FDA to sanction importers over seized smuggled goods

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will impose appropriate sanctions on those behind the smuggled goods seized Tuesday morning, 1 July, at the Port of Manila.

The FDA, together with the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs, conducted a joint inspection at the city’s port following reports of suspicious importation activities involving potentially misdeclared food products.

The operation stemmed from a formal request by the DA on 26 June, urging the FDA to investigate shipments allegedly misclassified as processed food items.

Declared as egg noodles, spring rolls, and dumplings, the shipments were found to contain about 74 metric tons of red onions valued at P10.3 million, yellow onions worth P3.82 million, and frozen mackerel estimated between P13 million and P20 million.

FDA Director General Paolo Teston stressed that the agency is exercising its mandate under the Food and Drug Administration Act to regulate, inspect, and monitor processed food products entering the country to ensure they meet safety and quality standards.

Teston reiterated the agency’s responsibility to safeguard the health of consumers and called on businesses to comply with regulatory requirements, including securing a License to Operate as importers and distributors, as well as obtaining Certificates of Product Registration for each product they bring into the market.

Meanwhile, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa warned the public against buying smuggled or illegally imported onions. This comes after samples collected in June from the Paco Public Market in Manila tested positive for E. coli bacteria.

“E. coli causes gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea, fever, and even death due to dehydration in children or the elderly. So there's really an issue of food safety in smuggled items,” Herbosa said.