The Department of Agriculture is moving toward the destruction of an abandoned P86.7-million shipment of imported red onions from China after inspections found extensive spoilage, raising concerns over food safety and the risk of the products entering the local market.

The 650-metric-ton shipment, equivalent to roughly a day’s national onion consumption, arrived at the Manila International Container Port between December 2025 and January 2026 but remained unclaimed for months despite having secured the required import permits.

A joint inspection conducted by the DA, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Plant Industry and Senate agriculture committee chair Senator Francis Pangilinan found mold-covered onions, leaking containers and widespread sprouting across the 26 container vans.

Assistant Secretary Willie Ann Angsiy of the DA’s Inspectorate and Enforcement Office said initial findings indicate that the onions are no longer suitable for consumption.

“Visual inspections of those onions show they are already unfit for human consumption and must be disposed of immediately. We cannot risk public health by allowing spoiled agricultural products to enter the market,” Angsiy said.

Laboratory tests are now being conducted by the Bureau of Plant Industry to determine whether the shipment poses health risks. Results are expected within days and will serve as the basis for the agency’s final recommendation.

The shipment consisted of 72,215 bags of red onions imported by M2000 IMEX Company Inc. It also carried an estimated P9.7 million in unpaid duties and taxes.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the incident highlights the importance of monitoring imported food products from arrival at ports to their eventual distribution.

“Food security goes beyond ensuring adequate supply. Consumers must have access to food that is safe, traceable, and compliant with regulations,” Tiu Laurel said. “This incident highlights the critical role of strong border controls and inter-agency coordination in protecting both public health and the integrity of our food system.”

The Bureau of Customs has already seized the shipment under provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act covering abandoned imports, while authorities coordinate its proper disposal to prevent the spoiled onions from re-entering the market.