DA may impose MSRP for imported garlic

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday that it is looking at imposing a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported garlic as market prices remain stubbornly high.

- By Justine Irish D. Tabile Reporter

“Of course, what we want is to fix this through talks, so we do not have to put an MSRP (on garlic). But if they do not want to follow, we might put an MSRP (on garlic),” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. told reporters after inspecting a public market in Quezon City.

The results of the market monitoring on Monday showed that prices of agricultural products such as rice, pork, and fish are going down, but prices of garlic remain elevated.

“The only thing that we are not happy with is the price of garlic. It is a bit expensive as it is being sold at P140-P150 a kilo,” Mr. Laurel said.

“The DA is trying to figure out how to address that and lower its price because it is imported. Ninety-five percent of the garlic in our markets is imported, so we will have to control that,” he added.

According to the Agriculture secretary, importers are selling garlic at P110 per kilo, even though the landed cost is at P80 per kilo.

“The vendor said they bought (garlic) for P110 per kilo. So, if they sell it at P140, they will have a P30 profit. We will check if that P30 per kilo is expensive or not, but I think it is fair,” he said.

“But the garlic importers, their cost is only P80 a kilo, and they sell it for P110 a kilo. And that is if they are declaring the right values, but I know that they sometimes undervalue, so maybe their margin is P40-P50 per kilo. I think that is too much,” he added.