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The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) says although it knew that the paddy rice it sold to Divine Feed Mills was unwholesome, it did so on the instructions of the Animal Production Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. A press statement signed by Annie Anipa, Assistant Commissioner, Public Relations, said the rice in question was five out of seven containers imported into the country in August 2006. The statement said an examination by the CEPS laboratory revealed that the rice had expired and unfit for human consumption but while awaiting its destruction, the service received a letter from Divine Feed Mills seeking to use the discarded rice for the production of animal feed. �This was after samples were used as component part (ingredient) for the manufacture of poultry feed for five-week old broilers. The results were adequate after seven weeks of trial,� the statement said. It said as was the procedure, CEPS directed the management of Divine Feed mills to obtain a permit from the Animal Production Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. �A letter from the Animal Production Department dated September 3, 2009 and signed by the acting Director directed CEPS to release the paddy rice to Divine Feed Mills Ltd., after inspecting the samples. �Having inspected the sample before us, we have no objection to the use of the discarded paddy rice as animal feed ingredient, provided it is used solely for this purpose.� �Based on the strength of this letter and after inspecting the premises of the feedmillers, CEPS subsequently auctioned the five containers of paddy rice to Divine Feed, the statement said, adding that at the time it was being processed for auction, samples were referred to the CEPS laboratory for tests. �The rice was auctioned on September 15, 2009 and cleared on October 29, 2009 and taxes collected which are duly receipted have been paid to government chest,� the statement added.