The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) said Thursday that it requested the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to hold the release of 19 container vans at Manila’s South Harbor, after a spot inspection revealed a mis declaration 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, the agency 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.
BPI’s mandate covers plant products, with the Food and Drug Administration overseeing processed food imports.
In an 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.
Exclonde said other shipments, undisclosed at this point but subject of alert orders, will also be subject to full inspection.
Following the inspection, the Straradava shipment was 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 coordination among government agencies.
The agri chief also ordered the BFAR and BPI to immediately inspect all the shipments in cooperation with the BOC.
