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Friday, March 29, 2024

Agri issues guidelines on fish imports starting November

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The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday issued the guidelines for the importation of 25,000 metric tons of frozen fish to be sold in wet markets starting November to January.

The department issued special order no. 1002 series of 2022 signed on November 10 regarding the implementation of Fisheries Administrative Order 259 in relation to the certificate of necessity to import frozen scad, bigeye scad, mackerel, bonito, and moonfish during the closed fishing period.

The guidelines aim to provide a clear and efficient implementation of FAO 250 series of 2018 regarding the issuance of the SPS import clearances for the certificate of necessity to import.

It said 80% of the maximum importable volume is allocated to registered importers belonging to the commercial fishing sector. The remaining 20% shall be allocated to fisheries associations/cooperatives.

The DA said all import clearances under the CNI 25,000 MT should be issued on or before December 15, valid for 45 days from the issuance.

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The DA said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources should encourage the immediate disposal of the imported fish to ensure that it will not overlap with the local catch by the end of the closed fishing period.

It said a bill of lading should form part of the documentary requirements for the issuance of the SPSICs to be issued under the importation.

Importers that have pending cases or violations, those who are not able to secure Bureau of Customers accreditation, and those not able to complete the requirements are disqualified from applying SPSICs.

The DA said the importer should source out supply from respectable sources not engaged in Illegal, Unreported, and unregulated fishing.

It said importers who were able to register within five days from the issuance of the order should qualify to participate in the importation provided that it is compliant with the requirements.

It said importers should allow BFAR inspectors and quarantine officers, and law enforcers to conduct inspection and monitoring of imported fish stored in a registered storage facility.

Importers should also provide the DA-BFAR with a weekly summary of stock inventory.

All qualified importers shall also strictly comply with Food Safety Standards.

It said the transfer of allocation should not be allowed and SPSICs issued are non-extendable and non-transferable.

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