The Department of Agriculture has temporarily halted the issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances to import frozen Roundscad, Bonito, Mackerel, Moonfish, Pompano and Tuna by-products to "prevent (its) diversion to wet markets."

Dated 13 December, Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban signed the order under Administrative Circular 11.

"The issuance of SPSICs for the importation of Roundscad and Moonfish under FAO 195 for canning purposes is hereby suspended," the order read.

The issuance of SPSICs for the importation of Roundscad, Bonito, Mackerel, Moonfish, Pompano and Tuna by-products for processing purposes is also suspended.

However, exempted are processors and importers who supply raw materials to processors with a License to Operate issued by the Philippine FDA, compliant with the Food Safety Standards provided under the Food Safety Act, and with a verifiable recording system of production.

DA made it clear that the species and amount of products to be imported by importers who sell raw materials to processors and the processors who will be getting those products must be listed in the application for the SPSIC.

Those involved are prohibited from selling it to any other processor.

"For importation destined for new processors, the same shall be allowed only upon verification by BFAR of the production capacity of the new processor which shall maintain a verifiable recording system for all its importation," the order read.

Issuance of SPSICs suspended
DA also suspended the issuance of SPSICs for the importation of Roundscad, Bonito, Mackerel, and Moonfish for Institutional Buyers.

The importation of Pompano and Tuna by-products for Institutional Buyers shall be allowed unless there is a verifiable recording system.

"Prior to issuance of subsequent SPSICs, all importers under Fisheries Administrative Order No. 195, series of 1999 must submit a disposition report of their previous importation to be verified by the BFAR," the DA order said.

It added: "All importations under FAO 195 shall be recorded or submitted by the importers to an electronic recording system provided or prescribed by BFAR within 24 hours from the time of delivery by the importer to the processor or institutional buyer."