It is estimated that around 1,061,173. tonnes of commercial aquaculture feeds were consumed on 2016. Most, if not all local feedmills, started producing livestock feeds and eventually branched out to cater to growing demand for aquaculture feeds.

The aquaculture feed milling industry in the Philippines is already over capacity, based on the above-estimated feed requirement of 1,061,173 tonnes annually. Range values of rated capacity per feed mill plant is in the magnitude of 1 to 450 MT, with an average of 105 MT.

The current primary law on animal feeds, which also covers aquaculture feeds, is under legislative review in the Philippine Congress. The existing law RA 1556 (Livestock and Poultry Feeds Act of 1956) is being harmonized primarily with RA 10611 (Food Safety Act of 2013) and RA 7394 (Consumer Act of 1992).

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is the lead agency in the registration of both animal/aquaculture feed manufacturers and their products, conduct of quality (i.e. proximate analyses etc.,) inspection and audit of these establishments. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has authority under a memorandum of understanding to provide assistance in the inspection of aquaculture feeds and feed ingredients for banned substances such as antibiotics.

In House Bill No. 03355 or the proposed amendment to RA 1556, BFAR will sit as a member of the Animal Feed Control Advisory Committee, which will provide oversight in the implementation of the would be enacted law. Meanwhile, all regulatory jurisdiction and technical leadership rests with BAI, as in the present set-up.

Animal feeds ingredients standards are described and defined under Administrative Order No. 12, s. 2017, “Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations on the Registration of Feed Establishments and Feed Products” and Administrative Order No. 40, s. 1976. “Rules and Regulations Governing Quality Standards of Commercial Feed Ingredients”.

BAI Animal Feeds, Veterinary Drugs and Biologics Control Division provides laboratory services that covers feed proximate analysis, mineral analysis, feed microscopy and miscellaneous analyses for regulatory and research functions.

BAI is now in the process of preparing for ISO certification and in the future will accredit third-party laboratories who are interested to cater feed/ingredient quality analytical services.

Quality standards for finished aquaculture feeds are specified under the Philippine National Standards (PNS) on Aquaculture Feeds (PNS/BAFPS 84: 2010), which was prepared through series of multi-stakeholder public consultations through the facilitation of the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Products Standards (BAFPS). A sequel to this PNS relates to Organic Aquaculture Feeds (PNS/BAFPS: 2016).