PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD ____:2016
Code of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP)forFinfishes
RevisedDraftPNS
For Posting to WTO
27 July2016
Page1of111       Scope 1
ThisCodeofGoodAquaculturePractices (GA qP)forFinfishcoverspractices thataimto 2
preventorminimizetheriskassociatedwithaquacultureproductionin fresh, brackish 3
and marine waters . This Co de coversthefollowingaspectsofaquacultureproduction 4
namely:a)foodsafety,b)animalhealthandwelfare,c)environmentalintegrity,andd) 5
socio-economic. 6
ThisCodeappliestoaquaculturefarmsorprojects,suchas,butnotlimitedtohatcheries, 7
nurseriesandgrow-outintended for tilapia and milkfish culture. 8
ThisCodeconsistsofminimum c ompliancerequirements. 9
2       Refer ences 10
The titles of the publications referred to in this Standard are listed in the inside back cover.11
3      Definition of Terms12
13
3.1Aquaculture farm refers to an aquaculture production establishment (either land - 14
or water-based) usually consisting of holding facilities (tanks, ponds, raceways, pens,cages); 15
plant (buildings, storage, feedprocessing) ;service equipment and stock. ( modified from 16
CAC/RCP 52 -2003) 17
18
3.2Chemicals refer to any substance ,either natural or synthetic ,that can affect the live 19
fish, its pathogens and water equipment used for production or the land within the 20
aquaculture establishment. (CAC/RCP 52 -2003) 21
3.3Competent authority referstothebureau or agency mandated by law with 22
responsibility and compet ence for ensuring and supervising the implementation of sanitary 23
and phytosanitary (SPS) measures . 24
3.4Diseased fish refers to a fish on or in which pathological changes or other 25
abnormalities that affect safety and quality are apparent. (CAC/RCP 52 -2003) 26
27
3.5Extensive farming refers to raising fish under conditions of little or incomplete 28
control over the growing process and production conditions where their growth is29
dependent upon endogenously supplied nutrient s. (modified from CAC/RCP 52 -2003) 30
31
3.6Feed additive refers to chemicals other than nutrients for fish that are approved for 32
addition to their feed. (CAC/RCP 52 -2003) 33
34
3.7Fish feed refers to fodder intended for fish in aquaculture establishments, in any 35
form and of any composition. (CAC/RCP 52 -2003) 36
37
3.8Intensive farming refers to raising fish under controlled growing process and 38
production conditions where their growth is completely dependent on externally supplied39
fish feed. (CAC/RCP 52 -2003) 40
41
3.9Hatchery refers to a lake -based or land -based structure growing or culturing fish for 42
breeding and fish seed production. (FAO 214 S. 2001)43
44
3.10Semi-intensive farming refers to raising fish under conditions of partial control 45
over the growing process and product ion conditions where their growth is dependent upon 46PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD ____:2016
Code of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP)forFinfishes
RevisedDraftPNS
For Posting to WTO
27 July2016
Page2of11endogenously supplied nutrient sand externally supplied fish feed. ( modified from CAC/RCP 47
52-2003) 48
49
3.11Veterinary drug refers to any substance applied or administered to fish, whether 50
used for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic purposes or for modification of physiological51
functions or behavi aor.(modified from CAC/RCP 52 -2003) 52
53
4.Site Selection 54
55
4.1 Location56
57
4.1.1Aquaculture farms shouldbelocatedinareawhere risk of contamination is minimized 58
or where sources of pollution can be controlled or mitigated . 59
60
4.1.2Proof ofcomplian cewithexistingenvironmental regulation sby competent authority . 61
62
4.1.3Proofof legalrights, privileges or ownershipofthe farmarea(license tooperateor 63
businesspermitfromthe localgovernmentunit)and its location map . 64
65
4.2Lay-outand design 66
67
4.2.1Aquaculture farm should be designed with proper space for its facilities and should 68
integrate bio -security measures to p revent crosscontaminationand threat to security . 69
70
