A shipment of illegally imported medicine misdeclared as face masks was apprehended on September 15 by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
BOC stated that alleged consignee F.E.R.N. Freight Enterprises, taking advantage of the current pandemic, had declared the shipment as containing face masks. The shipment was then discovered to contain medicine and medicinal ointments that had no import permits or clearances from pertinent government agencies.
A warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the shipment for violation of relevant sections of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
BOC-MICP district collector Romeo Allan Rosales expressed concern over the adverse effects of using medicine which was not cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Regulated items imported into the country are required to secure import permits or clearances from trade regulatory government agencies, such as the FDA for medicine imports, prior to their release from the ports.
