NextGen Day

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday highlighted the value of food safety to public health by seizing agri-fishery items worth about PHP120 million in Navotas City.

James Layug, the DA’s assistant secretary for inspection and enforcement, claimed in a radio and television appearance that on March 17, the DA and affiliated agencies conducted inspections and raids at seven warehouses in Navotas.

“Talyer po e, ‘yung isang pinasok po natin. But, the plug-in that she is using mayroong dalawang sa loob niya. There is a container that is chilled and is also being used for the kuryente. Following the loob, all the way down to the refrigerator sections or compartments—one of which is an auto repair shop—were plundered. Yet, it has two ‘plug-ins’ inside. There is a plugged-in refrigerator container van inside. Then they created a room inside with a refrigerator in it),” he stated.

Frozen pompano, pangasius, shrimp, chicken, beef, boneless beef, spare ribs, pork parts, pork aorta, frozen squid rings, and frozen pacific saury are a few of the products that were seized.

The risk of having illicit items on the table, according to Layug, is more serious than just skipping out on required taxes and permits.

“Food safety is a really critical problem. That is not a dumaan in the ongoing process. There has never been an inspection or sanitary phytosanitary clearance. So, the current dilemma is that it poses a risk to public health when it is present in public markets or other gathering places. This is not going through the proper procedure. As it hasn’t been examined or given sanitary phytosanitary clearance, the danger to the public’s health arises if it makes it to the market or the tables, he explained.

Layug noted that this was achievable since customers typically do not look for the supply source in open markets.

Deception may be present. Because of the fact that the item in question has expired, it cannot be illegitimate. Ibinenta sa palengke, mga talipapa, ire-rebox lang nila ito. As they don’t list the expiration date on some products, there is deceit here if you’re a consumer. Some products are even past their expiration date. Some are simply reboxed before being sold in markets. If you’re the consumer, you won’t look at the source anymore. You’ll just search for lower costs,” he stated.

The DA is still investigating the origins of the smuggled agri-fishery products that were seized.

After the seizure, the DA added, it will look into any potential technical smuggling or diversion.

The operation of the warehouse, which was registered in Navotas as a trucking company because it had already been detained twice, will also be investigated.

Charges for violations of the Republic Acts Nos. 10611, the Food Safety Act of 2013, and No. 10845, the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, will be brought against warehouse owners and other parties implicated.

The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), the Army Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine Coast Guard, the local government of Navotas, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the DA together carried out the activities (PCG).

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