By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture has blacklisted 10 companies in the past six months for engaging in illegal trade activities, marking a significant crackdown on smuggling and other unlawful agricultural trade practices.
“We have blacklisted more companies in the past six months than in the past six years combined. This should serve as a clear warning to those who attempt to challenge our resolve in going after smugglers and unscrupulous traders whose illegal activities harm our farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers,” warned agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
The agriculture chief also noted that the recent passage of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act is part of the D.A.’s efforts to combat unscrupulous activities that drive up food prices and destabilize the local market.
The companies blacklisted for importing vegetables, fruits, and other food products without the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances from the Bureau of Plant Industry include LVM Grains Enterprises, Kysse Lishh Consumer Goods Trading, JRA and Pearl Enterprises Inc., Betron Consumer Goods Trading, RCNN Non-Specialized Wholesale Trading, and Golden Rays Consumer Goods Trading. Of these, Kysse Lishh, RCNN, Chastity Consumer Goods Trading, and Golden Rays are not licensed importers.
Meanwhile, companies found to be involved in anti-competitive practices, such as price manipulation and collusion, have also been blacklisted. These include La Reina Fresh Vegetables Young Indoor Plants Inc., Vegefru Producing Store, and Yom Trading Corp., all of which were licensed importers.
-iro