PH works to lift EU trade restrictions

THE ADOPTION of the amended Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 was deemed a crucial move in helping lift the yellow card currently slapped on the country’s fish exports to the European Union (EU).

The yellow card serves as a warning that, unless the Philippines implements stronger measures to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Philippine fish exports may be permanently banned in the EU.

Walter van Hattum, head of the economic and trade section of the EU delegation to the Philippines, noted that they are “extremely impressed” by the work done so far by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). He also took note of the adoption of the amended Fisheries Code, which took effect last February.

“Personally, the best thing that the Philippines can do now is to continue this kind of progress—to continue the good work, to continue having open dialogue. The lifting of the yellow card will then be a result of those efforts,” van Hattum said.

In February this year, the European Commission issued a statement saying that it would give the Philippines six months to do something about illegal fishing, following a previous warning that Philippine fish exports would be banned in the European Union. The yellow card was previously slapped in June 2014. Amy R. Remo