The government is poised to liberalize its fish importation policy after the anti-trust body flagged a regulation as being anti-competitive.
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) cautioned stringent importation requirements for certain species of fish could result in reduced supply, limited choices for consumers, and creation of an uneven playing field in favor of institutional buyers.
In its competition impact assessment (CIA) on fish importation regulations, PCC’s CIA team found possible competition concerns arising from the implementation of Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 195-99 and FAO No. 259-18, which outline the rules and regulations for importing fresh/chilled/frozen fish and fishery/aquatic products.
At a Strategic Policy Dialogue (SPD) convened by PCC on October 2.
Drusila Esther Bayate, undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture and chairperson of the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) said the agency is implementing measures that will improve fish importation regulations.
Bayate said one key revision in FAO 195 is the adoption of digital reporting to facilitate the efficiency and transparency of the regulatory process.
She said the NFARMC is also looking into the possibility of liberalizing the current fish importation policy.
The dialogue concluded with both the PCC and NFARMC agreeing to advance discussions on competition policy in the sector and collaborating in future research initiatives to foster innovation, sustainability, and fair market practices.
The SPD follows a similar dialogue with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) held on July 10.
FAO No. 195, Series of 1999, and FAO No. 259, Series of 2018 were meant to aid in the development of the fisheries sector and make the country self-sufficient in fisheries production.
But the CIA study looked into potential competition concerns regarding the restrictions on the import and sale of fish.
PCC representatives earlier recommended policy enhancements to optimize competition outcomes in the fisheries sector.
The CIA study was conducted by PCC economists Samantha Louise S. Nepomuceno, Hadassah May R. Cordero, Donabel F. Montalbo, and Jedrek Jose D. Lotilla.
The PCC initiates SPDs to address crucial competition policy issues within various sectors. These dialogues aim to assess the competitive implications of regulatory frameworks and propose recommendations to enhance market competition and economic efficiency.
By facilitating these dialogues, the PCC supports the objectives of the National Competition Policy, which include promoting fair market practices, preventing anti-competitive behavior, and fostering a competitive environment that benefits consumers and businesses alike. These initiatives play a vital role in ensuring that regulatory decisions align with national economic goals and contribute to sustainable economic development.