4.2.2Livestock and poultry production may be allowed provided measures are in place to 71
avoid contamination . 72
73
4.2.3Culture facilities shouldbedesignedand constructedtoensureminimalphysical 74
damage tofishduringgrowingandharvesting. 75
76
4.2.4Settlingpond forwater comingfrom   and released tonatural open -watersystem 77
should be available . 78
79
4.2.5Bufferzone should be observed in accordance with existing regulation. 80
81
5Facilitiesandsanitation 82
83
5.1Facilities 84
85
5.1.1Facilitiesfordisposalofsolidand liquidwastes shouldbeavailable in a suitablearea 86
andcompliantwith existing regulation. 87
88
5.1.2Fuel, chemical substances (sanitizer,fertilizerandreagents),feedandveterinarydrugs 89
shouldbestored separatelyinasafe condition. 90
91
5.2    Sanitation 92
93
5.2.1Aquaculture farm facilities andtheirsurroundings shouldbemaintained in a clean 94
andhygienic condition. 95
96
5.2.2Containers,equipmentandfarmfacilities shouldbemaintained ingoodconditionfor 97
ease in cleaning and sanitizing. 98
99
5.2.3Adequateprocedures for cleaninganddisinfectionofcontainers,equipmentand farm 100
facilities shouldbeinplaceandimplemented. 101PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD ____:2016
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5.3Waste removal 103
104
5.3.1Waste shouldbeproperly segregated and removedatleastonce aday. 105
106
5.3.2Waste containersand thewastestoragepremisesshouldbe cleanedand sanitized 107
after eachuse. 108
109
5.3.3Waste shouldbe stored suchthat it isnot asourceof contamination. 110
111
5.3.4Organic waste after harvest should be disposed of properly to prevent contamination. 112
113
6Farm management 114
115
6.1Aquaculture Farm preparation 116
117
6.1.1Aquaculture farm preparationpractices shouldminimize risk for cross-contamination. 118
119
6.1.2Prohibitedchemicalsorbiological substances shouldnotbeused inaquaculture farm 120
preparation. 121
122
6.1.3Fertilizers,probioticsand chemicals shouldbeusedin accordance withthe 123
instructionson the manufacturer ’s label or as advised by the competent authority. 124
125
6.2Watermanagement 126
6.2.1Waterfor culture should be of a quality suitable for the production of finfishwhich are 127
safe for human consumption. Water should conform to existing standard for water quality 128
parameters provided in Annex A.129
130
6.2.2Water shouldbeproperly screened,settled,aeratedandmaintainedas suitable for 131
cultured stock. 132
133
6.2.3Waterquality shouldberegularly monitored toensuresuitability andsafety. 134
135
7Feedsand feeding 136
137
7.1    Origin offeedand feedsubstances 138
139
7.1.1Commercial f eeds, feed ingredients, a dditives andpremixesshouldbeobtainedfrom 140
a company registeredand monitored by the competent authority. 141
142
7.1.2Imported feeds shouldbeobtainedfrom acompanyregistered and monitoredbythe 143
competent authority in compliancewithexistingregulationsand inconformitywith the 144
existing standards . 145
146
7.3.Feed quality 147
148
7.3.1The contentofadditivesandveterinarydrugs should complywiththe existing 149
regulationsandconformtoexistingstandards. 150
151
7.3.2Packages shouldbeproperly labeledwith thedescriptionofcomposition,storage 152
conditions,expirydate, feeding rateandothernecessaryguidanceinEnglishlanguage. 153
154
7.3.3Feedsshouldbeapplied on a first-in, first-outbasis. 155PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD ____:2016
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7.4Feeding 157
158
7.4.1Feedingpractices shouldminimize the risk forbiological, chemicalandphysical 159
contaminationsof feedsandfinfish. 160
161
7.4.2Feedingpractices s houldensure themaintenance o fwaterand sedimentquality. 162
163
7.4.3Livefeedsand natural food should be of good quality and safe. 164
165
8Fish Health Management 166
167
8.1Farmoperation shouldfollow existing protocol on aquatic animal health . 168
169
8.2Fishintendedfor farmingand restocking shouldbe clinicallyhealthy. 170
171
8.3Asuitable r isk-basedanimalhealth surveillance schemeby the fish farmer according 172
toaquatic animal healthplan recommended by the competent authority shouldbeinplace. 173
