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DA warns of harmful residue from cheap, imported goods

By Christine Cudis

September 28, 2021, 5:20 pm

<p><strong>NO TO SMUGGLED GOODS. </strong>Agriculture Secretary William Dar warns importers who are smuggling agricultural produce to the Philippines, during a virtual interview held on Tuesday (Sept. 28, 2021). Dar said his department has formed a task force with the Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Customs, and Bureau of Internal Revenue to identify and press charges against these smugglers. (S<em>creengrab) </em></p>

NO TO SMUGGLED GOODS. Agriculture Secretary William Dar warns importers who are smuggling agricultural produce to the Philippines, during a virtual interview held on Tuesday (Sept. 28, 2021). Dar said his department has formed a task force with the Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Customs, and Bureau of Internal Revenue to identify and press charges against these smugglers. (Screengrab) 

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has urged consumers to be meticulous when buying vegetables from the market, as undocumented shipments of agricultural produce are reportedly being sold in the Philippines.

"These products contain harmful chemicals to preserve and make them look shiny," Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in an interview with the media on Tuesday.

Dar said investigations have been laid out to identify and press appropriate charges against perpetrators of cheap and imported carrots from China that were sold in Divisoria, Manila these past few days.

He said an inter-agency task force composed of the DA, Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Customs (BOC), and Bureau of Internal Revenue has been formed to accomplish the task.

It was also made clear that the Philippines has not issued any permit to other countries, including China, to ship fresh vegetables.

"The permits issued were only for frozen, mixed, and processed vegetables that are usually imported by restaurants and hotels," Dar said.

Traces of smuggling 

In July, the DA and BOC said they were ready to press charges against importers Thousand Sunny Enterprise and Dua Te Mira Non-Specialized Wholesale for misdeclaring 12 reefers of red onions worth PHP42 million as frozen chapati (flat Indian bread).

Cases of violation of Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 will be filed by the BOC against the importers.

The seized items are in the custody of the BOC, which will handle their disposal. (PNA) 

 

 
 

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