Philippines–EU fisheries trade: EU market access today and tomorrow

Philippines–EU fisheries trade: EU market access today and tomorrow

On 19 March a timely webinar for the Philippines fish and seafood sector was held just as trade negotiations resumed between the Philippines and the European Union. The webinar, organised by the AGRINFO programme along with the Philippine Embassy in Brussels and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), focused on the the world’s biggest single market for fish and fishery products – the EU market.

Pablito Mendoza, Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General of the Embassy, welcomed participants, and Martin van Brakel, COLEAD’s fisheries expert, gave a brief introduction to the EU-funded AGRINFO information service. On behalf of our partner MacAlister Elliott & Partners (MEP), Francisco Blaha described the context of the Philippines–EU fisheries trade. He presented a comprehensive overview of regulatory requirements for EU market access, including food safety issues and official guarantees for fish as a legally caught resource. It will be important for exporters in the Philippines to keep up with upcoming changes to EU policies and rules.

More than 200 participants – from private sector companies, fishing, aquaculture, processing industries, and exporters – meant there was a lively discussion and Q&A session. Key topics included opportunities for export diversification into aquaculture, composite products, and higher-value products. On behalf of the Philippines Department of Agriculture, Kristine Yap, Agriculture Attaché to the EU, thanked all the participants for enriching discussions, valuable insights, and meaningful connections forged during the webinar.

This webinar was organised as part of the AGRINFO programme, implemented by COLEAD and funded by the European Union (EU).