DA-BPI blacklists 3 agri importers

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) has blacklisted three agricultural importers over allegedly not having required permits, clearances or licenses.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DA said the BPI blacklisted LVM Grains Enterprises, “which imported milled rice, cashew nuts, and coffee without the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances.”

GMA News Online reached out to LVM Grains Enterprises, through its available contact number on the BPI’s website, for comment but no response yet has been received as of posting.

Also placed on blacklist were Kysse Lishh Consumer Goods Trading and Golden Rays Consumer Goods Trading “due to their respective importation of onions and oranges without SPIC (sanitary phytosanitary import clearance) permits and import licenses.”

GMA News Online has sought the assistance of the BPI’s Plant Quarantine Service to reach out to the two other blacklisted importers.

“We will not turn a blind eye to these importers’ illegal practices that undermine government revenues and put public health at risk,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

“To do so would be to abdicate our sworn duty to protect our farmers and the Filipino consumers,” said Tiu Laurel. 

The Agriculture Department said the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is leading the prosecution of the three companies accused of engaging in anti-competitive trade activities.

Meanwhile, the DA said the import licenses of five other firms—which it did not disclose yet—have been suspended for revocation due to misdeclarations, illegal importation, and anti-competitive trade practices. 

“We will withhold the identities of these five importers because the cases we filed against them are still pending. Until their cases are resolved, however, they cannot transact with BPI,” said BPI director Gerald Glenn Panganiban. 

Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law a measure that classifies smuggling, hoarding, and cartel operations involving agricultural products as economic sabotage. 

The DA said the new law would mean stiffer fines and longer jail terms for those who violate the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. 

The law considers smuggling and hoarding of agricultural products as economic sabotage when the value of goods exceeds P10 million. — BM, GMA Integrated News