PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD Code of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) for Oysters and Mussels

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1 1 1 Scope This Code of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) for oysters and mussels covers practices that aim to prevent or minimize the risks associated with aquaculture production in brackish and marine waters. This Code covers the following aspects of aquaculture production addressing food safety, environmental integrity, and d) socio-economic welfare. This Code applies to aquaculture farms and/or production area intended for oyster and mussel farming and consists of minimum compliance requirements. 2 References The titles of the publications referred to in this Standard are listed in the inside back cover. 3 Definition of terms 3.1 Aquaculture farm refers to an aquaculture production unit (either land- or waterbased such as but not limited to estuaries and coastal waters); usually consisting of holding facilities (tanks, ponds, raceways, cages), plant (buildings, storage, processing), service equipment and stock. (modified from CAC/RCP ) 3.2 Chemicals refer to any substance either natural or synthetic that can affect the live oysters and mussels, its pathogens, and the water, equipment used for production or the land within the aquaculture establishment. (CAC/RCP ) 3.3 Competent authority refers to a bureau or agency mandated by law with the responsibility for the implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. 3.4 Harmful algal bloom (HAB) refers to an event associated with the occurrence of microalgae which cause harmful effects to the environment, living organism and to human. 3.5 Production area refers to any sea, estuarine or lagoon area where oysters and mussel are collected and cultured 4. Site selection 4.1 Location Production area should be located in an environmentally suitable area designated by the competent authority Production area in which the owner has a proof of legal right or privileges (license to operate or business permit from the local government unit) indicating the farm location through coordinates and effectivity period Production area should comply with existing environmental regulations by competent authority. 4.2 Lay-out and design Farm design and layout should prevent cross contamination and damage to existing marine habitats. Page 1 of 6

2 Production area should be designed with proper space allocation for its facilities. Area and space allocation should provide ease of navigation and free flow of intertidal water Culture facilities should be designed and constructed to ensure minimal physical damage to oyster and mussel during growing and harvesting Design and materials (e.g. bamboo stakes and rubber tires) should not cause siltation of the area and negative environmental impacts. 5 Facilities and sanitation 5.1 Facilities Solid and liquid wastes should be kept in confined area and its disposal should be compliant with existing regulations Fuel and/or chemical substances (sanitizer and reagents), should be stored separately and in safe condition Regular repair and maintenance should be undertaken to preserve the good physical condition of the facility. 5.2 Sanitation Production area and its surroundings should be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition Containers, equipment and farm facilities should be maintained in good condition for ease in cleaning and sanitizing Adequate procedures for cleaning and disinfection of containers, equipment and farm facilities should be in place and implemented Cleansing materials and disinfectants should be non-toxic and pose no environmental hazards Wild and domesticated animals should not be allowed in the production area and vicinities to prevent fecal and other hazardous contaminations. 5.3 Wastes removal Wastes should be properly segregated and removed at least once a day Wastes containers and the waste storage premises should be cleaned and sanitized after each use Wastes should be properly stored such that it is not a source of contamination. 6 Management 6.1 Production management Disposal of natural wastes like excessive barnacles should be properly managed Propagation practices in the production area should minimize risk of crosscontamination. Page 2 of 6

3 Page 3 of Seeds or spats should be sourced from HAB-free areas and areas without history of HAB When necessary, depuration and relaying practices should be resorted to maintain product safety and quality. 6.2 Water quality Water quality should be regularly monitored to determine its suitability and product safety Water should be far from sources of pollution, suitable, and free from bacterial and heavy metal contamination. 7 Oysters and mussels diseases 7.1 Production area should follow existing protocol on aquatic animal health. 7.2 Measures for the notification and control of significant diseases of oyster and mussel should be in place. 8 Harvesting and handling 8.1 Harvesting Harvesting equipment (e.g. containers and vehicles for harvested animals) and paraphernalia should be easy to clean, and kept in sanitary and good operating condition Harvesting should be done in a manner that will not expose the oysters and mussels to high temperatures Oyster and mussel should be quickly and hygienically handled, using practices to maintain the good quality of the product Harvested mussels and oysters should be disease and toxin-free. 8.2 Post-harvest handling and transport Post-harvesting equipment and paraphernalia should be easy to clean and kept in sanitary and good operating condition Operations such as sorting, weighing, washing, draining and packing should be carried out properly, hygienically and without damage to the product Transport container and other implements should be carried out in clean and easy to clean facilities (sacks, containers, vehicle etc.) Oysters and mussels should be transported under physical conditions which do not adversely affect their marketability and consumer acceptability. 9 Personnel health and hygiene 9.1 All workers should be physically fit.

