Philippines' DA charges onion importer for illegal importation

The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines has taken legal action against JRA and Pearl Enterprises Inc. for importing yellow onions without proper permits. The complaint, filed on Tuesday, concerns the import of 25 metric tons of fresh yellow onions worth about P2.37 million from China. The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) submitted the formal complaint to the Manila City Prosecutor's Office. This importation occurred back in July 2024, even though the government had not authorized onion imports for much of that year. The BPI had suspended the issuance of import permits for fresh yellow onions from January 1 to August 19, 2024, citing sufficient local supply. Authorities say JRA did not provide a clear reason for importing the onions without the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance, which is required to ensure the onions are safe for consumption and do not pose a risk of spreading pests or diseases.