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The Bureau of Customs intercepted the entry of imported oranges worth P8.422 million
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The shipment lacked the required import sanitary clearance from the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry
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The 3,200 cartons of fresh oranges from Thailand was stopped at the Manila International Container Port
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted the entry of imported oranges worth P8.422 million for lacking an import sanitary clearance from the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).
The shipment, consisting of 3,200 cartons of fresh oranges from Thailand, was stopped at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), according to a BOC statement.
The DA-BPI declared the shipment lacked the mandatory sanitary and phytosanitary Import clearance.
BOC agents from MICP, DA-BPI officers, and members of the DA’s inspectorate and enforcement unit stopped the shipment “which are not only deemed unsafe for human consumption but endangers the country’s local ecology due to the absence of the required SPSIC which safeguards the nation’s border against possible entry of infested and/or contaminated agricultural products,” the BOC said.
The seized oranges will be subjected to condemnation proceedings in accordance with DA Department Order No. 09, series of 2010, to ensure that said goods do not reach the local market.
The shipment was also subjected to K-9 sweeping by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency personnel but no dangerous drugs were found, BOC said.
The case records of the illegal shipment has been referred to the bureau’s action team against smuggling.
BOC and DA expressed joint commitment to protect the country’s borders by preventing the entry of unsafe and illegally imported agricultural products.
