The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) said it filed a complaint against Betron Consumer Goods Trading for alleged smuggling of fresh carrots and yellow onions through the Port of Subic and alleged violations of the Food Safety Act and the 1978 Plant Quarantine Law.
The complaint, submitted to the Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office, alleged that five shipping containers originally declared as containing frozen fish egg balls were found to have 56,998 kilograms of carrots and 85,626 kg. of yellow onions in August 2024, valued at about P20.8 million.
Subic Port’s National Plant Quarantine Services Division area manager Carmela Rivera said the mis-declared agricultural goods were immediately confiscated to safeguard public health.
Subsequent analysis revealed the presence of E. coli and unregistered pesticide residues on the seized produce and lacked the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances.
The DA-BPI said despite a show-cause order being issued to Betron and Manalang, they failed to respond, prompting the agency to escalate the matter.
The DA-BPI filed a formal complaint on Dec. 9, 2024, revoking Betron’s importation license. The trading company was blacklisted and barred from future operations in the agricultural sector.
The DA-BPI said the deliberate misdeclaration and fraudulent documentation endangered public health and defrauded the government.
Violations of the Food Safety Act carry significant penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines.