FishFiles Lite March 2002

Megapesca Lda. Portugal

www.megapesca.com

Fishfiles Lite is a monthly newsletter on key developments in EU fisheries and trade policy and legislation. For more details and to download the full text of any of the items below, please visit our site and subscribe to FishFiles Professional.

Contents this month:

Common Fisheries Policy

1. Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean

2. EU - Gabon fisheries protocol

3. Management of deep-sea fish stocks

4. Tariff elimination for EU fishery product trade with Slovenia and Slovak Republic

5. New import tariffs for Canary Islands.

6. New anti-dumping controls on EU imports of farmed salmon from Norway

7. New EU policy coastal zone management

8. European Parliament accepts annual report on the 1999 MAGP.

9. New conservation framework for cod and hake stocks in EU fishing waters.

10. New conservation measures to reduce by-catch of hake

11. New conservation measures to protect spawning cod in the Irish Sea.

Fish Hygiene

12. New levels for DSP marine biotoxins and methods of analysis.

13. Increased concentration of ASP toxin permitted in scallops.

14. New controls on shrimp from Myanmar.

15. New controls on shrimp from Vietnam

16. New controls on shrimp from Thailand.

17. Commission comments on Codex proposals on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems.

18. Commission comments on Codex proposals for the evaluation of equivalence in food inspection systems

19. Scientific opinion on of the anthaxanthin rich yeasts in aquaculture feeds.

20. Scientific opinion one some additives used in food contact materials.

21. EU policy framework outlined in relation to food safety in accession countries.

Common Fisheries Policy

1. Council is considering approval of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean. The Convention sets up objectives, principles and organisation of this new regional fisheries organisation; sets out obligations, compliance, enforcement and financial provisions.

2. The EU and Gabon have renewed their fisheries protocol, awarding fishing opportunities to Spain, France, Portugal and Greece until 2005.

3. New Community management plans are outlined for deep-sea fish stocks (blue ling, red seabream and black scabbardfish).

4. Phased tariff elimination is agreed for EU fishery product trade with Slovenia and Slovak Republic.

5. New tariff suspension measures are introduced for certain fishery products in the Canary Islands.

6. New anti-dumping controls are introduced on EU imports of farmed salmon from Norway, requiring registration of all imports.

7. The EU has adopted a new policy framework for integrated coastal zone management; the first stage is registration of stakeholder interests by Member States.

8. The European Parliament has accepted with some criticisms, the annual report from the Commission on the results of the multiannual guidance programmes (MAGP) for the fishing fleets at the end of 1999.

9. A new regulation is introduced by Council, setting out new rules for conservation of cod and hake stocks in EU fishing waters which are subject to severe depletion. The regulation also increases level of withdrawal support under FIFG for vessels participating in these fisheries.

10. New regulations are passed placing limits on fishing gears and the percentage of hake which may be retained on board as bycatch by certain vessels fishing in EU waters (Biscay and Irish Sea).

11. In order to protect spawning cod in the Irish Sea, the EU has banned fishing for cod by all gears, subject to the use of certain types of gear in defined areas.

Fish Hygiene

12. The Commission has set the maximum levels for the marine biotoxins of the diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) complex (okadaic acid and dino-physistoxins), and other marine biotoxins. Also specifies the methods of analysis to be used.

13. The Commission has passed a decision authorising the harvesting of scallops with an increased concentration of ASP toxin subject to certain conditions (which result in less than 20mg/kg in the edible part.

14. New intensive sampling measures are introduced requiring Member States to sample each consignment of shrimps from Myanmar, and subject to analysis for certain anti-microbial substances.

15. Sampling and testing of each consignment of Vietnamese shrimp is now required for a wider range of anti-microbial substances.

16. New intensive sampling measures are introduced requiring Member States to sample each consignment of shrimps from Thailand, and subject to analysis for certain anti-microbial substances.

17. The Commission has commented on the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems proposal for a Code of Practice on food control for international trade.

18. The Commission as also commented on the draft Codex guidelines for the evaluation of equivalence in food inspection systems for international trade.

19. Scientific opinion is presented on the consumer health implications of the permitted use of anthaxanthin rich yeasts in aquaculture feeds (commercial name Red Star or Ecotone).

20. Scientific opinion is presented on the safety of a number of monomers and additives used in food contact materials.

21. EU policy has been published in relation to food safety with respect to the accession countries. Considers issues such as negotiations on food safety, border inspection posts, upgrading of food processing establishments and laboratories and role of DG Sanco.

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send a message to fishfileslite@megapesca.com with the word REMOVE in the subject area.