588 tons of smuggled frozen mackerel from China seized in Manila

Philippine authorities, thanks to the joint efforts of the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs, intercepted the smuggling of 588 tons of frozen mackerel from China in late October 2024. The seizure of the goods was made at the largest Philippine container terminal in Manila. Lack of import permit The Philippine Department of Agriculture reported that the reason for the seizure of 588 tons of frozen mackerel was the lack of a sanitary and phytosanitary import permit. The fish were transported in 21 containers. It was also found that the mackerels were most likely intentionally glazed in order to increase their weight and sell them at a higher price. Mackerel safe for consumption The mackerel was tested by the National Fisheries Laboratory. Laboratory tests confirmed that the frozen fish is suitable for human consumption and shows no signs of spoilage or contamination. The head of the Department of Agriculture requested that the Bureau of ...