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May, 2005

Common Fisheries Policy

1. Serious infringements of the Common Fisheries policy reported by the Commission.
2. Community Fisheries Control Agency established.
3. New multi-annual fish quotas in 2005.
4. Marketing standard for sprat introduced.
5. Spanish action dismissed by the European Court of Justice.

Fish hygiene

6. Forty One rapid alerts notified for fishery products, many for adulterated tuna.
7. EFSA Annual Report published for 2004.
8. Commission considers fluorine, camphechlor and arsenic in fishery products.
9. Fish disease controls in the Faeroe Islands were reviewed. Common Fisheries Policy

Common Fisheries Policy

1. The Commission reported on serious infringements of the Common Fisheries policy in 2003. Out of 9,500 infringements, 88% were due to 5 Member States; Greece, France, Spain, Italy and Portugal. The Commission called for urgent improvements.

2. The EU Council established the Community Fisheries Control Agency, from June 2005, to be based in Vigo.

3. The EU Council modified the multi-annual fish quotas for some species in 2005.

4. New marketing standards were introduced for sprat.

5. The European Court of Justice dismissed an action against the Commission for failure to act on an authorisation request for a joint venture by the Spanish authorities.

Fish hygiene

6. Forty One rapid alerts were notified for failure to comply with health conditions for fishery products, including rejection of 14 imported consignments of fresh tuna, illegally treated with carbon monoxide (so called "clear smoke" process). from Spain, Indonesia, Oman, Philippines, Senegal and Poland.

7. The European Food Safety Authority published its Annual Report for 2004.

8. The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health considered the food safety aspects of fluorine in marine krill, camphechlor and arsenic in fish oil, fish meal and fish feed.

9. Protective measures in respect of infectious salmon anaemia in the Faeroe Islands were reviewed by the Commission.