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Quarantine reinforces rule on importation
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Posted on Jul 12 2000
The Division of Quarantine has tightened rules on the importation of food products to prevent possible falsification of documents for imported food, as well as curb bureaucratic red tape.
Acting Agriculture Director Stan Villagomez said under the new policy, consigned food items face forfeiture if the consignees failed to submit the necessary documents when their containers arrive at the port.
“If the required documents does not come together with the container, we will not accept it. It has to come at the same time. If they say they will just fax the documents later, then we will not accept the commodity anymore,” he explained.
The acting director further raised the possibility of document alteration or modification if Quarantine tolerates importers to submit the papers after the food items have been allowed entry.
“Whereas if the original document comes in with the container, then we know it’s authentic,” said Mr. Villagomez.
Meanwhile, the Department of Lands and Natural Resources continues to urge local importers to be conscious of standard quarantine rules following a recent confiscation of some 204 cases of noodles from consignees originating from the Philippines and China.
DLNR Special Assistant for Correspondences Marian Teregeyo said despite the deadline set by DLNR to have the goods incinerated, consignees have failed to show up for the procedure.
The cases of noodles have been under the Quarantine’s possession for three weeks already, according to Ms. Teregeyo.
“But even if they don’t bring it to the incinerator, we will personally have it done and we will bill the consignees the appropriate amount for all those boxes of noodles brought in,” she said.
“Again, the message we want to send is that importers need to know and possess the proper documents for them to import anything so they can avoid additional costs,” she added.
The noodles were not allowed entry into the CNMI since they contained solid meat byproducts from high-risk countries. (MM)
