DA wants inspection of Chinese shipments for smuggled agricultural goods

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. says the measure will ensure that no smuggled agricultural goods get past authorities

MANILA, Philippines — The government intends to conduct risk assessment of shipments from China as it cracks down on smuggled agricultural products, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

On Tuesday, July 1, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized smuggled onions and frozen mackerel from China worth P34 million. These were declared as food products such as mantou, egg noodles, and kimchi.

Another 59 containers in Subic, Zambales, suspected to have smuggled agricultural goods are currently on hold.

“China lahat. Kaya mag-ri-risk assessment tayo sa mga galing sa China,” Tiu Laurel told reporters on Tuesday. “Kung kailangan lahat buksan lahat ng container galing China, gagawin natin ‘yun para sigurado walang makalusot.”

(They’re all from China. That’s why we’re going to have a risk assessment of shipments from China. If we need to open all containers coming from China, we will do that to make sure nothing escapes.)

The shipments seized on Tuesday arrived in the Philippines on May 27 and June 1. The six containers had P10.2 million worth of red onions, P3.8 million worth of white onions, and P20.08 million worth of frozen mackerel.

Consignees of the shipments, Latinx Consumer Goods Trading and Lexxa Consumer Goods Trading, will be fined. Smugglers may face life imprisonment and payment of twice the fair market value of the smuggled goods.

According to BOC Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla, smugglers declare agricultural goods as food products so these will be placed under the Food and Drug Administration’s jurisdiction

“Ang ginagawa nila, maglalagay ng layer, thinking that ‘yung aming risk management system will just tag them for normal examination,” Maronilla said.

(What they do is they put a layer of food products, thinking that our risk management system will just tag them for normal examination.)

The Bureau of Plant Industry specifically requires sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for the entry of plant products — onion imports included — in the Philippines. – Rappler.com