FISHFILES LITE SEPTEMBER 2003

Megapesca Lda. Portugal

www.megapesca.com

 

Dear Colleague,

 

Fishfiles Lite is a free monthly newsletter summarizing key developments in EU fisheries and fish trade policy and legislation. The full text of all of the items below is available to subscribers to Megapesca's FishFiles Professional service

 

(http://www.megapesca.com/megashop/legis1.html).

 

The content of this newsletter is subject to a disclaimer at the foot of the page. If you do not wish to receive further editions of this newsletter, please follow the instructions at the foot of the page.

 

 

Common Fisheries Policy

 

  1. New Community rules were introduced on fleet capacity measurement and reduction.
  2. The Commission set provisional anti-dumping duties on large rainbow trout from Norway and Faeroe Islands.
  3. St.Pierre and Miquelon is allowed to supply the EU with duty free lobster tails.
  4. NAFO announced a massive cut in the 2004 TAC for Greenland halibut.
  5. The EU Council amended the 2004 TAC for capelin in Greenland waters.
  6. The European Parliament doubts there is political will for implementation of an EU marine conservation strategy.
  7. Sweden, Spain, Germany, Belgium, France and Netherlands exhausted many of their fish quotas.
  8. The European Parliament commented on fisheries social support measures proposals, calling for the re-instatement of the PESCA programme.
  9. The European Parliament commented on fisheries partnership agreements with third countries.
  10. The European Parliament commented on a proposed aquaculture policy.
  11. Parliament questioned the amount of financial contributions in fisheries partnership agreements.
  12. New fisheries protocols were initialed with Madagascar and Mauritius.
  13. More parliamentary questions on dolphin bycatch, but no short term protective measures are likely.
  14. Questions asked in Parliament of Spanish-Portuguese fisheries dispute.
  15. New conservation measures around the Azores Islands continue to be challenged in Parliament.

 

Fish hygiene

 

  1. Rapid alerts were notified for failure to comply with health conditions for 24 consignments of fishery products.
  2. Directive 2000/13 came into force; allergens in foods (including fish and shellfish) must now be declared.
  3. Commission announces a new list of facilities for the irradiation treatment of food products.
  4. The EU Parliament approves proposed amendments to the EU Food additive regulation.
  5. Guidance note issued on approval procedures for food additives.
  6. DG SANCO reports on health conditions for fishery products in Eritrea.
  7. DG SANCO reports on health conditions for of bivalve molluscs in Croatia.
  8. Commissioner Byrne of DG SANCO announced good progress in implementation of the White Paper on Food Safety.
  9. European Food Safety Authority internal financial management procedures are clarified.
  10. EFSA announced that it now has 50 staff in Brussels and work is accelerating
  11. The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health considered the use of “clear smoke technology” for fish and meat products
  12. Commissioner Byrne discusses antibiotics in chicken and shrimp with Minister of Agriculture from Thailand.

 

Common Fisheries Policy

 

  1. The Commission passed a regulation establishing new reference levels for fishing fleet capacity, with new rules on how fleet capacity is to be measured, and changes monitored and measured.

 

  1. Following a detailed investigation and report, the Commission introduced provisional anti-dumping duties on rainbow trout over 1.2kg, from Norway and Faeroe (of 16.8 to 49.1%).

 

  1. The Commission allowed a derogation to St.Pierre and Miquelon for duty free supplies of frozen lobster tails landed from other third country vessels.

 

  1. NAFO decided to cut the 2004 TAC for Greenland halibut, from 42,000 tonnes this year to 20,000 tonnes, to allow rebuilding of stocks.

 

  1. The Council amended the 2004 TAC and quota allocation to Member States for capelin in Greenland waters.

 

  1. The European Parliament commented on the proposed EU marine conservation strategy, doubting the political will for implementation by Member States, and quoting for example, weak enforcement of existing legislation.

 

  1. Stop fishing notices were issued for Swedish vessels (haddock, cod, whiting), Belgian vessels (haddock, sole, plaice, whiting, megrim, Norway lobster, hake), French vessels (blue ling, angler fish), Dutch vessels (cod haddock, whiting, herring),  German vessels (ling) and Spanish vessels (cod).

