FIVE hundred sacks of rice deemed unfit for human consumption were burned at the Bureau of Plant and Industry compound in Mintal, Davao City, Tuesday.

Bureau of Custom (BOC) Law Division Chief Dante Maranan said the rice was confiscated by the BOC five years ago because of lack of importation permit. It was loaded in a 40-footer van and has been stored at the BOC area in Sasa, Davao City since then.

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"We could not dispose the rice beforehand because it served as evidence to the court since the case against the unknown owner or importer was still going on," Maranan said.

When the case was closed, they brought samples to the National Food Authority (NFA) to check if the rice was still fit for human consumption. It wasn't, not even for animal consumption.

"Since the rice gave out an unpleasant odor which disturbed the residents, we were forced to dispose it through burning to prevent pests and diseases from infecting other crops," Maranan said.

He added they were supposed to dispose it a long time ago but this was delayed due to difficulty in complying with the long list of requirements needed to trash rice.

"Aside from these 500 sacks, there are still 1,200 bags to be disposed, which are stored in a warehouse," he said.

The burning disposal was witnessed by officials from the Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Service, Bureau of Food and Drugs, Department of health, Commission on Audit, BOC, among others. (EGDeligero/Aggie Media Service)