ICS 67.060  
 
Reference number
DRS 553: 2023
© RSB 2023
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
553 
 
First edition  
yyy-mm-dd  
 
Fish seeds and fingerling — Requirements 
for certification  
   
DRS 553: 2023 
©RSB 2023- All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2023 
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from RSB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to: 
Rwanda Standards Board 
P.O Box 7099 Kigali-Rwanda 
KK 15 Rd, 49 
Tel. +250 788303492 
Toll Free: 3250 
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw  DRS 553: 2023 
iii                ©RSB 2023- All rights reserved 
 Contents Page 
Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................ iv  
1 Scope ...................................................................................................................................................... 1  
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................ 1  
3 Terms and definitions ........................................................................................................................... 1  
4 Eligible species/varieties for certification .......................................................................................... 3  
4.1 Application requirements for certification .......................................................................................... 4  
5 Fish seed types ...................................................................................................................................... 4  
6 Farm requirements ................................................................................................................................ 4  
7 Facility requirements ............................................................................................................................ 5  
8 Hatchery water requirements ............................................................................................................... 5  
9 Farm inspection ..................................................................................................................................... 5  
10 Certificates ............................................................................................................................................. 6  
11 Packaging and labelling........................................................................................................................ 6  
12 Storage and transportation .................................................................................................................. 7  
 DRS 553: 2023 
©RSB 2023- All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword 
Rwanda Standards are prepared by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board of Directors in accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards. 
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards. l Draft Rwanda Standards adopted by 
Technical committees are ratified by members of RSB Board of Directors for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards. 
WD xxx was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 036, Fish and fishery products.  
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard (s): 
1) XYZ: Title 
The assistance derived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks. 
This second/third/... edition cancels and replaces the first/second/... edition (RS nnn-n: yyyy), [clause(s) / 
subclause(s) / table(s) / figure(s) / annex(es)] of which [has / have] been technically revised. 
(The first/second/third/... edition (RS nnn-n: yyyy) has been reaffirmed by the Board on dd-mm-yyyy.) 
 
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Fish and fishery products  
(RSB/TC 036) in the preparation of this standard. 
Paragraph of participants 
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) – Secretariat DRS 553: 2023 
v                ©RSB 2023- All rights reserved 
 Introduction 
The standard provides for harmonized requirements, procedures and documentation to facilitate cross border 
trade by ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. It is designed to ensure fish seeds and fingerling 
that cross borders are safe and of high quality and are of the required standard. The document is intended for 
fish seeds and fingerling inspectors working at border posts, and any other person involved in fisheries and 
aquaculture inputs and products trade. This document was developed to describe Fish Seed and fingerling 
Certification and Accreditation with the purpose: 
To provide quality fish seeds and fingerling which ensure production and potentiality in the grow-out farm in a 
scientific manner for a successful and sustainable enterprises.  
To strengthen fish seeds and fingerling certification and accreditation to meet the requirement of qualitative & 
quantitative seeds for sustainable aquaculture. 
 
