The Bureau of Customs (BOC), in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture (DA), has intercepted a shipment of agricultural products that entered the country without proper clearance.
The illegal shipment, valued at PHP 8.4 million, was intercepted at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) after it was discovered that it lacked the necessary import sanitary clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BAI).
The BOC stated that the importation of agricultural products without the required permits is a violation of existing laws. Such illegal activities pose a significant risk of introducing pests and diseases that could harm the country’s agricultural sector.
The seized shipment, which originated from Thailand, consisted of 3,200 cartons of fresh oranges. It is important to note that other agricultural products, such as meat and eggs, are also prohibited from entering the country without undergoing the necessary inspections and clearances.