Department of Agriculture Imposes Additional Guidelines Against Smuggling

The Department of Agriculture has ordered various regulatory agencies to adhere to more stringent guidelines against smuggling. Following these guidelines, agricultural product importers will now have to submit utilization reports. Agriculture undersecretary Leocadio S. Sebastian has issued Memorandum Order 31 which implements additional measures to combat agricultural smuggling. The entities involved in the directive from MO 31 include the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

Sebastian revealed the lack of monitoring of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) utilization, alleged corruption in the agency, improper applications of rules in product import monitoring and lack of utilization monitoring, and absences of department staff in its inspections. “The above bureaus are instructed to implement measures within their respective mandate to address the above issues,” Sebastian stated in the MO last April 26.

Sebastian has stated that the DA’s lapses in rules and procedures were revealed during Congress hearings. Three hearings in the Senate led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III have already been conducted to date on the country’s issue of agricultural smuggling, while two hearings in the House Committee led by Albay Second District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda have been held on the same issue as well.

The memorandum also requires importers to surrender unused SPSICs that have expired as well as mandatory reporting on the utilized volume per issued SPSIC. The DA has also stipulated that business transactions with brokers and importers involving concerned staff must be in “full view and within the hearing distance of other staff.” Sebastian has also ordered the heads of the three aforementioned bureaus to ensure 24/7 staff assigned to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) x-ray area. Briefing and assessment of staff performance and regular orientations must also be conducted.

Source: BusinessMirror