Bureau of Plant Industry Says Imported Carrots Enter PH Market as Misdeclared Shipment
The Bureau of Plant Industry said that imported carrots have entered the Philippines as misdeclared shipment.
BPI director George Culaste said that the authorities discovered an operation wherein imported carrots have been declared as bread making ingredients like chapatti. He explained that they had no jurisdiction to inspect the items.
“Kasi misdeclared po ang nangyayari diyan. Hindi po ‘yan dinedeclare na plant and plant products. Hindi po kumukuha sa amin ng permit… Hindi namin ma-inspect. Wala kaming jurisdiction,” Culaste said.
Previously, the farmers from La Trinidad, Benguet admitted that they are losing over P2.5 million per day due to smuggled vegetables and crops.
According to the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post, they are already dumping their vegetable products for failing to sell it in the market. The group even complained regarding the circulation of imported carrots in the market.
The group has also discussed the matter with the Department of Agriculture and BPI. Culaste admitted that there are smuggled carrots in the market but they were already having a word with Bureau of Customs to intensify the campaign against smuggling.
BOC have also started to confiscate smuggled vegetables.
“Meron talaga kasi ‘yung mga carrots na ‘yan, na napakaganda talaga ng uri and then mas mura, kaya ‘yun nga nakapasok dito sa atin… Meron talagang mga carrots na nakakapasok sa atin na smuggled po ‘yan,” Culaste said.
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