The Philippines is now able to export uncooked shrimps to Australia with the arrival of its first shipment on May 30 at the Port of Melbourne.
Fisher Farms, Inc (FFI) made possible the initial shipment of raw peeled and deveined (RPD) Vannamei shrimps, with two more shipments expected in June and July.
FFI is the largest supplier of farm-raised seafood in the Philippines, supplying a range of premium, fresh frozen, and value-added seafood products to a variety of clients across the world.
The company worked with their agent and importer in Australia and Singapore after the inclusion of the Philippines to the list of countries able to meet Australia’s enhanced import conditions for shrimps classified under prawns and prawn products.
In 2019, the Philippine Embassy in Canberra and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Sydney (PTIC-Sydney) worked with the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, in certifying that the country can meet Australia’s enhanced import conditions, paving the way for aquaculture companies in the Philippines to access the Australian market.
Before 2019, Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) suspended imports of uncooked prawns and prawn products for human consumption and improved import conditions to allow for safe trade in prawns and prawn products to meet Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
As part of the enhanced biosecurity requirements, the products must be certified to be free of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and yellow head virus (YHV) based on sampling and testing methods recognized by the World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE). In addition, the competent authority in the exporting country must certify that the products were processed, inspected, and graded on premises approved by and under its control.
FFI CEO Imelda Madarang said this development would enhance their ability to access export markets such as Australia and other Pacific countries.
“After pandemic-related delays, our first shipment of shrimp products to Australia has been finally cleared. We are optimistic that this will be the start of a strong cooperation to make our premium, fresh frozen and value-added seafood products become available in the Australian market,” Madarang said.
By actively pursuing untapped export markets as well as exploring bankable investment opportunities in the Philippines for Australian and New Zealand investors, the Department of Trade and Industry’s overseas office in Australia, PTICSydney, said the Philippines is determined to accelerate the transformation of the agribusiness sector. A variety of investment opportunities may be explored, including aquaculture production, nurseries and hatcheries, cold storage warehousing, aquafeed milling, and commercial fish processing.
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