Philippines: Bugs found in imported Thailand rice

The shipment composed of 14,000 metric tons of Thailand rice was intended for distribution by the National Food Authority (NFA) to the six provinces and seven cities of Bicol representing additional supply to meet the demand for cheap rice amidst the spiraling prices of commercial rice.

Danilo Doblon, Plant Quarantine Officer of the Department of Agriculture (DA) assigned with the Tabaco City port on Wednesday said members of the inspection team that boarded the ship to check on the cargo found rice bugs locally called "bokbok" from samples of the rice shipment.

The inspection was conducted last July 14 and on discovering the bugs, Doblon said he immediately called the attention of the ship captain of MV Bundok III, the cargo ship and directed him to distance the ship from the port and seal all vents of its cargo area to facilitate prompt fumigations.

The fumigations were initiated last Tuesday and the cargo had to wait for 48 hours or until Thursday before the treatment is completed and be allowed to be unloaded, he said.

Doblon said the bugs found on the rice shipment belong to the kindred rice storage species such as supertadominica, secipilus and criptolipsis that may affect the quality of the grain but not its being safe for human consumption.