AMTEC Summary Notes

  • AMTEC Overview

    • Established on July 11, 1977, through a MOA between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
    • Official testing agency for agricultural machinery in the Philippines, administered by UPLB since 1996.
    • Recognized testing center since 1993, required testing for all agricultural machinery prior to market entry.

  • Vision & Mission

    • Vision: Excellence in agricultural machinery testing, contributing to sector development.
    • Mission:
    • Perform quality laboratory and field tests.
    • Develop performance standards and evaluation procedures.
    • Conduct training and information dissemination.

  • Regulatory Framework

    • Governed by RA 10601, Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law of 2013, mandating testing and evaluation by AMTEC.
    • AMTEC designated as the premier testing center, coordinating with the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS).

  • Testing and Evaluation

    • AMTEC tests agricultural and fisheries machinery for compliance with national standards.
    • Comprehensive testing includes:
    • Quality and performance evaluation.
    • Field and laboratory tests for validation.

  • Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards (PAES)

    • Classifications include production machinery, postharvest machinery, agricultural structures, etc.
    • Standards address specifications, definitions, testing methods, and performance criteria.

  • Test Equipment

    • Basic: measuring tape, weighing scale, timer.
    • Specialized: temperature and pressure gauges, sound level meters, moisture meters, etc.
    • Laboratory equipment: dynamometers, torque transducers, moisture meters.

  • Interpretation of Test Results

    • Results evaluated by licensed agricultural engineers (ABE) and must comply with PNS/PAES.
    • Test reports include machine specifications, test methods, and performance discussions.