 

  1. The European Parliament commented on the Commission’s proposals for amelioration of social and economic impacts of the TAC cuts and emergency recovery plans announced in 2002, taking the opportunity to complain about the lack of consultation with the stakeholders and calling for the re-instatement of the PESCA programme.

 

  1. The European Parliament commented on the Commission’s proposals for fisheries partnership agreements with third countries, observing that the new agreements should be used to promote responsible fishing.

 

  1. The European Parliament commented on the Commission’s policy document on aquaculture. Calls for better controls on veterinary drug residues, quality of imports, and transgenic and organic culture systems. Expresses the need for better management of environmental impacts.

 

  1. Several questions were asked in the Parliament regarding the EU financial contributions in fisheries partnership agreements in Comoros, Greenland, Mozambique, and Seychelles, and the amounts directed to development cooperation.

 

  1. New fisheries protocols were initialed with Madagascar (for 3 years to 1 January 2004) and Mauritius (for 4 years from 3 December 2003). Fishing opportunities are allocated for vessels from Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and the UK.

 

  1. The European Parliament questioned the Commission on the problem of dolphin bycatch. The Commission confirms that scientific evidence is being considered with a view to introducing protective measures. However the Commission rules out a short-term ban on the seabass pair trawl fishery.

 

  1. Following an incident in which shots were fired by the Portuguese navy at an Andalusian fishing vessel, the EU Council was questioned by the EU Parliament, but stated that this was not a Community issue.

 

  1. Further questions were asked in the EU Parliament regarding the legal validity of the new conservation measures around the Azores Islands, in relation to Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal. Only the European Court can pronounce on legality of EU legislation says the Commission; in the meanwhile Regulations stand.

 

Fish hygiene

 

  1. Rapid alerts were notified for failure to comply with health conditions for 24 consignments of fishery products, including from Chile (mussels), Indonesia (swordfish, prawns), Ecuador (swordfish), Spain (dogfish) Thailand (shrimp) and Uganda (nile perch).

 

  1. The Commission announced the coming into force of Directive 2000/13 amending the food labelling requirements; listed allergens (including fish and shellfish) must now be declared;  the “25% rule” (allowing non-declaration of content of compound ingredients comprising <25% of the weight) is now abolished.

 

  1. The Commission updated the list of facilities approved by Member States for the irradiation treatment of food products.

 

  1. The EU Parliament commented favorably on the proposed amendments to the EU Food additive regulation.

 

  1. The Commission issued a guidance note on the procedures to be followed to request approval of a new food additive by the EFSA /DG SANCO.

 

  1. The Food and Veterinary Office of DG SANCO reported on a mission to Eritrea to assess the degree of compliance with health conditions for supply of fishery products to the EU. Generally satisfactory,

 

  1. The Food and Veterinary Office of DG SANCO reported on a mission to Croatia to assess the degree of compliance with health conditions for supply of bivalve molluscs to the EU. The findings were generally satisfactory, whilst noting some deficiencies in training of inspectors, laboratory accreditation and traceability documents.

 

  1. In a speech to EU Member State food and agriculture ministers, Commissioner Byrne outlined progress in implementation of the White Paper on Food Safety, especially with respect to third countries.

 

  1. Regulation 178/2002 (which established the EFSA) was amended to ensure the internal financial management rules of EFSA were in line with Community Financial Regulations.

 

  1. The European Food Safety Authority issued a press release announcing that it now has 50 staff in Brussels and work is accelerating. However it is still hampered by the political stalemate over choice of its permanent location.

 

  1. The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health considered modifications to regulations regarding materials in contact with foodstuffs, the use of “clear smoke technology” for fish and meat products; interpretation of analytical results from testing laboratories for official control, and non-dioxin PCBs in food stuffs.

 

  1. Commissioner Byrne of DG SANCO met with the Minister of Agriculture from Thailand, to discuss nitrofurans and chloramphenicol in chicken and shrimp.

 

 

Disclaimer

 

Whilst we use our best efforts to provide accurate information in this newsletter, Megapesca is not responsible for the results of any inaccuracies or omissions which may be found to exist in the information provided, or any loss of profits or other consequential damages that may result from actions or omissions based on the information supplied. Readers are advised that only the European Union legislation published in the paper editions of the Official Journal of the European Communities is deemed authentic.