DA: Deadline extended for issuance of fish, seafood import permits

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it had extended the deadline for the issuance of fish and seafood import permits to the end of June for the period covering March to May this year.

In a statement, the DA said the move was meant to give importers more time to adjust to its importing guidelines, which were aimed at easing food inflation and improving allocation efficiency.

Early this year, the Agriculture Department approved the importation of up to 25,000 metric tons of fish and seafood—primarily for the food service, tourism, and hospitality industries.

This was amid President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for the DA to “rationalize” fish importation to stabilize supply and prices for the tourism and high-end food sectors.

The DA, however, said that only about a quarter of the approved volume has been brought into the country so far.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. attributed the low uptake to overly tight importation timelines and sourcing constraints.

“It’s more of a systemic issue than low demand,” said the Agriculture chief.

“The timeframes we set were too short, and many of the approved products were out of season in their countries of origin. It was also challenging for some importers to meet requirements tied to larger volume allocations,” he added.

The DA’s approved list of imports includes a wide range of species—from salmon, cod, and tuna by-products to squid, scallops, octopus, and lobster—“none of which are locally sourced in sufficient quantities.”

“The only exception to the import list is sardines,” said Tiu Laurel.

“We allowed sardine imports because it was off-season in some of our local fishing grounds, and sardines are the most affordable fish available to help address inflation concerns.”

Importers accredited under Fisheries Administrative Order 195 and those registered under FAO 259 are eligible for fish import allocations through the Certificate of Necessity to Import, which permits importation during the closed fishing season.

FAO 195 covers the importation of fresh, chilled, or frozen fish and aquatic products, while FAO 259 applies specifically to imports for wet markets during the closed season.

With the policy adjustments in place, Tiu Laurel has expressed confidence that the remaining import volume would be fully utilized. —VBL, GMA Integrated News