Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Tuesday that 10 agricultural food importers have been blacklisted in the past six months for engaging in illegal trade activities and other unlawful agricultural trade practices.

“We have blacklisted more companies in the past six months than in the past six years combined. This should serve as a clear warning to those who attempt to challenge our resolve in going after smugglers and unscrupulous traders whose illegal activities harm our farmers, fisherfolk and consumers,” Laurel said.

Based on data released by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the companies blacklisted for importing vegetables, fruits and other food products without the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) include LVM Grains Enterprises, Kysse Lishh Consumer Goods Trading, JRA and Pearl Enterprises Inc., Betron Consumer Goods Trading, RCNN Non-Specialized Wholesale Trading and Golden Rays Consumer Goods Trading.

Of these, Kysse Lishh, RCNN, Chastity Consumer Goods Trading, and Golden Rays are not licensed importers.

Anti-competitive practices

Meanwhile, companies found to be involved in anti-competitive practices, such as price manipulation and collusion, have also been blacklisted.

These include La Reina Fresh Vegetables Young Indoor Plants Inc., Vegefru Producing Store and Yom Trading Corp., all of which were licensed importers.

Laurel said this is part of the DA’s intensified efforts to combat agricultural smuggling, profiteering, hoarding, and cartel activities that are driving up food prices and destabilizing the local market.

He further emphasized that the government is prepared to take more decisive actions against violators with the recent passage of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.

According to BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban, the licenses of the blacklisted firms have been revoked, and those without licenses were banned.