DA warns some imported vegetables lack health certificate

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday warned consumers of imported vegetables that can be found in dry markets as they could have been smuggled. 

In Bernadette Reyes’ report on "24 Oras," vegetables called “tiger chili,” “garlic sticks,” and “Chinese Yam” were available at a market in Pasay City. 

But Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel Tiu said that these vegetables could pose a threat to one’s health if they were not issued sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance by the Bureau of Plant Industry. 

“Wala silang health certificate so that is actually dangerous. Hindi natin alam kung mataas ‘yan sa heavy metals, hindi natin alam kung reject ‘yan, may pesticide content, yung fertilizer na ginamit tama ba na hindi harmful sa tao,” he said. 

(They don’t have health certificates so that is actually dangerous. We are not sure if they have high levels of heavy metals, if they are rejected, if they contain pesticides, or what kind of fertilizer was used.) 

Meanwhile, some retailers are clueless about the original source of their vegetables. 

“Ang alam lang namin doon lang namin kinuha sa Divisoria, Ma’am, tapos binebenta lang namin dito,” a vendor said. 

(What we only know is we just source them from Divisoria and sell them here.) 

The DA said that it will coordinate with the Bureau of Customs to locate the source of the said vegetables, while also encouraging retailers to cooperate, 

“I-coordinate din namin sa DA at DTI tapos kung ano mga sanction na pwede namin ibigay sa kanila isa-sanction po namin sila,” said Ted Velasco, Pasay Markets master. 

(We will also coordinate with the DA and DTI regarding the possible sanctions to the sources.) 

Meanwhile, the DA also said that it would gradually slash the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice in the coming weeks as it targets an MSRP of P49 per kilo by March.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News