Commodity

Commodity Details

For Imports

Regulating Agencies

Legal Basis

• DA Administrative Order No. 9, Series of 2010 – Rules and Regulations Governing the Importation of Agricultural and Fish and Fishery/Aquatic Products, Fertilizers, Pesticides and Other Agricultural Chemicals, Veterinary Drugs and Biological Products into the Philippines
• Republic Act No. 8550 dated February 25, 1998 – Republic Act No. 8550 dated February 25, 1998 An Act Providing For The Development, Management And Conservation Of The Fisheries And Aquatic Resources, Integrating All Laws Pertinent Thereto, And For Other Purposes

Permits, Clearances, Certifications

• SPS Import Clearance from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Requirements & Procedures

Documentary Requirements

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

1. Duly accomplished form
2. Duly accomplished proposal form with emphasis on health, ecological and genetic impacts of the proposed importation
3. Import risk analysis by the IRA Panel
4. Health certificate from the competent authority of the country of origin to be presented upon arrival of the consignment at the NAIA or other designated ports of entry. On a case to case basis, BFAR may specify certification requirements for individual species and/or shipments to ensure freedom from specified diseases as deemed necessary
5. The quarantine and inspection requirements shall be based on the decision of the BFAR IRA Panel which may require a quarantine period of 24-28 days on a case to case basis after the release of the shipment from the airport to the BFAR’s quarantine facility, with costs to be borne by the importer.

Note: Risk analysis shall not be required for Low Risk Species except when there is a reported significant disease outbreak in the country of origin.

1. International Health Certificate from the Country of Origin - Fish and fishery/aquatic products coming into the Philippines intended for distribution and for further processing shall be certified by authorized or competent regulatory agency from the country of origin. The International Health certificate shall be issued on the basis that the following requirements have been met:
   1. Fish and fishery/aquatic products meet the quality of fresh fish prior to freezing shall be graded accordingly to size.
   2. The fishery products must be handled and processed hygienically in processing plants and/or freezer vessels.
   3. Frozen fishery products must be kept and maintained at -18°C or lower during transport.
   4. Fish and fishery/aquatic products must be subject to visual inspection for parasite check. Fish infested with parasites, must be removed from the batch.
   5. The International Health Certificate shall be supported with the following laboratory test results, which shall not exceed for the indicator organisms, such as:
      • Total viable count - 100/gram
      • Salmonella - absent in 25 gram sample
      • Shigella - absent
      • Vibrio Cholerae - absent
   6. The International Health Certificate shall accompany the consignment of fish and fisher/aquatic products and shall be presented as part of the documentation requirements upon arrival.
2. Print Area Health Control Requirements - Fish and fishery/aquatic products covered by the following families: Scombridae (tuna and tuna-like species and mackerel) and Clupeidae (sardines) shall be subject to chemical analysis for histamine. Examinations shall be carried out in accordance with internationally recognized methods. The results of the test shall not exceed 20 mg./100 gm. And shall be included i the Health certificate requirement.

Procedures

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

1. Receiving and Review Letter request to Import - Director's Office and Regulatory and Quarantine Division
2. Conduct Import Risk Analysis (IRA) Evaluation of Risk Factors - (Environment, Disease and Effect on Endemic Species) (Inspection of Importer’s
   Facilities) Fish Health Section
3. If approved by IRA, Processing/Tying of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Certificate (SPS) to Import Live Fishes - Regulatory and Quarantine Division
4. For Signature and Approval (Section Chief and Division Chief) Regulatory and Quarantine Division
5. Release to Applicant The SPS Certificate to Import Live Fishes - Regulatory and Quarantine Division

A Permit to Import may be issued only after an application thereof has been filed and the applicant has paid the Permit Fee of One Thousand Five Hundred (P1,500.00) Pesos, and such other charges for administrative and technical services rendered in connection with the importation.

Inspection Requirements. Upon arrival, imported fresh/chilled/frozen fish and fishery/aquatic products shall be subject to the following inspection requirements:

1. Documentation. Inspection/verification of accompanying importation documents (original copy of Permit to Import, photocopies of International Health Certificate from duly accredited laboratory and/or Sanitary and Phytosanitary Clearance/ Certificate from the competent authority of the country of origin, Airway bill/Bill of Lading and invoice) must be presented and surrendered to the inspecting Fishery Quarantine Officer). In the absence of a certified true copy by the importer of the International Health Certificate from the country of origin, the shipment shall be committed to a storage facility for a period of not exceeding ten (10) days to allow the importer to submit such documents. Failure to comply within the specified period, the shipment shall be returned to the country of origin, otherwise, forfeited in favor of the government for its proper disposition. All expenses involving storage, return to origin and disposition of the shipment shall be borne by the importer.
2. Physical Examination. Adequate sample of imported fishery product for laboratory examination shall be collected randomly by technical personnel of the Bureau for sensory/organoleptic examination. Fresh, chilled, and frozen fish and fishery/aquatic products shall meet the quality requirements based on organoleptic checks on the standards for fresh/chilled/frozen fish and fishery/aquatic products. Each batch of imported fishery products shall be subject to examination at the time of landing. The local government unit shall be responsible for the examination of fish and fishery products during distribution to markets and outlets.
3. Microbiological Analysis. All imported fishery products shall be subject to microbiological examination. After laboratory examination, if imported products does not meet the required quality standard, the whole shipment shall be committed to a storage facility while further laboratory examination shall be conducted on random samples to technically determine the quality of the products. If found unfit for human consumption or does not meet the required standard, the said container shall be returned to the country of origin. Fees and charges incidental to examination and storage of imported products shall be chargeable to the importer.
4. If upon inspection the imported fish or fishery/aquatic product does not met the quality requirements prescribed by the Bureau, or prohibited fish and fishery/ aquatic products are included in the importation, the same shall be removed immediately, and in case of the latter, confiscated, and the importer shall, in addition, be penalized in accordance with the provisions of applicable laws, rules and regulations.
5. Issuance of Fishery Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Certificate for the release of the imported fishery product.
6. Should any portion of the imported fish and fishery/aquatic products intended for non-human consumption be sold, utilized, or distributed for local human consumption, the importer shall be permanently disqualified from applying for subsequent importation of fish and fishery /aquatic products, and shall be penalized in accordance with Section 12 of this Order, Provided, However, That the imported fish or fishery/aquatic products shall be immediately confiscated and forfeited in favor of the government.
7. Should any portion of the imported fish and fishery/aquatic product intended for canning and processing plants and any portion of the importation by institutional buyers be sold or diverted to the local wet markets, the importer shall be permanently disqualified from applying for subsequent importation of fish and fishery/aquatic products, and shall be penalized in accordance with Section 12 of this Order: Provided, However, That the imported fish or fishery/aquatic products shall be immediately confiscated and forfeited in favor of the government.

NTMs

1. BFAR – Importer Registration
2. BFAR – Import Risk Analysis
3. BFAR – SPS Import Clearance
4. BFAR – Packaging Requirements
5. BFAR – Labelling Requirements
6. BFAR – 30 Day Must Ship Out Date however 15 Days if Live Milk Fish
7. BFAR – Inspection Requirements for fishery/aquatic products
8. BFAR – Storage and Transport Requirements

Import Status

Regulated

For Exports

Regulating Agencies

Status

The export of this commodity is currently regulated. Please contact the regulating agency above for export requirements and procedures.

NTMs

1. BFAR – Exporter Registration
2. BFAR – Export Permit
3. BFAR – Pre-shipment Inspection

Tariff Schedules

Visit the Philippine Tariff Commission (TC) through its Philippine Tariff Finder (PTF).

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