The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has rolled out a new campaign against the selling of imported fish unauthorized for wet markets, particularly those that are diverted frozen fish commodities that are supposed to be for canning, processing, and institutional buyers only.
The BFAR launched on Thursday, Nov. 24, an information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign dubbed as “Imported na Isda sa Merkado, Pwede Kapag Awtorisado.”
The campaign, which will run until Dec. 3, was made following the government’s recent move to allow the importation of frozen small pelagic fish for wet markets while the closed fishing season is underway.
The BFAR is also implementing efforts to dissuade and prevent attempts of diversion and other importation-related violations by suspending issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSIC) for the importation of round scad, mackerel, bonito, moonfish, pompano, and tuna by-products “to minimize, if not completely eliminate, opportunities that may be exploited by violators.”
BFAR Officer-in-Charge Demosthenes Escoto explained that the new campaign has two primary objectives: first, to inform and educate wet market fish vendors of the two different policies allowing fish importation in the country, and second, to encourage them not to sell imported fish products that are unauthorized for wet markets and intended for canning, processing, and institutional buyers only such as hotels and restaurants.
The two policies that allow fish importation include a) wet markets and b) canning, processing, and institutional buyers.
“The DA-BFAR conducts this IEC campaign that will help safeguard the livelihood of our local fishers and prevent competition between our local and imported fish products,” Escoto said.
Last Nov. 10, the DA issued a Certification of Necessity to Import (CNI) 25,000 metric tons of frozen fish comprising round scad, bigeye scad, mackerel, bonito, and moonfish for wet markets until the end of closing season in January 2023 and pursuant to Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 259 series of 2018.
Under FAO 259, the importation of fish for wet markets is allowed through a CNI only during closed fishing season or occurrence of calamities.
The FAO 195 series of 1999 also authorizes, albeit without the need for a CNI, the importation of fresh, chilled, frozen fish and fishery or aquatic products but for canning and processing purposes only.
“The campaign reiterates that selling of these imported products in the wet markets is strictly prohibited and will result in the confiscation of goods,” Escoto underscored.
Wet market vendors are given until Dec. 3 to dispose all of their fish products that are intended for canning, processing, and institutional buyers as these will be confiscated on the following day, according to BFAR.