Misdeclaration of imported frozen food caught in Manila’s South Harbor

South Harbor in Manila

Local authorities have discovered misdeclared imports in one of the shipments that arrived at Manila’s South Harbor recently, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Friday.

The DA said its attached bureau, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), had requested the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to hold the release of 19 container vans while further inspections are conducted.

“Instead of frozen taro sticks as declared in the shipping manifest, the van contained frozen mackerel,” the agency said in a statement.

The shipments consigned to Stradava Household Products Trading, which arrived on Jan. 21, contained 550 metric tons of frozen fried taro sticks, taro sweet potato balls and assorted frozen food products.

However, the spot inspection revealed the cargo held mackerel, as opposed to taro products which were stipulated in the shipping manifest.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has instructed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the BPI to immediately inspect all the shipments in cooperation with the BOC.

Henrick Exconde, OIC and area manager of the BPI’s Plant Quarantine Service in Manila’s South Harbor, said that other shipments, which have not yet been divulged, were requested alert orders and will also undergo a full inspection.

Local authorities immediately seized and detained the shipment of Stradava, which holds a license to import until July 13, 2028, based on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) portal.

“While these processed plant-based foods fall outside our mandate, our vigilant staff at Manila’s ports flagged the shipments due to the large volume of imports of a particular frozen product of plant origin,” BPI director Gerald Glenn Panganiban said.

The BPI regulates imports of all plant products including live plants, fruits and vegetables.

On the other hand, the FDA oversees processed food imports.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he has informed FDA Director General Samuel Zacate of the smuggling case to ensure coordination among government agencies.

“This is a clear message to those who think they can get away with trifling with the law—we are watching you closely,” Tiu Laurel said.

“We are fully committed to enforcing the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act to protect consumers, safeguard our farmers, and preserve government revenues,” he added.

The law classifies smuggling, hoarding and cartel operations involving agricultural products as economic sabotage.

Likewise, the smuggling and hoarding of agricultural products is considered economic sabotage when the value of the goods exceeds P10 million.