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MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the Philippines is keen on exporting bi-valves or shellfish such as mussels and clams to the European Union (EU) in the medium term.
The DA said this will be included in the list of focus areas in the resumption of the EU-PH Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) Programme.
The TRTA Programme 3 wll be launched later this year and will be implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) over a 4-year period and a budget of 8.9 million euros or roughly P469.55 million.
“We are considering bi-valves and molusks as a potential export to the EU. This will be one of the key activities under TRTA 3,” Maribel Marges of the DA Planning Office said at the sidelines of the TRTA Programme 2 culmination activities.
What we need to export
Dennis Tiotangco of the Bureau of Fisheries and Acquatic Resources (BFAR) said the TRTA 3 will be able to help the country secure accreditation to export bi-valves and molusks to the EU.
Tiotangco said the Philippines must undergo the EU’s national shellfish accreditation program. This will help arrest bacteria problems of bi-valves and molusks.
He said this is difficult to implement because a classification of waters, based on the bacterial growth, must be accomplished. This will help determine the areas where the bi-valves and molusks will be grown.
The BFAR also said infrastructure support will also be needed along with laboratories for testing and research and development.
TRTA 2 accomplishments
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Deputy Director General Margarita Songco said that one of the greatest accomplishments of the TRTA 2 is the improvement in Philippine fish exports.
Songco said that safety and standard concerns on the country’s fish exports to the EU was the driving factor for the beginning of the TRTA program in 2004.
She said that because of the program, the EU remains open to fish exports from the Philippines.
“Targeted training and mentorig to strengthen the food safety and inspection system at the (BFAR) helped (Philippine fish exports) pass EU inspection. This ensures continuous fish exports to the EU market of 500 million consumers,” the TRTA said in a statement. – Rappler.com
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