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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider DA: Tamban's Codex inclusion to boost sardine industry, open EU market

DA: Tamban's Codex inclusion to boost sardine industry, open EU market

Published Feb 7, 2025 10:01 am

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the Codex Alimentarius Commission's (CAC) official recognition of Sardinella lemuru, locally known as tamban, will open up new export opportunities for local sardine products.

In a statement, the DA said tamban was included in the CAC’s Codex Standard for Canned Sardines and Sardine-Type Products (CXS 94-1981), which sets guidelines for the preparation, packaging, and labelling of canned sardines.

This recognition is anticipated to resolve challenges that have long plagued exportation to major markets such as Europe.

“This eliminates trade barriers, enhances global market access, and elevates the country’s position in the sardine industry,” the agency said.

The Codex Standard was amended to include tamban, which is often used in canned sardines, in November 2024 during the 47th CAC Session in Geneva, Switzerland.

In a statement on its X (formerly Twitter) account, the CAC said this was a result of “a comprehensive process of sensory testing, and comparison with established sardine species.”

Tamban’s road to recognition started way back in 2013, when researchers found that it had often been misidentified as another sardine species. 

This became apparent around 2016 and 2017 when the European Union (EU) rejected shipments of Philippine canned sardines since tamban was not listed in their product standards.

“The EU’s strict requirements for sardine species led to missed export opportunities, costing the Philippine sardine industry valuable market access,” the DA said.

The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) implemented a series of projects aimed at including tamban in the list of authorized species for export.

In 2020, the Philippines submitted a proposal to the Codex Secretariat for the inclusion of tamban in the Codex Standard, which then underwent technical and sensory evaluation.

The amendment was only adopted in November of last year, finally aligning Philippine sardine products with global standards. 

This ensures compliance with EU regulations, opening new export possibilities.

To say this was a long time coming would be an understatement, as the DA recognized tamban’s recognition as a “milestone” for the fisheries sector.

“The addition of Sardinella lemuru in the Codex Standard highlights the Philippines’ commitment to innovation, quality, and global competitiveness,” the DA stated.

“This significant move strengthens the country’s reputation as a trusted supplier of premium sardine products, solidifying its role as a key player in the international seafood market,” it added.

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