DA, BOC lumagda ng kasunduan vs. agri-products smuggling

Manila, Philippines – Pumirma sa kasunduan ang Department of Agriculture at Bureau of Customs (BOC) sa pagpapatupad ng bagong tuntunin upang mapigil ang pagpasok ng puslit na agricultural commodities.

Sinabi ng DA na napagkasunduan nina Agriculture Secretary William Dar at Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero na palakasin ang “second border” inspections at bumuo ng technical working group (TWG) upang rebyuhin ang 15 taong gulang na guidelines at procedures sa paghawak ng imported food items.

“Our goal is to curb the entry of smuggled agri-fishery products, while ensuring consumer safety in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 10611 or the ‘Food Safety Act of 2013’ and other applicable laws,” ani Dar.

 “This measure will only be temporary pending the completion of the first border facilities that will be constructed by the DA at major ports, starting in Subic, called as Commodity Examination Facility for Agriculture (CEFA),” saad pa nito.

Pangungunahan ang TWG nina agriculture assistant secretary for regulations Liza Battad, co-chaired by DA assistant secretary for economic intelligence Federico Laciste, BOC deputy commissioner intelligence group Raniel Ramiro at assistant commissioner for post-clearance audit group Vincent Phillip Maronilla.

Habang kasama naman nila ang iba pang ahensya tulad ng bureaus of plant industry (BPI), animal industry (BAI), and fisheries and aquatic resources (BFAR), at National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) at concerned BOC officers.

“This will also allow us to cross-check our records and identify the shipper and recipient of the cargoes containing agri-fishery products,” dagdag pa ni Dar.

“We can verify with the BOC, in real-time, the correctness of all the documents from the importers, including the details of all the food items and the owners of the cargoes.” RNT/FGDC

DA, BOC lumagda ng kasunduan vs. agri-products smuggling
Source: Filipino Pinoys