The Philippines can resume its export of seafood to Qatar following the lifting of the ban.
In an advisory dated March 7, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) of Qatar announced the lifting of its temporary ban on the importation of frozen seafood from the Philippines.
However, import restrictions on chilled seafood products from the Philippines remain in place. The decision comes after the necessary measures were said to be taken as a precautionary measure to ensure compliance with shipments.
The DTI said MOPH has required the submission of a Certificate of Conformity issued by third party pre-shipment inspection at the country of origin before the products are shipped for export.
The temporary ban was implemented in November as a precautionary measure to monitor the risk of contamination of fresh and frozen seafood products with Vibrio cholerae bacteria.
Qatar has also lifted the temporary ban on imports from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
