The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is consulting stakeholders whether or not to maintain the restriction on the sale of fancy fish varieties pompano and salmon in wet markets.
After getting hit by media and the legislators for its ruling against selling imported frozen fish of fancy species like salmon and pompano in wet markets, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is now consulting stakeholders on whether to push through with its deadline of of December 3 banning such sale outside hotels and restaurants.
The ruling was branded as "anti poor" by some senators and elitist by some media practitioners by confining fancy species of fish only to the posh restaurants and hotels.
BFAR and the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will decide whether to lift or maintain the restriction on the sale of imported salmon and pompano at public markets.
Agriculture deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez said they are still considering whether to amend Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 195, of 2018, that prohibited the sale of imported fish, like salmon and pompano, in public markets, Inquirer reported.
After December 3, vendors will not be allowed to sell imported salmon and pompano, based on a recent announcement from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the organization will shortly seize any of the fish found in public markets.
The DA is reviewing relevant sections of FAO 195, which permits the importation of fresh, chilled, and frozen fish as well as other aquatic goods for processing and canning without the necessary certificate of necessity to import.
Estoperez said “BFAR will meet with stakeholders this afternoon and tomorrow. Before the Dec. 4 confiscation, we will announce if this is confirmed already.”
Tags: #DA-BFAR, #fishImport, #saletowetmarkets