[ad_1]
UAE – While many Filipinos in the UAE have had no problems traveling with bags of onions in their suitcases recently, some are still hesitant, unsure if they are allowed to take home to share the prized commodity .
The expat asked, “What does the law say? Onions are not listed as prohibited items in most airline guidelines; does that mean they can be brought into the Philippines? How many kilos can we bring?”
In the UAE, onions cost Dh2 a kilo or less – popular among Filipinos in Manila, where the vegetable sells for as much as Dh40 a kilo. “a lot of All (hopefully the same for all),” they would tell friends and family in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Packing onions in a suitcase with perfume bottles, tea, and chocolates may sound like a joke at first, but now, it’s become reality for many Filipino expats.
However, this emerging trend comes with legal issues, said Nolet Fulgencio, Agriculture Commissioner at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
“Putting onions in luggage, even for personal use, is considered an import,” Fulgencio clarified. “Importing is done through certain procedures and various permits must be sought.”
To import crops such as onions for personal purposes, travelers must obtain a phytosanitary certificate (PQC) from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), she told reporters. Khaleej era. Commercial importers, on the other hand, must obtain a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Permit (SPIC).
These certificates have long been part of import requirements so that the Philippines can ensure that no pests or diseases are brought into the country through agricultural products, she explained.
To obtain a PQC, expats in the UAE can email bpipqs@gmail.com Or have their in-country representative apply on their behalf at BPI’s National Phytosanitary Service Department (NPQSD) headquarters, Fulgencio said.
“However, what expats need to know is that even if they do send an email to BPI, the authorities may tell them that onions cannot be airlifted from the UAE to the Philippines. This is not allowed,” the official said.
That’s because only six countries are allowed to send onions to the Philippines — and the UAE isn’t one of them. Only India, China, Australia, South Korea, the Netherlands and New Zealand made the list.
“While some may argue that onions in the UAE come from India or China, the rules state that the product must come directly from those countries,” Fulgencio said, adding that the UAE and the Philippines have yet to establish a bilateral agreement on importing agricultural products.
Any import clearance and PQC application must go through a series of approvals and signatures.
Will violators be fined?
Asked if there would be fines and penalties for people who bring onions home without customs clearance, Fulgencio said: “The information has to come from the Bureau of Customs (BoC).”
However, as far as the Ministry of Agriculture is concerned, “confiscation of products” is a direct consequence.
“In the absence of PQC or SPSIC…the goods shall be kept by the BoC or transferred to the custody of PQS until the documents are produced,” NPQSD said on its website.
The customs clearance process is designed to ensure that agricultural products are regulated and certified safe before being airlifted into the country. “Those who haven’t been checked shouldn’t be allowed in, so they have to be confiscated,” Fulgencio said.
Copyright © 2022 Khaleej Times. all rights reserved. Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndicate Information).
[ad_2]
Source link