According to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of the Philippines, on October 3, the Customs Office at the Port of Manila (BOC-POM) inspected and seized a shipment of 25,000 kilograms of fresh onions, valued at approximately 2 million Philippine pesos. The shipment reportedly arrived from China. Upon verification, it was confirmed that the shipment lacked the required Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) from the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), leading to its seizure. However, authorities have not disclosed the identity of the importer or provided further details.

The inspection was led by DA-BPI Director Glenn Panganiban, Assistant Director Ruel Gesmundo, and Plant Quarantine Division Chief Joan May Tolentino. Regional Executive Director Torralba emphasized the importance of inspections in safeguarding public health and agriculture. “The recent operation reflects our strong commitment to ensuring that products not in compliance with laws, regulations, and standards do not infiltrate our market,” he stated.

From January to August this year, Philippine Customs conducted 1,803 anti-agricultural smuggling operations, with an estimated value of 3.7 billion pesos.

[China-Philippines Trade Relations] In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached USD 71.9 billion. China exported USD 52.41 billion worth of goods to the Philippines, while importing USD 19.49 billion. Additionally, China's total industry investment in the Philippines amounted to USD 170 million in 2023. China remains the Philippines' largest trading partner and the top source of imports.