FishFiles Lite

Common Fisheries Policy and Fish Hygiene

by MEGAPESCA LDA

TECHNICAL INFORMATION IN FOOD & FISHERIES POLICY & DEVELOPMENT

 

December 2004

 

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Common Fisheries Policy

 

  1. Joe Borg, Commissioner for Fisheries, announces Task Force on Maritime Policy.
  2. Fisheries Council agreed TACs for 2005.
  3. Quota measures for 2005 proposed, along with improved protection for deep sea stocks.
  4. Simpler approach to the Common Fisheries Policy to be discussed.
  5. Membership of the Advisory Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture extended.
  6. New regulations require more fishing effort data in Baltic Sea and “Western waters”
  7. Stop fishing notices were issued for many vessels.
  8. New licence application procedures under the EU-Greenland fisheries agreement.
  9. EU withdraws from the “Gdansk Convention” – no longer valid
  10. EU joins the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
  11. Fleet capacity reference levels set for the Outermost Regions of the EU
  12. The 2005 intervention prices for withdrawn fishery products were set.
  13. Discussions on EU Parliament Working Paper on Fish Meal and Fish Oil Industry.

 

Fish hygiene

 

  1. During December 2004, 43 rapid alerts were notified for unhealthy consignments of fish
  2. New regulations to be drafted on carcinogens in smoked foods.
  3. Increase in Maximum Residue Limits for cadmium in fishery products now likely.
  4. New concerns over arsenic in Japanese seaweeds.
  5. Commission approves disease free zones and farms
  6. Commission will to consider adding Gempylidae to the list of prohibited toxic fish species
  7. Draft Regulation published regarding prescribed methods for processing fishmeal.
  8. Members States are required to nominate risk assessment bodies.
  9. New opinions published on the safety of fish gelatine.
  10. New import procedures for live fishery products from aquaculture.
  11. The Commission comments on the Codex Alimentarius drafts codes of practice

 

 

Common Fisheries Policy

 

  1. New Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Mr. Joe Borg (from Malta) gave his inaugural speech outlining future policy, including a new Task Force on Maritime Policy.

 

  1. The Fisheries Council reached an agreement on Total Allowable Catches for 2005 as well as on fishing possibilities for a number of deep-sea stocks for 2005 and 2006.

 

  1. Commissioner Joe Borg outlined TAC and quota measures for 2005, including reduced quotas, more multi-annual quotas, improved protection for deep sea stocks and tougher measures for monitoring and control.

 

  1. The Commission announced a new approach to simplify the regulations applying the common fisheries policy. A discussion document was published and stakeholders will be consulted.

 

  1. The Commission extended the membership of the Advisory Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture, to increase aquaculture representation.

 

  1. New regulations were introduced requiring member states to transmit data on fishing effort in Baltic Sea and “western waters” to allow assessment of compliance with days sea regulations.

 

  1. Stop fishing notice were issued for Portuguese, Spanish, German, French and Polish vessels targeting, cod, black scabbardfish, common sole, herring, Norway lobster  and Northern Prawn .

 

  1. The EU set out the procedures to be adopted by EU vessels in applying for fishing licences under the EU-Greenland fisheries agreement.

 

  1. The EU passed a regulation withdrawing the Community from Membership of the “Gdansk Convention” on resource conservation, since all but one of the signatories are now EU member states.

 

  1. The Commission announced that the EU is to become a Member of the newly established Regional Fisheries Organisation (RFO) for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

 

  1. The EU Council approved a regulation setting reference levels for fleet capacity (GT and kW) of different fleet segments in the Outermost Regions of the EU (Azores& Madeira, Canary Islands and France DOM).

 

  1. The EU Council approved the 2005 guide prices for fishery products for the purpose of calculating intervention compensation for products withdrawn from the market.

 

  1. The Commission distributed for discussion a provisional version of a European Parliament Working Paper on “The Fish Meal and Fish Oil Industry: Its Role in the Common Fisheries Policy”

 

Fish hygiene

 

  1. During December 2004, 43 rapid alerts were notified to the Commission in respect of consignments of fishery and aquatic products found unfit for human consumption. They included sea kale from Lithuania, venus clams from Turkey, milkfish from Indonésia, smelt from Latvia, blue crab from the USA and frogs legs from Turkey

 

  1. The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health voted in favour of controls on polycyclic hydrocarbons in foods, and approved sampling and analysis methods. Carcinogens in smoked foods will finally come within regulatory controls.

 

  1. The Commission held further discussions on the proposal to an increase in MRL for cadmium in fishery products. A change in the regulation is now likely. Relief for swordfish importers.

 

  1. The Commission also expressed concern over high levels of arsenic in Japanese seaweeds.

 

  1. The Commission approved applications from Members States for approval of programmes, and approval of farms and zones for freedom of aquaculture diseases.

 

  1. The Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain considered toxicity of fishery products belonging to the family of Gempylidae (including escolar). The Commission is to consider adding it to the list of prohibited species.

  2. A draft Commission Regulation was published regarding prescribed methods for processing of animal by-products of fish origin (fishmeal).

 

  1. The EU required Members States to nominate national organisations responsible for risk assessment, with a view to publishing lists and funding and maintaining a risk assessment network coordinated by EFSA.

 

  1. The European Food Safety Authority passed opinion on the use of fish gelatine from fish skins in various foodstuffs. Some products “could cause allergic reactions”.

 

  1. The Commission amended the regulations regarding the import procedures, animal health conditions and certification of live fishery products from aquaculture for human consumption.

 

  1. The Commission published numerous comments on the Codex Alimentarius Commission draft “Code of Practice Fish and Fishery Products” and “Code of Practice on Ready to Eat Smoked Fish”.

 

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