4 Workers should be trained on farm level hygienic practices to ensure they are aware of their roles and responsibilities for protecting aquaculture products from contamination and deterioration throughout the production cycle. 9.3 Personnel who could contaminate products should be excluded from working and handling of oysters and mussels. 9.4 Workers should wear suitable and appropriate working clothes and protective gears. 9.5 Workers should wash their hands each time before commencing postharvest work. 9.6 Smoking, spitting or drinking alcoholic beverages in the working and storage premises should be discouraged. 10 Traceability and record keeping 10.1 Adequate records on the origins and species used and management activities should be kept in the production area Records for the movement of oysters and mussels should be maintained and reported for traceability in the event of disease outbreak Records on harvesting should be maintained Adequate records on the buyers of final products should be kept (one-step- forward traceability) All records should be recorded, kept, maintained and made accessible during culture and for at least 24 months after harvesting. 11 Labor and community 11.1 Child labor Anti-child labor, laws, policies and practices should be observed Anti- discrimination/ unequal treatment of employee policy Workers should not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race, religion, culture, age, etc Training on safety Training on safety procedures should be conducted for the workers First aid First aid kit should be available in adequate quantity and conveniently accessible at the production area Laborers should be able to demonstrate awareness and application of the different first aid measures Wages and working hours Workers should receive fair and decent salary consistent with existing laws and other regulations. Page 4 of 6

5 Working hours or piece wage rates should be based on existing labor laws and regulations Living conditions for employees Living quarters of stay-in labor should be safe, clean, good habitable condition and convenient Potable water in adequate supply and suitable toilets (e.g. portal let) should be available and properly maintained Social Aspects Farms operation should observe the rights of host local community on the use of public land, infrastructures, fishing grounds, and water resources following existing laws and regulations Harmonious, productive and mutually beneficial relationship with the local community should be maintained to foster responsible business social responsibility. Page 5 of 6

6 References The following reference documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. ASEAN, Standard on ASEAN Good Aquaculture Practices (GA qp) for Food Fish ( Part 1). Establishment of Standard on ASEAN GAqP Project. Association of Southeast Asian Nations- Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II (A SEAN-ADCP II). ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia. ASEAN, Standard on ASEAN Good Aquaculture Practices for Shrimp Farming (AS EAN Shrimp GAP). Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia. BFAR Fisheries Administrative Order 214 s Code of Practice for Aquaculture. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Department of Agriculture. Quezon City, Philippines. CAC RCP Amended Recommended Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products. Codex Alimentarius Commission. Rome, Italy. DENR Administrative Order No. 34 s Revised Water Usage and Classification. Water Quality Criteria Amending Section Nos. 68 and 69, Chapter III of the 1978 NPCC Rules and Regulations. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Quezon City, Philippines. FAO, Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture Certification. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation. Rome, Italy. FAO, Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation. Rome, Italy. GLOBAL G.A.P. Aquaculture Standard version 5 July GLOBAL G.A.P. Secretariat. Germany. Harmful Algal Bloom." Marine Biodiversity Wiki. Marbef, n.d. Web. 18 May < PNS/BAFS 135:2014. Philippine National Standard on the Code of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP). Bureau Agriculture and Fisheries Standards. Department of Agriculture. Quezon City, Philippines. PNS/BAFS 177:2016. Philippine National Standard for Live Mangrove Crab. Bureau Agriculture and Fisheries Standards. Department of Agriculture. Quezon City, Philippines. Presidential Decree No.442, As Amended A Decree Instituting A Labor Code Thereby Revising and Consolidating Labor and Social Laws to Afford Protection to Labor, Promote Employment and Human Resources Development and Insure Industrial Peace Based On Social Justice. Philippines. Page 6 of 6