllers, PV cables and battery energy storage systems, with a 12-month transition window that closes in July 2027.
• Shipments without PS or ICC certification are being pulled into the Red Lane for full physical inspection at Manila, Batangas and Cebu.
• Lithium battery consignments additionally need a UN38.3 test summary, safety data sheet, dangerous goods declaration and Class 9 labelling.
• Declared value is tested against reference pricing in the EVRIS valuation system — under-declaration triggers a review and is one of the most common causes of delay.