Fisheries Administrative Order No. 227: Series of 2008. Rules and regulations governing the export of fish and aquatic products to European Union member countries.

This Order, consisting of 11 articles, establishes Rules and Regulations governing the Export of Fish and Live Aquatic Animals Products to European Member Countries. This Order lays down specific rules on the hygiene of processed and unprocessed FA products for business operators intending to export their products to the EU for human consumption. Unless specifically stated to the contrary, this Order does not apply to processed foods containing both products of plant origin and processed FA products. However, any processed FA products used to prepare such foods must be obtained and handled in accordance with the requirements of this Order. This Order must apply without prejudice to the general requirements of Republic Act No 8550, Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, and the following FAOs as applied to the harvesting, production, preparation and processing of FA products for domestic or non-EU markets: The Fishery and Aquaculture Business Operator Responsibilities (FABO) must comply with the requirements of the relevant provisions of the PD 856 - Code of Sanitation of the Philippines - and such additional provisions of this Order that are required by EU legislation from time to time in force. FABO must also comply with the relevant provisions in Chapters I to V of the Implementing Code of Practice for this Order ("The Code of GMP for Business Operators Exporting FA Products from the Philippines to the EU, 2008") and take all steps necessary to meet the food safety objectives set by this Order. In addition, FABO must ensure that all processed FA products exported to the EU comply with all relevant EU food safety legislation, in particular that relating to: (i) specified maximum levels for certain contaminants such as histamine, heavy metals, dioxins and PCB-like materials, and poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, set out in Chapter III, Section II, Part VII of the Code of Practice referred to in paragraph 2; (ii) microbiological criteria; (iii) permitted veterinary drugs and maximum residues arising from their use; (iv) food contact materials; and (v) permitted food additives and their conditions of use.