Press Release
Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Regional Office No. 5
San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur

BFAR trains sanitary inspectors, fish processors and talangka gatherers on good hygiene practices

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office No. 5 conducted a three-day training on the Sanitary Code of the Philippines and Requirements of Export Chain on October 7-9, 2010 at the Avenue Plaza Hotel, Naga City. The Technical Related Training Assistance (TRTA) Project of the European Union (EU) sponsored the event.

A total of thirty sanitary inspectors from Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and Catanduanes and fish traders of fresh/frozen fishery products, talangka and crab meat from Camarines Sur and Sorsogon were trained on Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) as required by the Sanitary Code and Export chains.

Dr. Christopher Oates, a consultant of the TRTA shared a comprehensive lecture on the first day. He discussed the Food Safety Requirements for Export Markets and Technical Requirements of Inspection.

To apply the knowledge gained, the participants had a mock inspection in the fish processing facilities in Camaligan and Gainza, Camarines Sur on the second day.

The participants also attended a campaign on fishery good hygiene practice and sanitation at Barangay Cagbunga in Gainza on October 9 which was participated by BFAR Assistant Regional Director Marjurie Grutas, Mayor William Abilay, Barangay Chairman Eriberto Pablo, and the talangka (shore crab) gatherers and pre-processors of talangka paste as well. A press conference followed the campaign to further disseminate the importance of abiding with the sanitary code in the preparation of fishery products. (rcanabe)

A campaign on fishery good hygiene practice and sanitation at Cagbunga, Gainza, Camarines Sur concluded the 3-day Training on the Sanitary Code of the Philippines and Requirements of Export Chain. This was graced by Mayor William Abilay, Dr. Christopher Oates, Technical Related Training Assistance Project of the European Union, Barangay Chairman Eriberto Pablo and BFAR Assistant Regional Director Marjurie Grutas (3rd to 6th from left respectively). Aside from the training, the project donated campaign shirts, stickers and fish crates to the participants of the training and to talangka gatherers of Gainza.

For more info, contact:

RONALDO A. CANABE
OIC, IEC Mgt. Services
CP # 0917-8431480
Telefax: (054) 361-2326