FIRST BORDER EXAMINATION FACILITIES FOR IMPORTED AGRI PRODUCTS SEEN OPERATION EARLY 2025 —DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it targets to start the operations of first border control facilities for imported animal and plant products by early 2025 in a bid to prevent the entry of plant animal diseases in the country.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the first of five CEFAs or Cold Examination Facility for Agriculture “will start operations by early next year.”

A CEFA is a sanitary/phytosanitary inspection facility for imported animal, fish, plant, and other agricultural products.

Tiu Laurel said that private contractors are currently constructing a CEFA in Angat, Bulacan with equipment procurement underway to meet the operational timeline.

“We expect the Angat CEFA to be operational by January or February next year,” the Agriculture chief said. 

He said that plans are, likewise, underway to open four additional CEFAs by September 2025 in Manila, Subic, Davao, and General Santos City.

The DA chief explained that the CEFAs in Angat and General Santos City will only have DA-funded laboratories aa comprehensive facilities are planned for major ports and fish ports including the Manila International Container Terminal, Subic Bay International Corporation, Davao International Container Terminal, Manila South Harbor, New Cebu International Container Port, Batangas International Port, Navotas Fish Port, Iloilo International Container Port and Misamis Oriental.

Funding for the CEFA project was originally pegged at P2.3 billion last year but was reduced to P1.2 billion for the current year due to the offer of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) to host most of the facilities at local ports which the listed company operates. 

Tiu Laurel said before the CEFAs commence operations, the DA will implement pre-shipment inspections in ports of origins.

“Before these facilities become operational, we will issue an administrative order on pre-shipment inspection, pending approval from the Department of Finance,” the Agricultue chief said. 

Tiu Laurel added that he anticipates that pre-shipment inspections could be enforced within three months to bolster food safety measures and curb smuggling activities detrimental to local farmers and public health.

The initiative underscores government’s commitment to fortify border controls amid emerging health and economic challenges posed by imported agricultural products, according to Tiu Laurel.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

This article First border examination facilities for imported agri products seen operation early 2025 —DA was originally published in GMA News Online.

2024-07-02T10:13:44Z dg43tfdfdgfd