DA orders destruction of abandoned P86.7-M imported onion cargo

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered the destruction of the abandoned imported onions worth about P86.7 million after laboratory tests found the cargo "unsafe for human consumption."

In a statement on Friday, the DA said the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) recommended the disposal of the shipment following a joint inspection with the Bureau of Customs at the Manila International Container Port.

The shipment consists of 26 container vans carrying around 650 metric tons of red onions imported from China, equivalent to about 72,215 bags.

According to the DA, the onions were part of shipments that arrived between December 2025 and January 2026 but were later abandoned by the importer for reasons that have yet to be determined.

Authorities said months of storage and lack of proper handling caused the onions to deteriorate significantly.

Inspectors found widespread spoilage, including sprouting, rotting, fungal infestation, discoloration, and a strong foul odor.

Laboratory tests later confirmed that the onions were no longer fit for human consumption.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said public health considerations outweighed the financial value of the shipment.

“The results of the laboratory analysis clearly show that the shipment poses serious health risks and is no longer fit for human consumption. We cannot allow these to enter the market,” Tiu Laurel said.

“The proper course of action is the immediate destruction of the entire consignment,” he added.

The DA said the shipment also represented an estimated P9.7 million in unpaid duties and taxes.

Aside from food safety concerns, authorities said the spoiled onions pose logistical and biosecurity risks because they continue to occupy valuable port space and could attract pests or contribute to contamination.

The Bureau of Plant Industry said photo and video documentation of the shipment would be sufficient for evidentiary purposes, making further laboratory testing unnecessary.

Officials said the case highlights the recurring problem of abandoned food imports that eventually become health, environmental, and logistical concerns at major ports. —VAL, GMA News