Misdeclared mackerel shipment flagged at Manila port

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) reported last week the seizure of a shipment of imported mackerel that had been misdeclared as frozen goods.

The shipment, consigned to Straradava, included 19 container vans that arrived at Manila’s South Harbor on January 21, according to a news release from the DA.

During a spot inspection, authorities discovered that one of the containers held mackerel instead of the declared frozen fried taro sticks, taro sweet potato balls, and assorted frozen food products.

Since mackerel falls under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), its misdeclaration raised concerns about possible smuggling and regulatory violations.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued a stern warning to those attempting to circumvent the law, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enforcing the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act to protect consumers, safeguard farmers, and uphold government revenues.

Meanwhile, BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban noted that while processed plant-based foods are not within the bureau’s primary jurisdiction, the agency’s vigilant staff at Manila’s ports flagged the shipment due to an unusually large volume of a particular frozen plant-based product.

Further details regarding the remaining shipments will be disclosed following a full inspection, as ordered by Secretary Tiu Laurel.