Republic of Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has granted the world´s first Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) certification to tilapia producer GenoMar.
The certified facility is GenoMar’s nucleus and grandparent site located at the Central Luzon State University in the Philippines where the company has been operating a tilapia breeding programme since 1999.
Genetically improved fish populations reared in this facility represent the hub for further multiplication and distribution to other tilapia farms in Asia and Latin America.
Its disease-free status covers the most significant viral pathogens in tilapia aquaculture worldwide: TiLV (Tilapia Lake Virus disease), VER (Viral Encephalopathy and Retinopathy, also known as VNN) and Megalocytovirus (Iridoviral disease).
The SPF certification process started around three years ago and during this period GenoMar´s facilities and fish populations were frequently audited.
Samples from the fish were collected and analysed by PCR following the guidelines set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (founded as OIE) to meet the standards for disease-freedom certification.
GenoMar’s SPF certification means that companies and countries importing genetic material from this facility are in good health and have low risk of transferring these pathogens. GenoMar’s biosecurity and surveillance programme and facilities will also be regularly audited going forward by the independent BFAR’s Aquatic Veterinary Services to maintain the SPF certification.
“Maintaining the highest level of tilapia health, welfare and biosecurity is a foremost priority for GenoMar and is an integrated part of our strategy,” said Thea Luz G Pineda, GenoMar’s Breeding Manager for Asia Pacific.
