THREE food importers have been blacklisted and five more could lose their licenses for engaging in illegal activities, the Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday.

The blacklisted firms were identified as LVM Grains Enterprises, which imported rice, cashew nuts and coffee without the proper clearances, and Kysse Lishh Consumer Goods Trading and Golden Rays Consumer Goods Trading, which brought in onions and oranges despite having no import permits and licenses.

The blacklisting took effect last May 21, the DA said.

As for the five others, it said that their licenses were already suspended due to misdeclarations, illegal importation and anti-competitive trade practices.

"We will withhold the identities of these five importers because the cases we filed against them are still pending," Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) director Gerald Panganiban said.

"Until their cases are resolved, however, they cannot transact with BPI," he added.

Three companies that engaged in anti-competitive trade activities are being prosecuted by the Philippine Competition Commission, the DA said.

The DA noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had just signed a law classifying smuggling, hoarding and cartel operations involving farm goods as economic sabotage.

"We will not turn a blind eye to these importers' illegal practices that undermine government revenues and put public health at risk," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

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