TO PREVENT DESTABILIZING the local fish market through misuse of import permits, the Department of Agriculture halted the importation of mackerel and galunggong through Memorandum Order No. 35, which rescinded an earlier memo allowing the entry of 25,000 metric tons of these species, the DA press release said.
The agriculture department also temporarily suspended the issuance of any sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances because of reports of import permit misuse.
Even while on two-week health leave for the United States, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the immediate stop in SPSIC issuances for horse mackerel, including Atlantic and Japanese jack mackerel, Indian mackerel, wahoo and both torpedo and hardtail scad (galunggong).
MISDECLARED
The suspension follows allegations that some importers misdeclared or diverted shipments of fishery products, undermining the DA’s objectives of stabilizing supply and keeping fish prices affordable, while also disrupting legitimate trade channels.
These fish species are household staples for many Filipino families due to their affordability and versatility in local cuisine.
Laurel said the importation of these essential commodities must be transparent and fair—not only to safeguard consumer access, but also to protect the livelihoods of local fishers and traders from the adverse effects of illicit trade.
BBM’S COMMITMENT
The DA action reinforces the commitment of President Marcos Jr. to uphold food safety, market fairness, and sustainable livelihoods in the fishery and aquaculture sectors. It also aims to insulate domestic producers from disruptive activities that distort market dynamics.
He clarified that the order is not an import ban, but a temporary measure to ensure full compliance with regulations and alignment with national interest.
The DA order will be lifted based on the result of a thorough investigation and review of current importation protocols.
EXCLUDING SALMON
Laurel issued memorandum order no. 37 on July 8, halting the inclusion of mackerel, horse mackerel, and torpedo scad—also known as hardtail scad—from the list of species eligible for import.
The suspension comes after the DA allowed imports of those species through a certificate of necessity to import (CNI) under memorandum order No. 35 dated July 3. That order listed several types of mackerel, including Indian, Spanish, and Indo-Pacific variants.
A day earlier, on July 2, Tiu Laurel issued memorandum order no. 33, which included salmon among the fish allowed for import. Salmon was excluded from the final July 3 directive.
Tiu Laurel did not give specific reasons for the reversal but cited “reports of misdeclaration and diversion of fish and fishery/aquatic products.”
He said the DA was conducting a “thorough review and investigation,” without providing details on the scope or timeline of the probe.
MARKET STABILITY
The DA had earlier said the imports were aimed at addressing potential shortfalls in fish supply and ensuring market stability.
Fish imports in the Philippines are typically regulated to balance food security with the protection of local fisheries, particularly during closed fishing seasons.
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