News & Reports
32 EUROPEAN UNION RAPID ALERTS WERE NOTIFIED FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS
During December 2023 there were 32 notifications for fishery products with 6 rapid alert notifications for bivalve mollusc products, 5 for crustacean products, 21 for other fishery products and none for cephalopods or gastropod products. These included 3 consignments of frozen shrimp from India, 2 consignments of swordfish from Spain, 3 consignments of frozen salmon from the USA and 2 consignments of fresh bluefin tuna from Spain.
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FAO: CODEX ADOPTS NEW FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY STANDARDS
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) celebrated
their 60th anniversary last year with the 46th session
adopting a series of new food safety and quality standards including: the new Guidelines for the Control of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Raw Beef, Fresh Leafy Vegetables, Raw Milk and Raw Milk Cheeses, and Sprouts; the Guidelines for the Safe Use and Reuse of Water in Food Production and Processing; and Revisions to the Standard for Follow-up Formula (CXS 156-1986). A new Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxins Contamination
in Cassava and Cassava-based Products was also adopted, as well as Principles and Guidelines on the Use of Remote Audit and Inspection in Regulatory Frameworks and Revisions to General Guidelines on Sampling (CXG 50-2004). Find more information here
AFRICAN NETWORK ON FISH TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY 2024
ANFTS aims to provide up-to-date information, promote research and technical collaboration, and enhance national research capacity facilitate the exchange and transfer of technology as well as information geared to support the sustainable development of post-harvest activities in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture value chains. This call for papers is a request to experts and professionals to share their recent knowledge and advances in line with ANFTS objectives. The selected papers will be presented at the physical meeting scheduled for 2024. The meeting offers a forum for sharing
and discussing new technologies and innovations in fish technology, fish safety, trade, socioeconomics, as well as food and nutrition security. The meeting will provide a forum for stakeholders in the post-harvest fisheries sector to: a) Share research findings, technological innovations, and valuable insights. b) Address current constraints hindering effective contribution of post-harvest fisheries research to sustainable development. c) Develop successful synergies among actors within the post-harvest fisheries sector for fisheries development. Find more information here
EUROPEAN COMMISSION AMENDED THE LISTS OF THIRD COUNTRIES WHICH ARE PERMITTED TO SUPPLY THE EU.
In January 2024, the European Commission amended the lists of third countries which are permitted to supply the EU with farmed products of animal origin, having complied with the EU requirements for submission of control plans. In relation to aquatic products, the list now includes South Africa (marine gastropods which covers the subcategory of molluscs/marine gastropods from aquaculture such as abalone) and Azerbaijan (finfish products - caviar and roes from aquaculture). Megapesca has had a direct impact on both of these success stories, having helped to establish the Azerbaijani Food Safety Authority (2013-2017) and mre recently advised the South African government on monitoring systems and integrated food safety and animal health controls for export of abalone (in 2022).
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION ANNOUNCED A MAJOR REVAMP OF THE EU'S FISHERIES CONTROL SYSTEM IN 2024
The Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission announced a major revamp of the EU's fisheries control system in 2024, as new rules for the EU fisheries control system come into force. The new rules aim to improve monitoring of fishing activities and traceability of catches. The control of fishing activities will be digitalised, from the net to the plate, by gradually expanding the geo-localisation and electronic reporting to all fishing vessels, irrespective of their size, and mandating catch recording and reporting in certain recreational fisheries. All fishing vessels will be tracked via a vessel tracking systems (VMS) and all
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catches will need to be recorded via electronic means. The rules also introduce remote electronic monitoring (with onboard cameras) for fishing vessels above 18 meters that present a high risk of non-compliance with the landing obligation. The regulation enters into force on 9 January 2024 but there are transitional provisions to leave enough time for the EU's fishing authorities and other relevant stakeholders to adapt to the new requirements. Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevicius said "The revised fisheries control system is the culmination of five years of negotiations. With it, we are significantly updating the way fishing activities are monitored, to ensure that our precious marine resources are better protected, and fisheries control rules are better enforced through the whole chain, from the net to the plate."
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION PUBLISHED THE RESULTS OF A GENETIC STUDY OF STURGEON PRODUCTS
The European Commission published the results of a genetic study of sturgeon products (performed by isotope analysis and DNA testing) in Bulgaria and Romania. Samples were taken from local and online shops, restaurants, bars, local markets, intermediaries, aquaculture facilities, fishermen and undercover shoppers. Out of 149 samples of sturgeon products (caviar and meat): 21% were derived from illegal wild-caught fishes, 11 % were sold in violation of CITES and EU legislation and 32% were mis-labelled in terms of either the species or the production method. Fishing of sturgeons is no longer permitted in the Danube and the Black Sea, and all sturgeon species are now listed in the CITES.
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