Gov’t won’t allow importation of formalin-tainted ‘galunggong’

A fish vendor at Commonwealth Market in Quezon City arranges locally sourced “galunggong” or round scad to entice customers to buy on Wednesday, August 22, 2018. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allowed the importation of “galunggong” to address the rising prices of the fish variety in the market. A group of fisherfolks are protesting the importation of the said variety of fish.
INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

The government will not allow tainted fish products to enter the country, following a Department of Health (DOH) warning that “galunggong,” or “GG” (round scad), imported from China may be tainted with formalin.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said he believed the DOH and the Department of Agriculture (DA) might have heard the allegations made by the militant fisherfolk group Pamalakaya on formalin-tainted galunggong.

There are phytosanitary measures the government can use to ensure fish products are safe, he said.

“I don’t think that the government will allow the entry of these tainted fish products,” Roque told reporters.

Stabilize prices

The country may import galunggong when the fishing season closes every year to stabilize the prices and the supply of the fish variety in the market, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said on Thursday.

The DA has allowed the importation of 17,000 tons of galunggong this year. The fish will arrive starting next month.

“I don’t see anything wrong with importing as long as we don’t run over our fishermen,” he said.—KARL R. OCAMPO AND CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO