PRESS RELEASE
28 October 2024

Dialogue on fish importation regulations between PCC, NFARMC held

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) convened a Strategic Policy Dialogue with the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) to discuss the findings of its competition impact assessment (CIA) on fish importation regulations.

The CIA highlighted possible competition concerns arising from the implementation of Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 195-99 and FAO No. 259-18, which outline the rules and regulations for importing fresh/chilled/frozen fish and fishery/aquatic products. The CIA Team cautioned that stringent importation requirements for certain species of fish could result in reduced supply, limited choices for consumers, and creation of an uneven playing field in favor of institutional buyers.

DA Undersecretary for Fisheries and NFARMC Chairperson Drusila Esther E. Bayate mentioned the agency’s ongoing efforts to improve fish importation regulations. One key revision in FAO 195 is the adoption of digital reporting to facilitate the efficiency and transparency of the regulatory process. The NFARMC is also looking into the possibility of liberalizing the current fish importation policy.

The dialogue concluded with both the PCC and NFARMC agreeing to advance discussions on competition policy in the sector and collaborating in future research initiatives to foster innovation, sustainability, and fair market practices.

The dialogue between the PCC and NFARMC was held on October 2 at the PCC office. It follows a similar dialogue with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) held on July 10.

The PCC conducts strategic policy dialogues to address competition policy issues across various sectors. The dialogues aim to assess the competitive implications of regulatory frameworks and propose recommendations to enhance market competition and economic efficiency.

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REFERENCE:  
publicaffairs@phcc.gov.ph  
PCC Public Affairs and Research Division

Link: https://www.phcc.gov.ph/press-releases/dialogue-on-fish-importation-regulations-between-pcc-nfarmc-held/