Several agricultural commodities were seized by the Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport as they did not have sanitary permits.
During a joint inspection, BOC-NAIA and Department of Agriculture officers seized shipments from two Japanese passengers containing agricultural products after failing to present the required Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC).
A shipment brought in by a Japanese national was intercepted on Aug. 8, which included 527.10 kilograms of fresh beef, 26.5 kilograms of fresh chicken, 60 pieces of eggs, 57.1 kilograms of various fruits and vegetables, and 57.10 kilograms of fishery products.
Another shipment was seized the next day, Aug. 9, consisting of 140.2 kilograms of meat and meat products, 10 pieces of eggs, 165 kilograms of fruits, plants, and vegetables, and 235.5 kilograms of assorted fishery products.
The BOC said that the SPSIC should be secured from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
All seized products have been turned over to the BAI, BPI, and BFAR, the relevant authorities under DA, for proper disposal to ensure that no potential health risks or harm to the food industry arise from their unauthorized entry.
“These operations are the direct result of the enhanced partnership between the Bureau and the DA, ensuring that our borders remain protected from the entry of unauthorized goods which may pose health hazards not only to the consuming public but also our local industries,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said.
District Collector Yasmin O. Mapa, likewise warned fresh beef and meat importers to secure the necessary permits and assured them that they “will continue to bolster the BOC’s border protection efforts against smuggling and other illicit activities.”