AFTER news broke out of the wanton sale of smuggled onions via an e-commerce platform, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) opted to launch an investigation, even as the agency denied issuing any phytosanitary and sanitary permits necessary to import the onions.
In a briefing on Tuesday, clarified that the agency has not been issuing any phytosanitary and sanitary permits necessary to import the onions legally.
"Yung alleged smuggled goods, they carry the risk of sanitary pests and diseases kaya po sana wag natin tangkilikin yon," BPI director Glenn Panganiban said during a briefing last week.
"Kung yan ay walang proper na documentation at hindi nainspeksyon, maaari po na may risk sa ating health kung ating ikokonsumo," Panganiban was quoted as saying.
On top of smuggling, BPI also hinted at checking on the policies of e-commerce platforms.
"Yang internet at social media, mahirap i-regulate, pero rest assured we are coordinating with the proper authorities and law enforcement units," Panganiban said.
"We have checked online pages, marketplaces — hindi naman ganon kalaki, but we have to check and verify the data," he added.
Previously, Agri partylist Congressman Wilbert Lee said that smuggled onions are proliferating online because they're sold cheaper than the farm gate price of local onions.
Prices of local onions are significantly lower this year because of the high volume of supply. More farmers planted onions after the price of the bulb skyrocketed in early 2023.
"Yung farm gate price natin ngayon nasa P28 to P30/kilo," Lee said.
Earlier, onion farmer groups slammed the Department of Agriculture for importing onions, which caused the dip in local onion prices. Farmers also complained of online selling over fears that their produce won't get distributed in markets nationwide.
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