The release of 59 containers from the Manila International Container Port (MICP) was halted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) after the cargoes were found to hold misdeclared goods.
The cargoes, which came from China and arrived at MICP on July 25, were to be delivered to MARID Industrial Marketing. The containers were initially declared to contain housewares but after inspection on August 2 were found to hold cosmetics and apparel.
Under BOC’s Regulated Imports List, importers of cosmetics must first secure a permit from the Food and Drug Authority.
The shipments were also found to bear a falsified Form E (Association of Southeast Asian Nations-China Free Trade Agreement form).
Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon ordered the investigation of the consignee’s permit to import cosmetic products under Section 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation) for possible violation of Sections 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) and 1401 (Unlawful Importation or Exportation) of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
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