MANILA: Governor Nestor Fongwan said a deeper investigation will have to be done after the BPI revealed that the carrots which were seized last week had no import permits.
“We are waiting for the official letter of the BPI certifying there are no permits from the agency,” Fongwan said.
Import permits for agricultural products are issued by the BPI and are forwarded to Customs, so why was the shipment of carrots cleared for release even without an import permit, he said
“When we get the official letter from the BPI a deeper investigation will take place,” Fongwan said.
In 2013, Customs seized a shipment of illegally imported fresh potatoes and carrots worth P7.5 million from China.
Last week, the Benguet Farmers Marketing Cooperative complained that the carrots from China were being sold at half the price of local carrots.
The cooperative said imported carrots turned up in markets as early as July.
It warned the public against buying the imported carrots, claiming that the carrots seized in Divisoria, Manila, “were observed to have foul odor” and that after three days “black spots and molds started to appear.”
