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SECTION 1. Section 1 of FAO No. 225-1 s. 2007 is hereby amended to read as follows:

SECTION 1.  Shrimp Broodstock Importation – the following measures shall be observed in the importation of P. Vannamei broodstock:

a. Pre-border Biosecurity Measures

1) Prior to the issuance of special import permit to accredited shrimp hatchery for importation of SPF/SPR P. vannamei broodstock, Proponent shall submit a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE duly signed by the BFAR Director. The issuance of the Certificate shall be based on the results of the inspection of hatchery facilities that shall be authorized to breed P. vannamei.On site inspection within the country shall be undertaken by Regional P. vannamei Panel as stipulated from Section 2 of FAO 225-1 Series of 2007. The Regional Panel shall be entrusted to conduct the site inspection of applicant’s shrimp hatchery facility in accordance to and in compliance with minimum bio-security standards  for controlled shrimp hatchery facility as stated from Section 1-F of FAO 225-1, Series of 2007. Inspection report of the Regional Panel shall be submitted to their respective Regional Directors for recommendation and transmittal to BFAR Central Office for review and approval by the National Director. Further, to facilitate individual review of shrimp hatchery accreditation application based on the submitted documents of  on-site facility inspection done by their respective BFAR Regional Offices, a P. vannamei Import Risk Assessment Panel is hereby created headed by the National BFAR Assistant Director for Technical Services with membership consisted of the following BFAR representation:
 
a. Chief, Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Division or representative
b. Coordinator, National Shrimp Health Action Program
c. Chief, Fisheries Quarantine and Wild Life Regulatory Section or representative
d. Focal Person, OIE Aquatic Animal Commission

The IRA Panel has the option to conduct on-site investigation based on the documents submitted by Regional Panel as endorsed by the Regional Director.

2) The broodstock to be imported must only come from Pacific White Shrimp broodstock facilities originating from the United States of America and any other country that can equal or surpass the standards of the United States of America known to have a capacity in producing broodstock that are Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) and/or Specific Pathogen Resistant (SPR) and must have well documented breeding program of SPF/SPR Peneaus vannamei.

The SPF/SPR facilities of the United States of America verified list is subject to change periodically depending on the updated list provided by the United States Marine Shrimp Farming Program Consortium.

As to other countries with SPF/SPR P. vannamei breeding program, the importing BFAR accredited hatchery shall provide BFAR with a complete dossier of the country of origin of the SPF/SPR P. vannamei broodstock facility for a comprehensive review by the IRA Panel. To check for veracity of information provided, the shrimp broodstock facility of the country of origin must allow BFAR to inspect the hatchery at the expenses of the interested importing BFAR accredited hatchery.

3) The broodstock facility selected by the importer must have minimum of two (2) years disease free status as certified by competent authority from the country of origin. In addition, the broodstock facility shall likewise submit its disease history for the period covering its commercial establishment to the present.

4) The broodstock facility shall submit samples taken from the lot where the intended stock for shipment shall be drawn. Said samples, if originating from the USA shall be forwarded to the USMSFP Shrimp Disease Reference Laboratory, the Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, while for other countries, samples shall be submitted to recognized Shrimp Disease Diagnostic Laboratory recognized by the competent authority of the country of origin.

All samples shall be subjected for diagnosis as to their SPF/SPR status on the following pathogens:

a. Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV)
b. White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV)
c. Infectious Hypodermal and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV)
d. Yellow Head Virus Disease (YHVD)
e. Baculovirus Penaeid (BP)
f. Hepatopancreatic Parvo-like Virus (HPV)
g. Necrotizing Hepatopancreatitis (NHP)
h. Monodon Baculo Virus (MBV)
i.  Infectious Myo-Necrosis Virus (IMNV)

5) No import permit shall be issued unless the documents specified in the pre-border biosecurity measures shall have been complied with.

6) The imported broodstock shall be allowed entry into the country only at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the broodstock shipment should take the most direct route from its origin to the Philippines. No trans-shipment will be allowed. Should there be an interruption in the transport (delayed or cancelled flights), any competent authority within the area shall be notified immediately. Said authority shall issue a certification relating to the interruption and certify that the shipment was not co-mingled with other shipment and that the intended shipment was not exposed or subjected to any risk of contamination. In case of broodstock shipment using chartered or special flights to other Philippine international airports other than NAIA, an advance notice shall be given to BFAR Central Office, to enable designated Fisheries Quarantine Officers and Fish Health Officers to be present at the port of entry.

b. Border Inspection Measures

1) Upon arrival, the imported broodstock shall be presented for documentary inspection at the Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Service (FIQS) at the NAIA.

2) After documentary inspection and verification, the imported broodstock shall be transported directly to the BFAR accredited shrimp hatchery facility. The importer, or its designated representative together with representative from the Fisheries Regulatory and Quarantine Division (FRQD) will accompany transfer to the facility.

