THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted 21 forty-foot containers of frozen mackerel from China at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) for lacking the necessary import clearance.
The shipment, estimated to be worth P178.5 million, was confiscated in a joint operation by the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), MICP, and the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The operation was triggered by a tip-off received on October 16, 2024, indicating that the containers lacked the required Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) from BFAR. Subsequent verification confirmed that the consignee had not secured the necessary SPSIC, which is currently suspended for the importation of round scad, mackerel, and bonito under DA Memorandum Order No. 14, series of 2024.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio emphasized the serious risks posed by the lack of SPSIC to local agriculture, fisheries, and consumer health and safety. Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy highlighted the BOC’s commitment to enforcing import regulations and safeguarding local industries.
The MICP will issue Warrants of Seizure and Detention against the shipments for violating Sections 117 and 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to DA Memorandum Order No. 14.
Commissioner Rubio commended the leadership and dedication of Deputy Commissioner Uy and MICP District Collector Rizalino Jose C. Torralba in protecting agricultural resources and ensuring the safety of imported products. He also expressed gratitude to DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. for the strong collaboration between the BOC and DA in enforcing import regulations.
