INQUIRER.net stock photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday reported that it seized a shipment with some 20,000 misdeclared ivermectin tablets along with other drugs from New Delhi, India at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The BOC-NAIA, in a statement, said importer Finstad Inc. declared the said shipment as “food supplements, multivitamins, and multi mineral capsules.”
The drugs, the BOC said, were concealed beneath the declared items of the shipment.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently prohibits the sale of the anti parasitic drug — touted as a cure for COVID-19.
The BOC statement also cited the FDA’s stand on ivermectin.
“At present, the drug is under compassionate use in Specialized Institutions authorized by FDA through the issuance of Compassionate Special permit (CSP),” the BOC quoted FDA Director Jesusa Joyce Cirunay as saying.
“In case ivermectin has been granted authorization, a valid License to Operate (LTO) as Drug Importer and Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) shall be presented,” Cirunay added.
For its part, BOC stressed that while they are committed to expedite the processing and release of COVID-19 vaccines, drugs and other medical supplies, they would be “vigilant and further strengthen border security and protection efforts to curb all smuggling attempts to import unregistered, undeclared goods and/or misdeclared goods without the necessary clearance and permits from FDA.”