3) One percent (1%) but not more than ten (10) pieces of representative brood-stock sample will be turned over to BFAR Fish Health Central Laboratory for verification of the laboratory results given prior to shipping and accompanying Health Certificate.

c. Post-border Biosecurity Measures

Upon arrival at the facility, the broodstock shall be confined in designated holding tanks for quarantine and subsequent maturation and breeding purposes.

d. Testing and Disease Detection

1) At PL1-PL 3, samples shall be taken from the larval rearing tanks for testing. As per latest publication of OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Disease.

2) All samples shall be subjected for analysis for Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV), Baculovirus Penaeid (BP), Necrotizing Hepatopancreatitis (NHP) and Infectious Myo-Necrosis Virus (IMNV) at their respective BFAR Regional Fish Health Laboratories or any accredited laboratory.

3) Regular monitoring for the four (4) above mentioned OIE reportable diseases of P. vannamei will be conducted by their respective BFAR Regional Fish Health Laboratories, as per latest publication of OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animal.

4) In case of conflict on results, verification shall be done solely by BFAR Central Fish Laboratory in Quezon City. Results issued by BFAR Central Fish Health Laboratory shall be final.

e. Certifying the broodstock

1. To keep the integrity and Quality of Postlarvae used for commercial production in different farming systems, only the original certified SPF/SPR broodstock from BFAR verified and recognized broodstock facilities and stocked at accredited shrimp hatcheries shall be the only source of the shrimp postlarvae. The selling of shrimp eggs and nauplii by accredited hatcheries to other non-accredited shrimp hatcheries is strictly prohibited.

2. Replacement for spent broodstock shall always originate from verified SPF/SPR shrimp stock only. No Philippine island-born broodstock shall be returned to the accredited hatcheries to produce the postlarvae. Violation of this regulation will warrant outright cancellation of hatchery accreditation. This shall be strictly implemented.

f. Minimum Biosecurity Standards for Controlled Hatchery Facility - The importer shall comply with the minimum biosecurity standards for broodstock maturation, larval rearing and production of F1 offspring, prior to the issuance of an import permit. The following standards shall be used in evaluation of each application of proponent shrimp hatchery for accreditation.

1. Water Treatment - The water treatment system should ensure the provision of high quality water. The following protocol is prescribed:
   
   
1. Incoming water filtration. Initial filtering through sub-sand well points, sand filters (gravity and pressure) or mesh bag filters into the first reservoir for settling tank. After disinfection, final filtration using fine mesh filter bags or membrane filters.
   
   
2. Water disinfection and sedimentation. Initial disinfection through is done through chlorination. Then disinfection using UV lights (or ozone) after the final filtration.
   
   
3. Water conditioning. Through the use of activated charcoal filters and use of Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid (EDTA) to chelate remaining heavy metals impurities.
   
   
2. Effluent Water Treatment Hatchery and Grow-out – All water discharged from the hatchery should be temporarily stored in a catching pond and treated with hypochlorite solution (>20 ppm active chlorine for not less than 60 minutes) or other effective disinfectant prior to discharge.
   
   
3. Physical Isolation – The different production facilities shall be physically isolated from one another, specifically, maturation, spawning and hatching, larval and nursery rearing, indoor and outdoor algal culture and live food production.
   
   
4. Aeration – Air flow should be controlled between sections of the facility. Glass wool filters should be installed in the main aeration line servicing all sections.
   
   
5. Sanitation and Disinfection:

1. Worker sanitation – washing/bathing routines
   
   
2. Installation of foot baths and hand washing stations at entry into each separate culture area (all entrance points)
   
   
3. Traffic flow control in sections within the facility-one way; entrance to exit areas.
   
   
4. Control movement of potential disease carriers near the testing area.
   
   
5. Disinfection of equipment and materials in multiple points of use
   
   
6. Restrict visitors.

The facility shall be exclusively used for the  P. vannamei breeding and its fry production and that no other species should be reared in the facility.

g. The following documents shall be presented for inspection at the port of entry by the importer/broker of P. vannamei broodstock to Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Service (FIQS) and Bureau of Customs (BoC) personnel.

1. Certificate of Compliance

2. Two (2) years disease-free status as certified by Competent Authority at the Federal or State level. Said certificate shall be accompanied by the number of broodstock submitted for examination and identification of organs/tissues where the DNA/RNA were extracted.

3. Disease history of broodstock facility of origin

4. Laboratory results from USMSFP Reference Laboratory at the Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona. The results  should indicate the number of broodstock submitted for examination and identification of organs/tissues where the DNA/RNA were extracted.

5. Health Certificate from appropriate Country of Origin Competent Authority

6. Detailed travel documents.

SECTION 2. Effectivity- This order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazzette 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: 03 Dec. 2009
 
(SGD) ATTY. ARTHUR C. YAP
Secretary

Recommended by:

(SGD) MALCOLM I. SARMIENTO
Director
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

(SGD) SALVADOR S. SALACUP
Assistant Secretary
OIC, Undersecretary for Fisheries and Livestock