Written by Romer S. Sarmiento
Hopes are high for the better tuna export performance after the launch in the fish port here last Saturday of a P5.3-million private sector-run laboratory designed to detect histamine and microbial content in fresh and processed fish stocks.
This developed as the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.-Region 12 urged the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to accredit the facility.
“One of the requirements for an exporter to be issued a commodity clearance [to ship abroad] is that the laboratory is tested and its product must be formally recognized by BFAR,†Ronnie P. Masicampo, PhilExport-12 executive director, said.
Bayani B. Fredeluces, executive director of the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc., said, “The facility will also reduce the cost of testing the fresh and processed tuna products of exporters since they would no longer go to Davao [City].â€