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Pursuant to Section 67 of R.A. No. 8550, this guideline on the operation of fish health laboratories and collection of fees and charges for their administrative services is hereby promulgated for guidance of all concerned.

SECTION 1. Scope. — This guideline shall cover the operation of the BFAR Fish Health Laboratories and its affiliate laboratories.

SECTION 2. Laboratory Functions. — The fish health laboratories shall perform the following functions:

a. Conduct fish disease diagnoses;

b. Conduct water quality analysis related to disease diagnosis, fish health problems and fish kill’

c. Provide technical advice on fish health management;

d. Conduct fish disease surveillance and reporting system;

e. Provide technical support to the fish inspection and quarantine services;

f. Conduct on site visits to fish farms and places where there are fish health problems;

g. Conduct fish kill investigations; and

h. Provide technical support on quality control of animal feeds, veterinary drugs, and chemicals in aquaculture.

SECTION 3. Laboratory Layout. — The design of the laboratories shall conform with the following considerations:

a. The laboratory shall be housed in a permanent building of concrete, semi-concrete material and shall comply with the building code in force in the locality;

b. It shall have adequate space for the equipment and working area;

c. It shall have adequate running water and regular electric supply;

d. It shall have appropriate drainage, lighting and ventilation;

e. It shall have effective separation between chemical analysis, biological analysis and microbiological analysis and glassware cleaning and sterilizing area;

f. It shall have adequate safety provisions such as early fire warning devices like heat and smoke detectors, emergency lighting, emergency exists, shower and eyewash, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, fume hoods and protective personnel equipment.

SECTION 4. Laboratory Management. — The Chief of the Fish Health Section shall supervise the operation of the Central Laboratory. The designated regional health officer shall be under the technical supervision of the Central Fish Health Laboratory.

SECTION 5. Technical personnel requirement. —

a. Minimum personnel for satellite laboratory —

Item



Number



Supervising Fish Health Officer



1



Licensed veterinarian



1



Registered chemist



1



Laboratory technician



1



Laboratory aide



1



b. Minimum qualifications — The laboratory staff have a qualified degree in biology or any equivalent course in the natural sciences and have adequate training on fish health analysis and water quality analysis.

SECTION 6. Laboratory protocol. — The fish health laboratories shall follow one set of laboratory protocol for their operation. The Central Fish Health Laboratory shall prepare the laboratory management and technical protocols based on established international guidelines. The management protocol shall include procedures to ensure good laboratory practice and safety.

SECTION 7. Technical records. — The laboratory shall adopt a system of keeping diagnostic records and specimen samples for future reference. The system shall ensure security, integrity and retrievability of records and all data for a specified period of time.

SECTION 8. Monitoring and evaluation. — The performance of the regional laboratories shall be monitored and evaluated regularly by the Central Laboratory, while that of the Central Laboratory shall be monitored and evaluated by the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at U.P. Los Baños, Laguna and U.P. Research and Analytical Services Laboratory of U.P. Natural Science Research Institute at Diliman, Quezon City.

SECTION 9. Issuance of laboratory results. — All authorized heads of each laboratory shall issue laboratory results. Chemical analyses shall be signed by a registered chemist.

SECTION 10. Accreditation of affiliate fish health laboratories. —

a. The regional fish health laboratories shall undergo inspection and assessment to be conducted by the Central and Reference laboratories;

b. Each laboratory shall be provided with the summary of the evaluation, suggestions and recommendations, after which the laboratory shall implement laboratory improvement procedures and work out its non-compliances;

c. Each laboratory shall be required to participate in interlaboratory testing programs and other proficiency tests to evaluate its analytical capabilities;

d. The result of the proficiency test shall be discussed with the regional laboratories. Suggestions and recommendations shall be formulated and adopted by them;

e. The Certificate of Accreditation shall be issued to the qualified regional laboratories.

SECTION 11. Fees and charges. — The fees and charges to be collected shall be as follows:

ITEM FEES/CHARGES

I. Administrative

Issuance of health certificate P50.00

II. Laboratory examination

A. Biological/Bacterial/Histopathology/Molecular

1. Parasite examination



P75.00



2. Bacterial identification (per sample)



200.00



3. Prawn fry quality assessment







a. Gross/microscopic examination



100.00



b. Bacterial count







i. water sample (per sample)



100.00



ii. larval/postlarval prawn (10 pcs.)



100.00



iii. MBV detection



130.00



4. Molecular diagnosis



600.00



5. Fungal isolation/identification



200.00



6. Histopathological examination



500.00



B. Physico-chemical analyses

1. Water



Standard Method



a. pH



P30.00



b. Acidity/Alkalinity



100.00



c. Carbon dioxide



100.00



d. Dissolved oxygen



150.00



e. Amonia



180.00



f. Nitrite/nitrate



180.00



g. Phosphate



300.00



h. Total hardness



300.00



i. Chemical oxygen demand



750.00



j. Biological oxygen demand



900.00



k. Total suspended solids



200.00



l. Salinity



30.00



(Other analyses that may be required shall be added)

SECTION 12. Repeal. — FAO No. 187 and other orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof are hereby repealed or modified accordingly insofar as they are inconsistent herewith.

SECTION 13. Effectivity. — This order shall have legal force and effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette and/or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and fifteen (15) days after its registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register.

Adopted: 4 Dec. 2001