The Bureau of Customs has banned the entry of all shipments containing neutralized phosphogypsum and ordered all shipments back to the port of origin by the importer or shipper.
In a statement, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the ban is in line with its tightened monitoring and enforcement of rules to protect the country from the entry of hazardous materials to both human and the environment.
The BOC clarified that the importation of neutralized phosphogypsum is not included in the list of recyclable materials allowed for importation.
Guerrero said that the prohibition of the importation of neutralized phosphogypsum is in line with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order No. 22 Series of 2013 (Revised Procedures and Standards for the Management of Hazardous Wastes.
In a letter addressed to the BOC, Director Metodio U. Turbella of the Environmental Management Bureau said that neutralized phosphogypsum is radioactive due to the presence of naturally occurring radioactive elements.
“The importation of recyclable materials such as scrap metals, should not contain radioactive materials. Also, considering that phosphogypsum is a waste per se without any recycling to be done, its importation is therefore prohibited,” the letter said.
According to the BOC, Phosphogypsum is radioactive due to the presence of naturally occurring uranium, thorium, isotopes radium, radon and polonium.
Phosphogypsum can be used to make several building materials and it is used in agriculture as a conditioner to maintain soil productivity in areas where soils are poor and erode easily.