Monday, November 29, 2010

Environmental group backs careful inspection of shipments

Barely a month before Christmas, an environmental watchdog urged Custom authorities to foil probable smuggling of toxic and hazardous goods into the country.

The EcoWaste Coalition welcomed the move by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Manila International Container Port and Port of Manila to defer recently the release of 15 container vans loaded with imported plastic toys, firecrackers and other goods from China and Hong Kong.

Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez earlier said the shipment will only be released after rigorous examination.

“We support the more careful inspection of these Christmas shipments to ensure that dangerous goods such as toxic toys, substandard lights and perilous firecrackers are not put up for sale in the local market,” said Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition president.

“The stringent scrutiny by our customs officers is needed to thwart any attempts by crooked traders to make profits from the sale of dangerous products that could jeopardize public health and safety,” he added.

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