DA reaffirms vow that Chinese rice imports will be tested for cadmium

The 25,000 metric tons (MT) of rice the Philippines is set to import from China will be tested for the presence of cadmium through the Customs quarantine process, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said Monday.

The rice to be imported from China is part of the minimum access volume (MAV) of 163,000 MT the Philippines is required by the World Trade Organization to import this year.

Last month, it was reported that China's food and drug agency found excessive levels of cadmium in 44.44 percent of rice products from Guangzhou City.

Cadmium, a toxic metal, is a carcinogen which can cause lung damage and fragile bones.

In an earlier interview, National Rice Program Coordinator Dante Delima said that rice entering the Philippines from China will be screened at the Customs level for cadmium content.

He also pointed out that the department can only screen rice that goes through the proper channels.

"This is why we would not patronize smuggled rice. This is also a reason why we have to be self-sufficient in rice," he said. — BM, GMA News