MANILA – The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) intercepted a shipment of imported mackerel that had been misdeclared as frozen goods. The shipment, consigned to Straradava, arrived at Manila South Harbor on January 21, with 19 container vans.
Upon inspection, one of the vans was found to contain mackerel instead of the declared frozen fried taro sticks, taro sweet potato balls, and assorted frozen products. The mackerel falls under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. warned that such deceptive practices would not go unnoticed, emphasizing the commitment to enforcing the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. He stressed that the law is vital to protect consumers, support farmers, and safeguard government revenues.
BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban added that while plant-based foods are beyond their mandate, their vigilance led to the discovery, especially due to the large volume of imports. The remaining shipments will undergo full inspection as per Tiu Laurel’s directive.
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