12 onion traders face raps over imports

The government is filing charges against 12 onion importers and traders for engaging in alleged anticompetitive practices through the manipulation of the issuance of import clearances, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said on Sunday.

According to the PCC, the respondents assigned among themselves sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSIC) issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry and distributed the volume of onion allowed for importation.

“By agreeing to allocate SPSICs and divide among themselves the actual volume of imports, respondents effectively controlled more than 50 percent of the volume of onions imported into the Philippines during the relevant period,” it said.

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If found liable, the respondents may face imprisonment of two to seven years, and a fine of up to P250 million. —MELVIN GASCON