8.4Surveillanceprogramshouldbeinplace for diseasesoffinfish. 174
175
8.5Measuresfor thenotificationand controlofdiseasesoffinfishshouldbeinplace. 176
177
8.6Finfishandproductsplacedonthemarketforfurtherprocessingbeforehuman 178
consumptionshouldbedisease-free. 179
180
8.7A designated quarantine facility should be maintained for treatment of ill 181
finfish. 182
183
8.8.Handling and disposal of diseased fish and eggs fordisease controlpurposes 184
should follow existing protocol of competent authority. 185
186
9Chemical use 187
188
9.1Veterinarydrugs,medicatedfeeds,chemicalandbiologicalsubstances should beobtained 189
from registeredandauthorizedmanufacturersand suppliers and should be used only when 190
necessary . 191
192
9.2Veterinarydrugs,medicatedfeeds,chemicalandbiologicalsubstances shouldonlybe 193
thosepermittedandregisteredaccordingtonationalregulations. 194
195
9.3Drug residues shouldnotbepresent in thebodyoffishbyobserving withdrawal 196
periodtoensure thatthemaximum residuelevel (MRL) isacceptablebasedon the 197
standards setby Codexor tradingpartners. 198
199
9.4Substances requiringprescriptionshouldonlybeusedunderadequate supervisionby 200
aqualifiedexpertoratrained technician . Non-prescription substances shouldbeused 201
accordingtomanufacturer’s instructionsandas specifiedonthe label. 202
203
10Harvesting and tran sport 204
205
10.1Harvesting 206
207
10.1.1Harvestingequipment(e.g. containers and vehicles for harvested animals) and 208
paraphernalia shouldbeeasy to clean, andkept in cleancondition. 209
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Page5of1110.1.2Harvesting shouldbeplanned inadvanceand timed topreventfinfishfrombeing 211
exposedtohightemperatures. 212
213
10.1.3Harvested finfish shouldbeproperlychilled 214
215
10.1.4Practices s houldensure that theviabilityof livefinfishisnotaffectedby extreme , 216
physicaldamageor stress. 217
218
10.1.5Finfishshouldbequicklyandhygienicallyhandled,usingpractices t hatdonot cause 219
physicaldamagetotheproduct. 220
221
10.2Post-harvesthandling andtransport 222
10.2.1Post-harvestingequipmentandparaphernalia shouldbeeasy to cleanandkept in 223
cleancondition. 224
225
10.2.2Operationssuchas sorting,weighing,washing,draining and packing shouldbe 226
carriedoutquickly,hygienicallyandwithoutdamage totheproduct. 227
228
10.2.3Foodadditivesand chemicals,whichareused in contactwithproducts, should 229
complywithprevailing legalrequirements. 230
231
10.2.4Transport shouldbe carriedout in cleanandeasy tocleanfacilities (boxes, 232
containers,vehicleetc.). 233
234
10.2.5Livefinfishshouldbe transportedunderphysical conditionswhichdonotadversely 235
affecttheirquality. 236
237
10.2.6Freshfinfishshouldbe transportedand maintained atatemperature of 0-40C. 238
239
11Biodiversity 240
241
11.1Escapeesandcaptivestocks 242
11.1.1Screens,barriers and containment ponds ,where applicable, shouldbeavailableto 243
limit the incidenceofescapeto thenaturalenvironmentofcultured speciesatanacceptable 244
level of risk . 245
11.2Predatorcontrol 246
247
11.2.1Theuseof lethalmethods ineradicatingnon-fishpredators,especially those 248
classifiedasvulnerableby the International Union for Conservationof NatureandNatural 249
Resources (IUCN)should be avoided . 250
251
12Animalwelfare 252
253
12.1Growth and s urvival 254
255
12.1.1 Finfish should be maintained under conditions to promote good growth and survival.256
257
12.1.2Farms shouldmaintain acceptable survival rateof at least 80% during cultureperiod. 258
259
13Personnel health and hygiene 260
261PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD ____:2016
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their roles and responsibilities for protecting aquaculture products from contamination and263
deterioration throughout the production cycle.264
13.2Personnelwho could contaminateproducts shouldbeexcludedfromworkingand 265
handlingthefish. 266
267
13.3Workers shouldwearsuitableand appropriate working clothes. 268
269
13.4Smoking, spittingor drinking alcohol intheworkingand storagepremisesshould be 270
discouraged . 271
272
14    Traceability and record keeping 273
