Question & AnswerQ&A (BFAR FISHERIES ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 238)
The main objective is to implement the EU Council Regulation (EC) No. 1005/2008 on the Catch Certification Scheme to ensure that fishery products exported to EU-member countries originate from legal, reported, and regulated fishing activities in the Philippines.
It applies to all Philippine-flagged fishing vessels directly supplying raw materials to EU-member countries or supplying raw materials to canneries, processors, or exporters for processing prior to export to the EU, as well as canneries, processors, and exporters exporting fishery products to EU-member countries.
Illegal fishing is defined as fishing conducted without permission in waters under a State's jurisdiction, contravening laws, management measures by relevant RFMOs to which the flag State is bound, or international obligations, including actions by cooperating States to relevant RFMOs.
Non-compliance or providing false information can result in non-issuance of Catch Certificates, delisting from the list of EU-accredited exporters, and filing of criminal complaints for violations related to exportation.
RCC applies to larger fishing vessels (more than 12 meters without towed gear or more than 8 meters with towed gear) and is issued primarily by fishing companies. SCC applies to smaller vessels (less than 12 meters without towed gear or less than 8 meters with towed gear) and is issued by processors or exporters.
Requirements include accomplished fishing vessel logsheets signed by the captain, Commercial Fishing Vessel/Gear License and Certificates of Ownership and Registry, Transshipment Certificate if applicable, Catch Validation Certificate issued by BFAR, and Fish summary/sizing report signed by authorized representatives.
The CVC certifies the species and volume of fish landed by a fishing vessel at a Philippine fish port and serves as the basis for the verified weight landed indicated in the Regular Catch Certificate.
Fishing companies, processors, and exporters must keep records of all Catch Certificates and related documents, while BFAR Central and regional offices must maintain updated electronic and physical records, submit monthly reports, maintain a central database, and conduct inspections to monitor compliance.
Applicants must pay a fee of fifty pesos (P50.00) to BFAR to defray administrative costs for the issuance of these documents.