The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), blacklisted 10 companies over the past six months for alleged illegal trade activities, signaling a major crackdown on smuggling and other unlawful practices in the agricultural sector.
“We have blacklisted more companies in the past six months than in the past six years combined. This is a strong warning to those who dare to undermine our efforts to combat smugglers and unscrupulous traders whose illegal actions harm farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
He said the move is a part of the DA’s intensified campaign against agricultural smuggling, profiteering, hoarding and cartel activities that inflate food prices and disrupt the local market.
Tiu Laurel said the recently-passed Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act enables the government to take more decisive measures against violators.
The DA identified the companies blacklisted for importing vegetables, fruits and other food products without the required sanitary and phytosanitary clearances as LVM Grains Enterprises, Kysse Lishh Consumer Goods Trading, JRA and Pearl Enterprises Inc., Betron Consumer Goods Trading, RCNN Non-Specialized Wholesale Trading, and Golden Rays Consumer Goods Trading. Notably, Kysse Lishh, RCNN, Chastity Consumer Goods Trading and Golden Rays for alleged lack of importer licenses.
Companies involved in anti-competitive practices such as price manipulation and collusion were also blacklisted. These include La Reina Fresh Vegetables Young Indoor Plants Inc., Vegefru Producing Store, and Yom Trading Corp., all licensed importers.
BPI director Gerald Glenn Panganiban confirmed that the licenses of the blacklisted firms were revoked, while unlicensed companies were banned based on derogatory findings.
The DA said its robust actions underscore its renewed commitment to protecting the agricultural sector from illegal practices that threaten farmers’ livelihoods and consumer welfare.
Tiu Laurel said the government would hold violators accountable and take further steps to uphold the integrity of the agricultural trade system.
