FishFiles Lite

Common Fisheries Policy and Fish Hygiene

by MEGAPESCA LDA

TECHNICAL INFORMATION IN FOOD & FISHERIES POLICY & DEVELOPMENT

 

September 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 NAFO management recommendations welcomed by Commission.

2.      New regulation defining allowable levels and types of state aids to the fishery sector.

3.      New method defined for calculation of CPUE.

4.      Stop fishing notices issued for several species

5.      New TACs for capelin within the EU-Greenland fisheries agreement

6.      Valedictory speech by Commissioner Franz Fischler - achievements of the last 10 years

7.      DG Fisheries to appoint a senior adviser

 

Fish Hygiene

 

8.      Thirty one rapid alerts notified for fishery products

9.      Scientific opinion on banning oilfish and escolar for human consumption

10.  France suspends imports of fishery products from Armenia, Angola and Cameroon

11.  More Commission reminders to stamp out “clear smoking” with carbon monoxide

12.  Antigua & Barbuda, Hong Kong, and Slovakia to move to List 1.

13.  Commission concerned about histamine in tuna from Indonesia. Strong measures likely.

14.  DG SANCO gives negative opinion on food safety standards in Italy.

15.  DG SANCO reports on fishery product hygiene controls in Estonia.

16.  Council amends regulations on animal health requirements for live bivalve molluscs

17.  Commission publishes information on import controls for aquaculture products

18.  Possible revisions to sampling and testing for lead, cadmium, mercury in foodstuffs.

19.  High levels of biotoxins in Greek bivalve molluscs

20.  European Food Safety Authority is worried about losing its independence.

21.  Advisory group on food safety to be formed, with consumers and the food industry

 

Common Fisheries Policy

 

1.      The European Commission has welcomed the introduction of management recommendations for skate, redfish and white hake stocks at the NAFO 2004 Annual meeting.

 

2.      The Council passed a regulation defining allowable levels and types of state aids to the fishery sector; includes support for early retirement of fishers, small amounts of assistance to enterprise and loss of income due to environmental damage, amongst others. The Commission issued guidelines.

 

3.      The Commission amended the method of calculation of CPUE in the data to be provided by Member States, and the geographic stratification of catch areas under Regional Fisheries Organisations.

 

4.      Stop fishing notices were issued for vessels targeting blue whiting, greater silver smelt, pollack, common sole, megrim, and anglerfish. 

 

5.      The EU Council passed a regulation amending the TACs for EU vessels fishing for capelin within the EU-Greenland fisheries agreement, following re-assessment of the stock conditions.

 

6.      On his last appearance before the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Fisheries Committees, Commissioner Franz Fischler gave a speech describing the main EU fisheries events during the last 10 years – the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and the enlargement of the European Union.

 

7.      DG Fisheries announced that it is seeking to appoint a senior adviser on the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and on maritime policy issues.

 

Fish Hygiene

 

8.      Rapid alerts were notified for failure to comply with health conditions for 31 consignments of fishery products, including smoked sprats from Estonia (for benzpyrene) and frozen redfish from Iceland (for anisakis)!

 

9.      The Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain considered whether to ban oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus) and escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum), since they can cause diarrhoea. Recommended that better information be provided to consumers.

 

10.  France suspended imports of fishery products from Armenia, Angola and Cameroon due to food safety concerns.

 

11.  The Commission gave several reminders to Member States to prevent entry of fresh tuna treated with carbon monoxide (so-called “clear smoking”); many consignments are still being admitted.

 

12.  The Commission considered specific conditions for imports of fishery products from Antigua & Barbuda, Hong Kong, and Slovakia. All to move to List 1. Romania  and Zimbabwe were also considered, but no decision announced.

 

13.  Concern was expressed over the presence of histamine in tuna and related species from Indonesia. An FVO report indicates that strong corrective measures are needed in the control system.

 

14.  DG SANCO reported on food safety standards in Italy. Most official control laboratories still do not meet the requirements; frequency of inspection of establishments was less than adequate.

 

15.  The FVO reported to the Commission on a mission carried out in Estonia regarding the upgrading of fishery product hygiene controls.

 

16.  The EU Council amended the regulations setting out the different animal health requirements on the import of live bivalve molluscs, for direct consumption or relaying.

 

17.  The Commission published an information note summarizing the current import controls placed on aquaculture products (for both human and animal health reasons).

 

18.  The Commission considered revising the sampling methods and the methods of analysis for assessing lead, cadmium, mercury in foodstuffs.

 

19.  The Commission was informed of high levels of biotoxins in bivalve molluscs in some regions of Greece.

 

20.  The European Food Safety Authority is worried that new regulations in the pipeline will compromise its independence. Don’t worry, says Commissioner Byrne.

 

21.  The EFSA/EU Commission announced the formation of an advisory group on food safety, bringing together consumers, the food industry, retailers and farmers.

 

 

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