ILOILO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas warned the public against the proliferation of imported fresh white or yellow onions in public and private markets.
In its public advisory dated Dec. 20, 2022 signed by Regional Executive Director Jose Albert Barrodo, DA Region 6 reminded the public that smuggled onions have not undergone sanitary and phytosanitary inspection by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
These undocumented agricultural products could thus be hazardous to consumers and threaten the local onion industry.
The country is currently experiencing low production of white and yellow onions.
The DA further noted that it has not issued Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) to import fresh onions as of this date based on the Memorandum issued by the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry dated Nov. 25, 2022.
DA-6 urged the public to contact DA-WV Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section at telephone numbers (033)335-3423 or report to the nearest municipal agriculture office (MAO) and to the Bureau of Plant Industry at (033)320-6263 if there are suspected prohibited merchandise of this commodity in their locality for proper action./PN
