Around 14,000 kilos of smuggled frozen agricultural goods amounting to P2.8 million were seized by the Department of Agriculture – Office of Assistant Secretary for Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA-IE) following a successful raid in Meycauayan, Bulacan last July 13.
In line with the directives of President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand R. Marcos to intensify measures against agricultural smuggling, the DA-IE partnered with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the DA-National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), and the City Government of Meycauayan in conducting the follow-up joint inspection of a warehouse that was allegedly operating without a business permit.
The DA-IE reported that two makeshift cold storage containers containing assorted frozen meat as well as two vehicles with expired meat products were discovered in the said warehouse.
The local police arrested eight persons, who will be facing charges for violating the Republic Act No. 10611 or Food Safety Act of 2013. The impounded goods will be disposed of by the Meycauayan City Government and the DA-NMIS.
According to Article V, Section 13 of the Food Safety Act, “food business operators shall ensure that, food satisfies the requirements of food law relevant to their activities in the food supply chain and that control systems are in place to prevent, eliminate or reduce risks to consumers.” This includes the disposal of produced, processed, distributed, or imported food products that are deemed contaminated or unsafe for consumption as well as immediate coordination with the regulatory agencies and the public should an unsafe food reach the market.
Assistant Secretary for DA-IE James A. Layug urged Filipinos to report illicit activities and to coordinate with the Department to help curb agri-fishery smuggling towards food security.
The DA executive also committed to bolster the agency’s countermeasures against agricultural smugglers and to make all violators face charges for putting the general public’s health and the livelihood of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk at stake.
As the lead government agency mandated to ensure the accessibility, affordability, and availability of safe and nutritious food all over the country, the DA is tasked to develop and enforce food safety standards and regulations throughout the supply chain as specified in the Food Safety Act. ###
