MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has blacklisted three importers and is set to revoke the licenses of five others for their involvement in illegal activities.
The DA, through its attached agency, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), blacklisted LVM Grains Enterprises, which brought into the country imported milled rice, cashew nuts and coffee without the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances.
Also sanctioned were Kysse Lishh Consumer Goods Trading and Golden Rays Consumer Goods Trading for bringing in imported onions and oranges without import clearances.
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LVM Grains Enterprises has yet to respond to the Inquirer’s request for comment on the action taken by the DA as of this writing.
The Philippine Competition Commission is leading the prosecution of the three companies accused of engaging in anticompetitive trade activities, the DA said.
At the same time, the DA has suspended and is set to revoke the licenses of five other entities due to misdeclaration, illegal importation, and anticompetitive trade practices. It did not identify the five, as the cases against them were still pending.
“Until their cases are resolved, however, they cannot transact with BPI,” said BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban.
“We will not turn a blind eye to these importers’ illegal practices that undermine government revenues and put public health at risk,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
The DA has been going after importers that have been bringing in illegally sourced agricultural products even before President Marcos signed last month Republic Act No. 12002 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
The newly signed law considers smuggling and hoarding of agricultural products as economic sabotage when the value of goods exceeds P10 million.
It classifies smuggling, hoarding, and cartel operations involving agricultural products as economic sabotage.
Violators face a fine five times higher than the value of smuggled or hoarded agricultural products in addition to life imprisonment.
Agricultural products covered by the law include rice, corn, beef, and other ruminants, pork, poultry, garlic, onions, carrots, other vegetables, fruit, fish, salt, and other aquatic products in their raw state.
Tiu Laurel earlier warned that the government would go after food smugglers and hold them accountable.