The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) said Thursday that it had requested the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to hold the release of 19 container vans recently unloaded at Manila’s South Harbor, after a spot inspection revealed a misdeclaration of contents in one of the shipments.
Instead of frozen taro sticks as declared in the shipping manifest, the van contained frozen mackerel.
According to Gerald Glenn Panganiban, Director of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry, his agency had earlier alerted the BOC about the shipments, which were declared to contain 550 metric tons of frozen fried taro sticks, taro sweet potato balls, and assorted frozen food products. However, the inspection uncovered that the cargo actually contained mackerel, not taro products as declared, in a clear violation of importation regulations.
The shipment of Straradava arrived on January 21.
“While these processed plant-based foods fall outside our mandate, our vigilant staff at Manila’s ports flagged the shipments due to the large volume of imports of a particular frozen product of plant origin,” said Panganiban. The BPI’s mandate covers plant products, with the Food and Drug Administration overseeing processed food imports.
In inspection report to Panganiban, Henrick Exconde, officer-in-charge and area manager of the Plant Quarantine Service in Manila’s South Harbor, said the spot inspection of one of the vans consigned to Straradava showed frozen mackerel—a commodity under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources—instead of frozen taro sticks.
Exconde said other shipments, which will not be divulged yet, were requested alert orders and will also be subject to full inspection. Following the inspection, the Straradava shipment has been seized and detained.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the importance of tackling smuggling. “This is a clear message to those who think they can get away with trifling with the law—we are watching you closely. We are fully committed to enforcing the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act to protect consumers, safeguard our farmers, and preserve government revenues,” the agri chief said.
Tiu Laurel said he has informed FDA Director General Dr. Samuel Zacate of the smuggling case to ensure coordinated among government agencies.
The agri chief also ordered the BFAR and BPI to immediately inspect all the shipments in cooperation with the BOC. ### (Photo by DA-Bureau of Plant Industry)