 DRS 553: 2023 
1                ©RSB 2023- All rights reserved 
 Fish seeds and fingerling — Requirements for certification 
1 Scope 
This Working Draft Standard specifies the certification requirements for the production of fish seed production, 
rearing, stocking, transport of fish seed and its monitoring. It includes requirements for eligible 
varieties/species, farm standards, farm inspections, laboratory standards, certificates, packaging and labelling, 
storage and transportation. 
2 Normative references 
There are no normative references in this document 
3 Terms and definitions 
For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in ISTA, and Border Fisheries Inspector and 
the following shall apply. 
3.1 
competent authority  
Ministry having responsibility and any local or officially recognised authority 
3.1  
Accreditation 
a procedure by which a competent authority gives formal recognition that an eligible fish seed farm is 
competent to carry out fish breeding and rearing of seed.  
3.2 
 fish  
includes shell fish and fish in all stage in its life-history.  
3.3 
Brood fish 
 A mature/gravid fish (male & female) having matured gametes for producing hatchling/spawn 
Stocking of genetically matured fishes ready for breeding purposes  
©RSB 2023- All rights reserved                  2 
 3.4 
Certification 
 A procedure by which a fish seed farm recognized by accrediting agency gives written assurance those 
product/services of fish hatchery confirm to the specific requirement.  
3.5 
Certified fish seed 
Seed produced by an accredited fish hatchery or fry raised by an accredited fish seed farm duly certified by 
the producers that their produce (spawn/seed) is in consonance with specific norms. Certified fish seed shall 
be used only for table fish and not for raising brood stock/breeding purposes.  
3.6  
Fish Seed Farm 
Farms used to raise quality fish fry, fingerlings/yearlings to be used in aquaculture practices from accredited 
hatchery.  
3.7 
Fish breeding 
Captive propagation technology by which brood/gravid fish are artificially made active to produce their 
progeny/early stages of life cycle/= including spawn 
3.8 
Fish Hatchery 
Fish hatchery is a production unit that uses brood stock, breeding and husbandry practices as per norms and 
produces quality fish seed at the earlier stage of life cycle of fish such as spawn or equivalent stages specific 
to species through indigenous cultivable species (A group of native fresh water cultivable fishes found in 
geographical areas).  
3.9 
Fingerling 
refers to a fish that has reached the stage where the fins can be extended and where scales have started 
developing throughout the body DRS 553: 2023 
3                ©RSB 2023- All rights reserved 
 3.10 
Fish and fingerling seed test certificate 
legal document issued by the competent authority, which states that a seed lot has met the requirements set 
in this standard 
3.11 
farm 
defined and identifiable area of land or facility that is used to produce a seed fish seed under the Seed 
Certification Scheme 
3.12 
farm inspection 
inspection of a farm and or fish seed, by an inspector to check if the minimum requirements for seed  
3.13 
inspector 
authorized official or accredited entity responsible for carrying out certification activities 
3.14 
label 
stick-like that is attached to or written, or printed on any container of seed or that accompanies any lot of bulk 
seed and which describes the kind of seed and any other information required by relevant regulation 
3.15 
variety 
assemblage of cultivated fish that is clearly distinguished from other varieties by any characters 
(morphological, physiological, cytological, chemical, or others) and which retains its distinguishing 
characteristics when reproduced by the normal means for the fish seed and variety 
4 Eligible species/varieties for certification 
4.1.1 Species/varieties eligible for fish seed and fingerling certification shall be those registered in the 
national list of species catalogue. 
4.1.2 The national fish seed certification authority shall keep the official descriptor of the species/varieties in 
hard and electronic copies.  
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 4.1 Application requirements for certification 
Fish seeds and fingerling shall be certified based on the following criteria: 
a) Pathogen free  
b) Fish seeds and fingerling shall be active in the bowl 
c) Seed shall not have any antibiotic residues such as chloramphenicol, nitro furan more than the allowable 
limits 
d) shall not have moulting stage, 10% may be allowed.  
e) Test for MBV and WSSV should be negative 
f) shall not have any parasites. 
5 Fish seed types 
For the purpose of this standard, the following classes of seed shall apply: 
a) Grass Carp; 
b) Female Catla and male Rohu (Nadan) or any other hybrid varieties developed through Captive breeding 
of the parents between two taxonomical entities; and 
c) Improved variety: Genetically improved variety, developed through breeding programme from parents of 
the same genus 
6 Farm requirements 
7.1 Fish seed and fingerling shall be produced under the responsibility of the breeder  
7.2 Certified fish seed and fingerling may be produced in two generations. 
7.3 The national certification authority shall inspect and certify the production of fish seed and fingerling 
7.4 A farm producing a fish seed and fingerling shall be approved for certification if it complies with the 
requirements in Table 1. 
 
