Following the successful experimental breeding by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Pacific White Shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, at the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) in Bonoan-Binloc, Dagupan City and the culture of the fry produced therein in several accredited shrimp farms in Luzon from 2005 to 2006, during  which the species demonstrated high productivity, profitability and low susceptibility to diseases, the existing ban on the import and culture of the said species as imposed by Fisheries Administrative Order 207 (FAO 207) Series of 2001 is hereby lifted under certain specific conditions and guidelines.

SECTION 1. Definition - The terms as used in this Order shall be construed as follows:

1. Pacific White Shrimp - species of shrimp native to the Pacific side of South and Central America and classified scientifically under the binomial system of nomenclature as Penaeus vannamei or Litopenaeus vannamei. The species is also known as Whitelog Shrimp and may also be referred to as P. Penaeus vannamei or L. vannamei.
   
   
2. Broodstock - sub-adult animal either male or female that shall be used for breeding purposes.
   
   
3. Shrimp nauplius (plural nauplii) first larval stage of shrimp immediately upon hatching which still subsist on internal food reserve.
   
   
4. Shrimp postlarva (plural postlarvae) - Stage of development of shrimps upon methamorphosing into a juvenile shrimp. May also be referred to as shrimp fry or in its abbreviated form as PL.
   
   
5. Specific Pathogen Free - A condition indicating absence of specified disease organism or organisms as determined and certified as such by competent authority. May be abbreviated into SPF.
   
   
6. Specific Pathogen Resistant - A condition indicating resistance to specified organism or organisms as determined and certified as such by competent authority. May be abbreviated into SPR.
   
   
7. Guidelines - A set of rules that shall govern the import and culture of the aforementioned species.

SECTION 2. Requirements for Import and Culture - The import and culture of Penaeus vannamei shall be subject to the following conditions.

1. Import shall be limited only to broodstock shrimps.
   
   
2. All imports must be certified as Specific Pathogen Free/Specific Pathogen Resistant or SPF/SPR by the competent authority of the originating country.
   
   
3. Only shrimp hatcheries accredited by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) shall be allowed to import SPF or SPR Penaeus vannamei broodstock.
   
   
4. Only shrimp farms accredited by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) shall be allowed to culture SPF/SPR Penaeus vannamei using shrimp post- larvae coming from accredited hatcheries.
   

SECTION 3. Guidelines for Import and Culture - Guidelines for the import of broodstock shrimps and the process of accreditation of hatcheries applying for license to import and propagate the aforementioned shrimp species and of shrimp farms wishing to culture the same shall be prepared by BFAR and shall form part of this Order. BFAR shall update these guidelines as required to reflect developments in technology and industry, upon consultation with industry stakeholders.

SECTION 4. Broodstock Development - The NFRDI is hereby directed to conduct studies on the development of local capability in producing SPF and SPR broodstock of Penaeus vannamei  as part of its research and development activities in collaboration with SEAFDEC.

SECTION 5. Prohibition - All imports of live shrimps prohibited under FAO 207, series of 2001 remains in force except as previously specified in Section 2 hereof.

SECTION 6. Issuance and duration of import permit - An import permit shall be issued by the BFAR Director to qualified applicants based on the requirement of the importing entity after an application thereof  has been filed and all requirements pursuant to this order and the guidelines prepared by BFAR have been satisfied provided advance notice shall be given to BFAR on the arrival details of each shipment covered by the import permit.

SECTION 7. Penalty -  Violation of this order shall hold the offended liable to imprisonment for eight (8) years and a fine of eighty thousand pesos (P80,000.00) including the banning from being a member of stockholder in companies engaged in fisheries now existing  or which may be created in the future and the destruction of the live imported shrimp and prawn or forfeiture of the non-live ones for proper disposition of the Director of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

SECTION 8. Repeal - All orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity - This order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette and/or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and fifteen (15) days after its registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register.

Adopted: 08 Jan. 2007