Foreword
In 2008, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries
Standards (BAFS) developed the PNS/BAFS 70:2008 (Quick frozen shrimps or
prawns). The PNS applies to quick frozen raw or partially or fully cooked shrimps or
prawns.
In 2023, the DA-BAFS conducted a Table Review of various aged PNS related to
Fisheries. This aims to re-evaluate and validate if the provisions of the aged PNS are
still relevant and effective to the current regulatory and market requirements. This
enables the Bureau to review and, if applicable, revise or amend the PNS every five
years which pose risk to consumer safety. The review also intends to align the product
specifications with market needs. The DA-BAFS identified standards for review
including PNS/BAFS 70:2008. The Technical Working Group (TWG) agreed to revise
the PNS to update its scope and other technical provisions.
The TWG which revised the PNS was created through Special Order (SO) No.146,
series of 2023 (Creation of the Technical Working Groups (TWG) for the Development
of Philippine National Standards for Agricultural and Fishery Products, Machinery,
and Infrastructures). The TWG was composed of representatives from the relevant
government agencies, academe/research institution, private sector organizations,
and Civil Society Organization (CSO). The draft PNS underwent a series of TWG
meetings, writeshops and stakeholder consultations conducted physically and via
online platforms before its endorsement to the DA Secretary for approval.
This Standard includes the following significant changes compared to the previous
version:
a) Inclusion of commercially available species of shrimps and prawns as Annex
A;
b) Inclusion of available product forms of shrimps and prawns;
c) Inclusion of fresh chilled and fresh frozen in the scope;
d) Updating of Normative References and Terms and Definitions;
e) Updating of Microbiological Safety Requirements (i.e., inclusion of Shigella
and Vibrio cholerae);
f) Updating of the list of processing aid that can be used in shrimps and prawns;
g) Updating of labeling requirements;
h) Inclusion of Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) of veterinary drug residues;
i) Inclusion of common pathogens and diseases on shrimps and prawns; and
j) Inclusion of banned and regulated substances for testing in shrimps and
prawns.
This document cancels and replaces PNS/BAFS 70:2008 (Quick frozen shrimps or
prawns) which has been technically revised. This document was drafted in
accordance with the editorial rules of the BAFS Standards Development Division
Standardization Guide No.1: Writing the Philippine National Standards.
