The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is processing container shipments in Subic on suspicion they hold agricultural commodities imported from China without the required permits.
“(This is) potentially the biggest single seizure under the newly enacted Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act,” the DA said in a statement.
Ten containers were singled out for inspection out of 52 containers initially flagged by the Bureau of Customs. Of the 52, 21 have since been released after examination and clearance and 21 remain subject to inspection.
According to the DA, the shipments are being held on suspicion of violations of the Food Safety Act of 2013 and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
“The goods loaded in 10 container vans estimated to be worth P100 million; the total value of the entire haul of (including the as-yet uninspected containers) could reach several hundreds of millions of pesos,” the DA said.
The 10 containers inspected on Tuesday were found to contain frozen mackerel, fresh carrots, and yellow onions, which lacked import permits.
“These products will be subjected to testing to determine their safety for human consumption. If found unfit, they will be destroyed immediately,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. was quoted as saying.
“Our priority is the protection of public health and the livelihood of our farmers and fisherfolk,” he added.
Five of the inspected containers were consigned to a company identified as 1024 Consumer Goods Trading, and the remaining five containers were consigned to Berches Consumers Goods Trading, the DA said.
Separately, the DA also seized three containers consigned to Queenstar Industry Consumer Trading, which contained carrots and frozen mackerel, all lacking permits. They were not among the 21 awaiting inspection.
Starting last month, the DA filed 15 alert requests, which resulted in the seizure of 76 containers, including 59 which arrived in Subic.
“The intensified enforcement effort follows a direct order from President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to crack down on agricultural smuggling and protect the domestic food supply chain,” the DA said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
