Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has formally requested the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to release 580 metric tons of seized frozen mackerel to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
According to media release from the Department of Agriculture (DA), the shipment, confiscated for lacking an import permit, is intended to aid relief operations and bolster food security efforts.
In a letter addressed to Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio on November 18, Secretary Tiu Laurel highlighted the findings of the National Fisheries Laboratory Division of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Laboratory tests confirmed that the frozen fish is fit for human consumption, with no signs of spoilage or contamination.
“Consequently, the fish products are deemed fit for immediate release and can be utilized to address food security needs, especially in relief operations,” Secretary Tiu Laurel said.
“This initiative would support the DSWD and the Department of Agriculture’s ongoing efforts to provide essential aid to victims of the recent typhoon,” he added.
The confiscated shipment, comprising 21 container vans loaded with frozen mackerel, arrived at the Manila International Container Port in early October without the required sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances.
A joint team from the Department of Agriculture’s Inspectorate and Enforcement Office and the BOC intercepted and seized the shipment.
Following the confiscation, Secretary Tiu Laurel directed BFAR to conduct laboratory tests to evaluate the suitability of the frozen mackerel for distribution to typhoon-affected communities.
The results of these tests confirmed that the fish is safe for human consumption. The smuggled shipment of pelagic fish is valued at about P178.5 million.