FISHFILES LITE APRIL 2004

FISHFILES LITE APRIL 2004
Common Fisheries Policy and Fish Hygiene
by MEGAPESCA LDA
TECHNICAL INFORMATION IN FOOD & FISHERIES POLICY & DEVELOPMENT

Dear Colleague,

FishFiles Lite is a free monthly newsletter summarising key developments in EU fisheries
and fish trade policy and legislation. The full text of the documents listed
in this newsletter is available to FishFiles Professional subscribers. To
learn more about FishFiles Professional, or to subscribe, please visit
MegaPesca FishFiles online at:http://www.megapesca.com/aboutfishfiles.asp

COMMON FISHERIES POLICY

1. New Council Regulation sets conservation measures in Antarctic fisheries for pike icefish and patagonian toothfish.
2. Methods of control for enforcement of the above regulation were also specified.
3. Regulation published prohibiting the use of trawling in the region of the Darwin mounds to the North West of Scotland.
4. New fishing capacity management system to be established for the Outermost regions of the EU.
5. Stop fishing notices were issued for Community vessels targeting common sole in the NAFO area.
6. Fisheries management measures were introduced for North Sea stocks managed jointly with Norway.
7. New controls over EU vessels fishing in the NEAFC area are to be introduced.
8. Proposed regulation published to permit small amounts of state aid to agricultural and fishery sectors without EU approval.
9. The Commission published a more detailed proposal for the creation of an EU Fisheries Control Agency.
10. Updated list published of currently recognised fishery sector producer organisations.
11. The EU and the Republic of Guinea fisheries agreement was formally approved.

FISH HYGIENE

12. Thirty one rapid alerts were notified for consignments of fishery products.
13. Romania and Zimbabwe were approved for List 1 of authorised countries for EU supply of fishery products.
14. The Commission is considering allowing fish pheromones as attractants for feeds for farmed fish.
15. Territories in several member states were approved as being free of certain aquaculture diseases.
16. Various amendments were proposed regarding dioxins in fish, sampling and analysis.
17. EFSA published a draft Guidance document on risk assessment of GMOs.
18. EFSA also published its first newsletter, which amongst other items, dealt with the issue of mercury in fishery products.

COMMON FISHERIES POLICY

1. A new Council Regulation sets a range of technical conservation measures applying to EU vessels fishing in the CCAMLR area (Antarctic fisheries for pike icefish and patagonian toothfish). Limits the permitted fishing gears, controls mesh sizes, disposal of waste materials and introduces measures to limit mortality of seabirds.

2. Sets the methods of control for enforcement of the above regulation; requires special Antarctic fishing permits to be issued by Member states, vessels to notify entry to and exit from specified areas, installation of satellite VMS and advance notification of crab fishing; reporting requirements are specified and inspection requirements established.

3. A new Council regulation was introduced prohibiting the use of trawl fishing gears in the region of the Darwin mounds to the North West of Scotland, for the purpose of protecting species of deepwater corals.

4. A new Council regulation sets out the fishing capacity management system for fleet sectors operating in the Outermost regions of the EU, to ensure that capacity is in line with regional fishing opportunities. Allows setting of reference levels for Canary, Azores, Madeira and French DOM regions.

5. Stop fishing notices were issued for Community vessels targeting common sole in the NAFO area.

6. Following new scientific data, the Commission has announced proposals to modify fisheries management measures for North Sea stocks managed jointly with Norway. Increases the TAC for cod, and modifies the fishing opportunities in cod protection areas.

7. The Council issued a regulation modifying controls over EU vessels fishing in the NEAFC area, following modifications to the Convention; requires special permits for fishing and transhipment operations and strengthens reporting requirements.

8. The Commission has invited public comments on a proposed regulation to permit state aid to agricultural and fishery sectors where the amounts involved are considered to be de minimis (<EUR3000 /enterprise over 3 years).

9. The European Commission tabled a proposal for the creation of an EU Fisheries Control Agency as a key part of the drive to improve compliance with the rules under the 2002 reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

10. The Commission published the list of currently recognised fishery sector producer organisations.

11. The EU and the Republic of Guinea exchanged letters setting out the fishing opportunities for EU vessels in Guinea waters until the end of 2008. Gives access to trawlers for fish, cephalopod and shrimp, tuna pole and line and seine vessels, and long line vessels, in return for compensation of EUR 3.4 to 4.25 million /year. These fishing opportunities are to be allocated to Spain, France and Portugal.

FISH HYGIENE

12. Thirty one rapid alerts were notified for consignments of fishery products which failed to comply with health conditions for fishery products. These included Vietnam (shrimps and catfish), Brazil (prawns), United Kingdom (anglerfish), Germany (salmon), and Indonesia (tuna).

13. The Commission authorised Romania and Zimbabwe for the supply of fishery products to the EU (List 1). An updated list of countries (List 1 and List 2) was published.

14. The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health considered the permissibility of using naturally occurring fish pheromones as attractants for feeds for farmed fish.

15. A number of territories in Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Finland were approved as being free of certain aquaculture diseases including infectious salmon anaemia. The status of the Faeroe Islands as a disease free zone was reconsidered.

16. The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health considered and approved proposed amendments regarding dioxins in fish, and the definitions of the parts of fish to which the limits apply. Sampling and analysis methods were also discussed. New guidelines on actions with respect to non-compliant samples are to be introduced.

17. The EFSA published a draft Guidance document on risk assessment of GMOs, designed to assist applicants seeking market authorisations. The Commission published a set of frequently asked questions relating to the issue of GMOs

18. The EFSA published its first newsletter, dealing with the issue of mercury in fishery products, setting out the current guidelines and outlining the current activities in research to determine toxicity in vulnerable groups.

ABOUT FISHFILES AND YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
--------------------------------------------
FishFiles Lite is a free service provided by MegaPesca. To upgrade to FishFiles Professional
and receive full access to the information summarised in this newsletter, plus much more, please
visit http://www.megapesca.com/megashop/legis1.html online.

To unsubscribe from this free service, please return this e-mail to fishfileslite@megapesca.com and put the word REMOVE in the subject line.

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.