DA urged to be more strict on the use of drugs, chemicals in fisheries

The private sector-led National Agricultural and Fisheries Council (NAFC) urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to be more rigid in imposing regulations on the use of anti-microbial drugs and chemical compounds in aquaculture and capture fisheries.

NAFC committee on fisheries and aquaculture vice chairperson Pete C. Borja said lax enforcement by the DA and the Department of Health (DOH) of existing regulations on the use of these products in managing fish health and enhancing productivity could jeopardize the country’s major fishery and aquaculture exports.

NAFC reiterated its earlier assertion to the DA that "the unregulated use is now an emerging global issue and this could seriously disrupt the fisheries and aquaculture industry’s development and undermine markets for all seafood," said Borja.

Previously, the European Union (EU) blocked shipments of all fishery products from the Philippines because earlier imports were discovered to contain high residues of "chloramphenicol," a banned antibiotic.

The ban was lifted only after the DA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) complied with the EU’s requirements for the government to provide proof that it was implementing measures to ensure the strict monitoring of the use of these regulated items.

Since then, the EU and the US Food and Drug Administration have been implenting residue testing on all imported food products.

"Given that unregulated use of drugs and chemicals are global issues, a timely and regular review of the existing fish health management and capture fishing regulations, and implementation of advocacy programs is required," said Borja.

NAFC is urging the DA to create and enforce drug/chemical surveillance and monitoring protocols.

It also called for the establishment of a hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP)-based processing and farm protocols, with BFAR as the lead agency.

HACCP is a globally recognized set of procedures and standards for ensuring that the production, manufacturing and distribution of food is free of contaminants and other hazards that are present in the food production process.

The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization have adopted HACCP as the basic sanitary standard that should be followed by food producers in every country.

"Standards and guidelines must be in place, and penalties should be imposed for non-compliance to protect public and environmental health and to avoid loss of markets and consumer trust," said Borja.

The CFA also appealed to concerned sectors such as the aqua feed manufacturers, drug/chemical distributors, fish processors and fishermen to take greater responsibility in ensuring the safety of these products.