The Bureau of Customs intercepted a shipment of electronic waste from South Korea that was declared as used television spare parts.
The illegal shipment was found by the BOC-Environmental Protection and Compliance Division after receiving information that a 40-foot container containing electronic waste arrived at the Manila International Container Port.
MICP District Collector Guillermo Pedro Francia IV said the shipment was consigned to Vision Restore and Equipment Corp. It arrived at the MICP on Nov. 6 from South Korea.
Based on the BOC report, the consignee declared the shipment as used television parts and electric parts but after examination, it was found to contain electronic waste.
Francia immediately issued an alert order against the container and recommended to the Accounts Management Office the revocation of the accreditation of the importer and the customs broker.
The BOC will issue an order of re-exportation directing the consignee to return the shipment to its port of origin based on the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, to which both the Philippines and South Korea are signatories.
The BOC will conduct an investigation to identify the personalities involved in the importation of electronic waste for the filing of appropriate charges.