Table 1 — Farm standards for seed fish seeds and fingerling 
S/N  Fish seed Size class (mm) 
i.  Spawn  <8.00 DRS 553: 2023 
5                ©RSB 2023- All rights reserved 
 ii.  Early fry 9 - 25 
iii.  Fry  26 - 50 mm 
iv.  Advanced Fry 51 - 100 
v.  Fingerling >100 
7 Facility requirements 
7.1 The infrastructure facilities for hatchery and fish seed and fingerling raising units shall be indicative and 
notexhaustive,need to varyfrom different seed productionfacilities.  
7.2 The appropriate level of flexibility shall be allowed, with respect to the construction and layout ofthe 
physical facilities at the time of verification, depending upon the local circumstances provided 
thespecifiedcapacities,waterquality,Broodstockassessmentreportsarecomplianttothenorms. 
7.3 Soil and water quality testing facilities, store room, staff quarters and securitysystemsareoptionalandshall 
bebuilt asperrequirementsand convenience. 
8 Hatchery water requirements 
7.1 an assessment of water quality shall be made at least once a quarter. First assessment during the period 
of hatchery operation and second after six months. 
7.2 water for fish seed and fingerling production shall comply with the requirements as stipulated in Table  
Table 2 — water requirements for seed fish seeds and fingerling 
 
Water  Requirements  
Water supply Adequate, from a regular and dependable source 
Types of water sources Direct ground water (to be collected in open pond 
before pumping) open water body such as rivers, 
streams, lake etc, 
(To be allowed only if found to be free from any kind 
of pollution/contamination) 
Water Quality Free from algal blooms, 
Free from pesticides and heavy metal contamination, 
Free from pathogens causing relevant diseases, and 
Test report/ analysis are mandatory generated 
through standard test procedures. 
 
9 Farm inspection 
8.1 The competent authority shall prepare the inspections’ schedule for the inspectors, based on all 
necessary information on the application form, to ensure that the timing of inspections allows the standards  
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 8.2 Inspection of the farm shall be done in accordance with the competent authority procedures/manual 
Pesticide residues 
Fish seeds and fingerling shall not exceed the maximum residue limits as specified in Table 3 
Table 3 — Pesticide residue limits for seed fish seeds and fingerling 
S/N  Pesticide residues Maxim limits (ppm/L)  
i.  aldrin  0.3  
ii.  dialdrin 
iii.  chlordane 
iv.  DDT 0.5 
v.  TDE 
vi. . DDE 
vii.  Diquat  3 
viii.  Heptachlor 0.3 
ix.  Mirex 0.1 
x.  PCB 2.0 
10 Certificates 
Certificate for a fish seed and fingerling lot shall be signed and issued by the competent authority and shall 
include all information presented in Annex A. This certificate shall be valid for a period of 
six months. 
 
11 Packaging and labelling 
12.1 Containers shall be clean, labelled and for exclusive use of transporting live fish. 
12.2 The mark or label to indicate that fish seed and fingerling conforms to the size, source of seed and free 
from disease and pathogen, infections and other particulars as shall be specified from time to time by the 
competent authority. DRS 553: 2023 
7                ©RSB 2023- All rights reserved 
 12 Storage and transportation 
12.1 Fish seeds and fingerlings shall be packed and transported in the early morning when travel 
can be more comfortable to the fish.  
12.2 Fish seeds and fingerlings are transported in water tanks with continuous aeration and plastic 
bags, one third is filled of water and the remaining space with oxygen is popular in the transport 
system of Tilapia  
12.3 If Fish seeds and fingerlings are transported for a considerable distance, transportation at night 
is recommended and water in the tank and air in plastic bags or transport containers are changed 
every 6 hours. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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 Bibliography 
[1] https://www.wikiprocedure.com/index.php/Uganda_-_Withdrawal_of_Fish_Seed_Production_Certificate 
[2] The Bihar Fish Seed Certification & Accreditation Act-2018 An Act 
 DRS 553: 2023 
 
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