274
14.1Adequate records shouldbekeptonaquaculture farm managementactivities (e.g. 275
preparationsandwaterquality control). 276
277
14.2Adequate records shouldbe keptontheoriginandthetypeof broodstock, fry and 278
fingerling used. 279
280
14.3Adequate recordsshouldbekepton thedate,type,originanduseof feedsand feed 281
ingredients. 282
283
14.4Traceability records for animal health and movementoffinfishshouldbecompleted 284
andmaintained. 285
286
14.5Recordsonharvesting shouldbe maintained fortraceabilitypurposes. 287
288
14.6Adequate recordsonthebuyersoffinalproductsshouldbe kept (one-step-forward 289
traceability). 290
291
14.7All records should be recorded, kept, maintained and made accessible during culture 292
and for at least 24 months after harvesting . 293
294
15Laborandcommuni ty 295
296
15.1Childlabor 297
298
15.1.1Proactiveanti-child labor policyshouldexist inthe farm 299
300
15.2Anti-discriminationor unequal treatment of employeepolicy 301
302
15.2.1Workers should not be discriminated againston the basis of gender, race, religion, 303
culture, age etc.304
305
15.3 Training on safety 306
307
15.3.1Safetyproceduresandorientationprior tothe startofworkshouldbeavailableatthe 308
farm309
310
15.4First aid 311
312
15.4.1Firstaid kit shouldbeavailableinthe farm. 313
314
15.4.2Laborers shouldbeable todemonstrateawarenesson thedifferentfirstaid 315
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15.5Wagesandworking hours 318
319
15.5.1Workers should receivefairanddecent salary consistentwithexisting lawsand 320
other regulations. 321
322
15.6Livingconditions foremployees 323
324
15.6.1Livingquartersof stay-inlaborers/aides shouldbe safeand clean. 325
326
15.6.2Potablewater and cleantoilets shouldbeavailable. 327
328
15.7Socialaspects 329
330
15.7.1Farm operation shal ldemonstrate equal rights on public land and water use for local 331
communities following national laws and regulation s. 332
333
15.7.2Farms should minimize the potential adverse impact on the local community during 334
all phases of operation.335
336
15.7.3Farms owners and workers s houldmaintain aharmonious rel ationship with the 337
community.338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
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_______________________________________________373
References 374
The followingreferencedocumentsare indispensable for theapplication of thisdocument. Fordated 375
references,only theedition citedapplies. Forundated references,the   latesteditionof the   referenced 376
document   (includinganyamendments)applies. 377
ASCTilapia Standard–version1.0 January2012. Aquaculture StewardshipCouncil.The Netherlands. 378
379
ASEAN,2015. Standard on ASEAN G ood Aquaculture Practices (GAqP)for Food Fish (Part 1). 380
Establishmentof Standardon ASEAN GAqP Project. Ass ociationof Southeast Asian Nations- 381
Australia De velopmentCooperation ProgramPhase II (ASEAN-ADCPII).ASEAN Secretariat, 382
Jakarta, Indonesia. 383
384
ASEAN,2011.Standardon ASEAN Good Aquaculture Practicesfor Shrimp Farming (ASEANShrimp 385
GAP). AssociationofSoutheast Asian Na tions. ASEANSecretariat, Jakarta,Indonesia. 386
387
BFAR Fish eries Administrative Order214 s.2001. Codeof Practice f or Aquaculture.Bureauof Fisheries 388
and Aquatic Resources. Departmentof Agriculture. Quezon City, Philippines. 389
390
CAC RCP52-2003 Amended 2-2013. Recommended Codeof Practicefor FishandFisheryProducts. 391
CodexAlimentarius Commission. Rome,Italy. 392
393
FAO,2011.Technical Guidelineson Aquaculture Certification. Foodand Agriculture 394
Organizationofthe United Nation. Rome,Italy. 395
396
FAO,2011. Codeof ConductforResponsible Fish eries.Foodand AgricultureOrganizationofthe United 397
Nation. Rome,Italy. 398
399
GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Standard–version 5July2015. GLOBALG.A.P.Secretariat. Germany. 400
401
PNS/BAFS 135:2014. Philippine National Standard on the Code of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP).402
Bureau Agriculture and Fisheries Standards. Department of Agricul ture. Quezon City, 403
Philippines. 404
405
