An umbrella group of agriculture organizations on Thursday warned consumers that tons of allegedly smuggled rice from Vietnam, which may now be in the market, may not be fit for consumption.
Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), composed of at least 30 industry groups, was referring to 167 container vans of milled rice, which had been seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) but ordered released by the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC).
“The seized rice was never inspected before the release when it has been stored in unsafe and unsanitary container vans for at least five months,” Sinag chair Rosendo So said in a statement.
“Almost half a year in container vans is too long, and competent government agencies from both the Department of Agriculture and Department of Health should conduct a thorough inspection of all the seized imported rice for food safety and public health concerns,” he added.
So said tests should cover a wide range of food-borne hazards including chemical contaminants like toxic and pesticide residues, heavy metals and possible infestation.
He said the stock may no longer be fit for human consumption as the grains may already be infested with bugs or already rotting.
Last week, the BOC said it had released 167 container vans with 3.3 tons of milled rice, following an order issued by the Davao RTC.
Sinag said all rice entering the country should continue to be covered by import permits because the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) quantitative restriction for rice continues to be in effect and will be in effect until 2017.
It said the Philippines had filed a request in the WTO asking for a waiver that would continue restrictions on rice imports. The request, Sinag said, remained unchallenged in any of the WTO’s general council meetings held in 2013. With a report from Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon