Smuggled chocolates, creams, coffee creamers, juices, chocolate spreads and air fresheners worth P4 million were destroyed by the Bureau of Customs in Laguna after the items were found expired and not fit for human consumption.
The expired assorted foodstuffs were destroyed at the facility of Tritek Reverse Logistics Corp. located in San Pedro, Laguna.
Port of Manila District collector Erastus Austria said the four shipments of smuggled goodies was consigned to I.T. Malingco Trading, which arrived on May 15, 2017 at the Port of Manila from the United States.
The seized items were not covered by any certificate of product registration from the Food and Drug Administration.
Shipments without the required FDA permit are automatically seized by the Bureau pursuant to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) in relation to RA 9711, otherwise known as FDA Act of 2009.
Austria said that the forfeited items were “unfit for human consumption, have no commercial value, or the release thereof was contrary to law,” thus he ordered the condemnation of the articles by way of composting, rendering and pouring.
The condemnation was witnessed by the personnel of the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Division, Enforcement and Security Division, a representative from the Commission on Audit and the local government unit of San Pedro, Laguna.