FishFiles Lite

Common Fisheries Policy and Fish Hygiene

by MEGAPESCA LDA

TECHNICAL INFORMATION IN FOOD & FISHERIES POLICY & DEVELOPMENT

 

August 2004

 

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 system of tariff quotas for imported farmed salmon

2.      Measures introduced to protect deep-sea corals around the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands

3.      Regulations passed setting annual maximum levels of permitted fishing effort (vessels >15m)

4.      Regulation passed for establishment and financing of regional fisheries advisory councils

5.      New levels of financial support announced for collection of fisheries management information

6.      Stop fishing notices issued for vessels targeting 6 species

7.      Extension of FIFG structural assistance to the fishery sector; new help for mollusc producers

 

Fish hygiene

 

8.      Thirtyfive rapid alerts were notified for fishery products, including 9 consignments from EU countries

9.      DG SANCO Food and Veterinary Office reported on control of food hygiene in France.

10.  DG SANCO Food and Veterinary Office reported on bivalve mollusc controls in Tunisia

11.  New list of third countries authorized and conditions for supply of juvenile live bivalve molluscs

12.  Procedures for direct import of bivalve molluscs for retail sale to be simplified

13.  Commission considers authorisation of new colouring additive for trout and salmon feed.

14.  Concern over inorganic arsenic in Hijiki seaweed for animal feed

15.  European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its Annual Report 2003 online.

16.  New scientific experts were appointed to the EFSA Scientific Panels

 

 

Common Fisheries Policy

 

1.      The Commission has passed a regulation setting out a new system of tariff quotas for imported farmed salmon, following complaint from UK and Ireland regarding over-supply from Norway and a detailed analysis of supplies and market situation.

 

2.      The Commission announced interim measures to protect deep-sea corals around the Azores, Madeira and the Canary islands by extending the ban on bottom trawling in these regions.

 

3.      The Council passed a Regulation setting out the annual maximum levels of permitted fishing effort allocated to Member States (vessels >15m) in ecologically sensitive areas of Community waters.

 

4.      The Council approved a common basis for the establishment of regional advisory councils of fishery sector stakeholders, to be linked to the Fisheries Advisory Committee and to receive financial support for start up and translation costs.

 

5.      The Commission announced corrections to the amounts of financial support available for Member States for collection of fisheries management information.

 

6.      Stop fishing notices were issued for vessels targeting smelt, sandeel, common sole, northern prawn, plaice and cod.

 

7.      The Council amended the detailed rules for structural assistance to the fishery sector, extending decommissioning assistance and support to mollusc producers affected by harvest bans due to toxic algal blooms.

 

Fish hygiene

 

 

8.      Thirtyfive rapid alerts were notified for failure to comply with import health conditions for fishery products, including products originating in Denmark (salmon), Poland (sprats), Spain (seabass), France (prawns), Germany (escolar and salmon), Portugal (swordfish), United Kingdom (monkfish and scallops), Ireland (langoustines), and Greece (gilthead seabream, seabass and mussels).
 

9.      DG SANCO Food and Veterinary Office published a generally favourable inspection report regarding the control of food hygiene in France.

 

10.  DG SANCO Food and Veterinary Office published an inspection report regarding the animal health controls for of bivalve molluscs in Tunisia. Since the disease free status of some stocks has not yet been established, Tunisia is required to suspend exports of live molluscs to the EU.

 

11.  The Commission published a Decision setting out the third countries authorised and conditions for supply of juvenile live bivalve molluscs for further ongrowing in Community waters.

 

12.  The Commission indicated that it is considering authorising direct import of bivalve molluscs for retail sale without requiring compliance with all of the animal health conditions set out in Commission Decision 2003/804/EC as regards imports of live molluscs for human consumption. Member States appear to be in favour of relaxing the measures.

 

13.  The Commission also considered authorisation of  Astaxantin-rich” (colouring additive for trout and salmon feed).

 

14.  The Commission received reports of high levels of inorganic arsenic in Hijiki seaweed with potential use for animal feeds in the UK, and confirmed that Member States should ensure adequate sampling and testing

 

15.  European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its Annual Report 2003 online.

 

16.  New scientific experts were appointed to the EFSA Scientific Panels

 

 

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