Amid the tightening of import policies for seafood in the United States, the Department of  Trade and Industry (DTI) - Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) has advised Philippine shrimp exporters to temporarily halt their shipments to the US.

This developed after the US government issued Public Law 101-162 in May 2023, wherein Section 609 particularly bans the importation of shrimp caught using commercial fishing technology that harms turtles or uses Turtle Excluder devices.

"Only shrimp harvested from aquaculture is eligible to enter the United States," it stated.

While the US policy specifically prohibits exporters that use the aforementioned methods, the DTI-EMB, in an advisory released on their website on Feb. 12, said shrimp exporters are "advised not to ship to the US to avoid shipments being held by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) until this issue is resolved."

These products cover "wild-caught shrimp harvested in the Philippines or products from that shrimp like 'bagoong'."

According to the new policy, all imports of shrimp and shrimp products to the US must have a certified DS- 2031 Shrimp Exporter's or Importer's Declaration, attesting to the proper or humane harvesting methods of the shrimp. This must be signed and authorized by legitimate agencies of each exporting country.

Exporters who are affected by the law are urged to directly contact the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to obtain the Shrimp Exporter's or Importer's Declaration.

As per the Department of Agriculture's (DA) 2021 to 2040 Shrimp Industry Roadmap, the Philippines is in the top 10 list of shrimp producers globally and fourth in the Southeast Asian region. Ten percent of shrimp produce are exported, while 90 percent are consumed domestically.

Shrimp production also makes up around 80 percent of the country's aquaculture sector. In terms of national production, 60 percent of those harvested are Giant Black Tiger Shrimp or "sugpo" while 30 percent are Pacific White Shrimp or "suati." Freshwater prawn contribute less than one percent.

Part of the roadmap was increasing annual production volume growth of at least 5,000 metric tons (MT) of Black Tiger Shrimp and 20,000 MT of White Shrimp; as well as reaching 20 to 25 percent annual export volume growth all in the long term.

It is also aiming to implement a National Comprehensive Shrimp Breeding Program that would be sustainable and affordable for producers and exporters.