IUCN,2009.GuidefortheSustainableDevelopmentofMediterraneanAquaculture3.Aquaculture 406
ResponsiblePractices andCertification.International Unionfor ConservationofNatureand 407
NaturalResources.Gland, SwitzerlandandMalaga,Spain. 408
409
IUCN,2009.GuidefortheSustainableDevelopmentofMediterraneanAquaculture2.Aquaculturesite 410
selectionandsitemanagement.InternationalUnionforConservationof Natureand Natural 411
Resources.Gland, SwitzerlandandMalaga,Spain. 412
413
IUCN,2007.GuidefortheSustainableDevelopmentofMediterraneanAquaculture. 414
InteractionbetweenAquacultureandtheEnvironment.International Unionfor Conservation 415
ofNatureandNaturalResources.Gland, SwitzerlandandMalaga,Spain. 416
417
Presidential Decree No. 442, AsAmended.1974. A Decree Instituting ALabor CodeThereby Revisingand 418
ConsolidatingLaborand SocialLaws to Afford Protection toLabor, PromoteEmploymentand 419
Human Resources DevelopmentandInsure IndustrialPeace BasedOnSocial Justice. Philippine 420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
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433
Annex A 434
Water Quality Criteria for Conventional and other Pollutants Contributing Aesthetics and 435
Oxygen Demand for Fresh Water, Coastal and Marine Waters 436
Parameters UnitFreshwaters Coastal and Marine Waters
Class C Class SB Class SC
Color PCU(c) (c) (c)
Temperatures(d)
(max. rise in deg. Celsius)0Crise 3 3 3
Ph (range) 6.5-8.5 6.0-8.5 6.0-8.5
Dissolved Oxygen(e)
(Minimum)% satn
mg/L60
5.070
5.070
5.0
5-Day 200C BOD mg/L 7 (10) 5 7(10)
Total Suspended Solids mg/L(g) (g) (g)
Surfactants (MBAS) mg/L 0.5 0.3 0.5
Oil/Grease
(Petroleum Ether
Extracts)mg/L 2 2 3
Nitrate as  Nitrogen mg/L 10(j) - -
Phosphate as Phosphorus mg/L 0.4(k) - -
Phenolic Substances as
Phenolsmg/L 0.02(l) 0.01 (1)
Total Coliforms MPN/100 ml 5, 000(m) 1, 000(m) 5, 000(m)
Or Fecal Coliforms MPN/100 ml- 200(m) -
Chloride as CI mg/L 350 -
Copper mg/L 0.05(o) 0.02(n) (o) 0.05(o)
437
Legend438
Class C–fishery water for the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources 439
Class SB–fishery waters class I (Spawning areas for Chanoschanosor “Bangus” and similar species) 440
Class SC–fishery water class II (commercial and sustenance fishing) 441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
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___________________________________________452
Notes:453
(c)–no abnormal discoloration from unnatural causes 454
(g)–not more than 30 mg/L increase 455
(j)–applicable only to lakes or reservoirs, and similarly impounded water 456
(k)–when applied to lakes or reservoirs, the Phosphate as P concentration should not exceed as an average 457
of 0.05 mg/L nor a maximum of 0.1 mg/L 458
(l)–not present in con centrations to affect fish flavor/taste 459
(m)–These values refer to the geometric mean of the most probable number if coliform organism during a 3 - 460
month period and that the limit indicated shall not be exceeded in 20 % of the samples taken during the 461
period. 462
(n)–for spawning areas for Chanos chanos and other similar species 463
(o)–limit is in terms of dissolved copper 464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
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482
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Annex B 489
Recommended Stocking Density for Milkfish and Tilapia (Grow -out) 490
Species Culture System
StockingDensity (Grow-out)
1.Milkfish ,
Chanos chanosExtensive Pond: 1500 –3000 pcs/ha (feed w/ algae)
2000–4000 pcs/ha (feed w/ lablab)
3000-6000 pcs/ha (feed w/ plankton)
Freshwater pen: 1500 -3000 pcs/ha
Marine cages:10 -15/m3
Semi-intensive Pond: 7000 -12000/ha
Freshwater pen: 3000 -5000/ha
Freshwater cages: 20 -30/m3
Marine cage: 20 -30/m3
Intensive Pond: 15000 -20000/ha
Freshwater pen: 5000 -1000/ha
Brackishwater Pen: 15 -20/m2
Marine cage: >30/m3
Marine pen: 35 -40/m3
2.Tilapia Extensive Freshwater pond: 1 -2 pc/m2
Freshwater cages 2 -5 pcs/m3
Freshwater pen: 10 pcs/m3
Brackishwater pond: 2 -5 pcs/m2
Semi-intensive Freshwater pond: 3 -5 pc/m2
Brackishwater pond: 4-8 pcs/m2
Intensive Freshwater pond: >5pcs/m2
Brackishwater pond: > 8 pcs/m2
491