According to Francisco J. Buencamino, TCAP executive director, the scheme against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing would make it more expensive for tuna canners to export to EU. He explained the EU scheme would surge their cost by about 15 percent. He also told that it would add to the difficulties of local tuna canners since they had increased their tuna imports by 30 percent. Canners resorted to importation as local tuna became more expensive and “traceability is a concern,” says Buencamino.
Buencamino also explained that TCAP would submit a formal request to the EU for the adjournment of the rule through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Trade and Industry. BFAR Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento had yet to receive the request but said he would support it. Sarmiento said that if the canners have problems with the timeframe, BFAR will endorse their call for a delay in the implementation of the EU regulation.
It is evident that EU is one of the top export destinations of local canned tuna. In 2008, it imported $388 million worth of tuna products from the Philippines. Last year the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council has adopted a rule providing that canned tuna exports must be accompanied by the processor’s statement containing information on the link between the processed products and the fish used as raw materials.
