DA sets stricter rules for importing fish

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified the requirements for importing certain fish products including pompano to prevent their sale in wet markets.

The action was made after lawmakers urged the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to focus its efforts against smugglers and importers who are diverting fish products to the wet market in violation of existing regulations.

Senators also called for more roads from fish facilities to markets, pre-border inspections and in-country laboratory tests for fish imports.

“We support the various recommendations of Senators Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Raffy Tulfo and Robin Padilla that would ensure steady fish supply at stable prices in the country,” Tugon Kabuhayan convenor Asis Perez said.

“All these recommendations will improve the industry and benefit fisherfolk and consumers alike,” he said.

In an administrative circular, the DA suspended the issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) for roundscad (galunggong), bonito (tulingan), mackerel (alumahan), moonfish (bilong-bilong), pompano and tuna by-products.

This is to prevent diversion of fish products imported under Fisheries Administrative Order No. 195, Series of 1999 (FAO 195), DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said in the circular.

In particular, the DA suspended the issuance of SPSIC for the importation of roundscad and moonfish for canning purposes and of roundscad, bonito, mackerel, moonfish, pompano and tuna byproducts for processing purposes.

The agency issued exceptions for processors and importers who supply raw materials to processors with license to operate issued by the Food and Drug Administration, compliant with the Food Safety Standards provided under the Food Safety Act, and with a verifiable recording system of production.

Meanwhile, the DA also suspended the issuance of import clearance for roundscad, bonito, mackerel and moonfish for institutional buyers.

But institutional buyers can import pompano and tuna byproducts if they have a verifiable recording system.

As a requirement, importers supplying raw materials to processors need to indicate the species and volume of the products to be imported while the receiving processors must be pre-identified in the application of the SPSIC and should not be allowed to be supplied to any other processor.

For new processors, they can import only once the BFAR verifies its production capacity and maintains a verifiable recording system for all its importation.

“Importers allowed to import for processing and institutional buyers should be liable with their client processor or institutional buyer for violation of importation rules and regulations, including diversion of the imported products to wet markets,” Panganiban said.

The DA will automatically revoke the accreditation of importers found in violation.

Reacting to the new DA circular, Fisheries and Aquaculture Board of the Philippines chair Chingling Tanco said that while some points need clarification, the order imposes additional constraints on the trade of imported seafood.

“This will result in additional disruptions and uncertainties. It will stoke inflation, especially among the small carinderias that serve the pompanos and galunggongs, tuna panga and byproducts. Eventually, as seen from experience over the high price of gg (galunggong), consumers will no longer be able to afford these items from wet markets,” she said.