Imported agri products confiscated at NAIA
Friday, 27 January 2012 00:00
QUARANTINE officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) confiscated fresh fruits and vegetables from Taiwan and Korea on Thursday as part of their lookout against the illegal importation of agricultural products to prevent the spread of pest and diseases. Plant quarantine officials seized strawberries, pears and citrus fruits and assorted vegetables wrapped in plastics and brought in by passengers from Taiwan and South Korea without necessary permit. A new policy of subjecting all hand-carried pieces of luggage to X-ray examination has been put in effect starting this year, along with random checking of check-in luggage by the Bureau of Customs. Dr. Bartolome Mesolana, plant quarantine officer, said they are tightening their watch on incoming agricultural products from mainLand China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, including countries with known forms of meat infestation.
Officials from the veterinary Quarantine Service (VQS) at the NAIA said their office is part of the airport team that is watching the entry of meat products, fruits and vegetables coming from countries having cases of mad cow disease, avian flu, and other forms of animal diseases. Mesolana said they will confiscate all meat products, fruits and vegetables from passengers without proper documentation to make sure that the country's agriculture and livestock industry is protected. Mesolana said they are giving special attention to passengers coming from the United States, Japan, China, Pakistan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia and ThaiLand. He said they are in coordination with the BOC and quarantine personnel of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). Among the other items that are prohibited from entering the country are duck eggs, chicken eggs, pigeon, goose and other poultry products. All the confiscated items are destined to be burned at the Quarantines incinerator located at Nayong Pilipino complex. PNA
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