Since 2014, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards-Department of Agriculture (BAFS-DA) has developed various Philippine National Standards (PNS) on the Code of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) specific for finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and aquatic plants. In 2020, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) requested for a specific PNS on GAqP for grouper considering grouper’s high demand and market potentials. In 2021, BAFS commenced the development of this PNS which aims to set recommended minimum requirements that will help the farmers to have a common understanding on the production practices in rearing groupers. In addition, this standard will also help in achieving the desired safety and quality parameters set out in PNS/BAFS 73:2021 (Live, chilled, or frozen grouper).

The Technical Working Group (TWG) tasked to develop the PNS was created through Special Order (SO) No. 103, series of 2022 (Creation of TWG for the Development of PNS for Agriculture and Fishery Products, Machinery, Tools, and Equipment). The TWG was composed of representatives from the relevant government agencies, academe/research institution, private sector, and Civil Society Organization (CSO). The draft PNS underwent a series of TWG meetings and stakeholder consultations conducted physically and via online platforms before its endorsement to the DA Secretary for approval.

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.