EU calls for fair seafood competition

EU fish imports should meet the same standards as European-produced fish and fishery products should be classified as "sensitive" in trade talks, say Members of European Parliament (MEPs) in a draft resolution adopted by the EP Fisheries Committee on Tuesday (Jun 22).

The resolution on the EU fisheries import regime, drafted by Alain Cadec, is intended to contribute to the debate on the upcoming reform of the common fisheries policy.

Imports meet 60% of EU demand, acknowledges the resolution.  However, Europe needs to retain "environmentally sustainable and economically viable fishery and aquaculture sectors" to help preserve the cultural identity of the regions concerned, provide jobs, and supply safe, good-quality food. 

Market liberalisation is already having a damaging impact on the local economy in certain regions, which are unable to find their own markets. Moreover, the massive influx of imports in an environment of unfair competition could influence the eating habits of the Europeans, who in a time of crisis could turn to cheaper and lower-quality products, says the committee.

Reasonable, adjustable customs protection should continue to be a legitimate instrument to regulate imports, argue MEPs. It is tariff protection that gives meaning to the preferences granted to developing countries.

The Fisheries Committee demands that fishery and aquaculture products be treated as sensitive products in the WTO’s talks on gradual tariff reduction. The Commission should ensure that any agreement on subsidies in the fisheries sector does not place European producers at a competitive disadvantage.

One of the key aims of fisheries policy should be to ensure that imports meet the same standards as EU production in every respect: environmental, social, health and quality. The Commission is asked to use all the tools available to ensure that the main importing countries comply with the basic international labour law.

Convinced that European consumers would often make different choices if they were better informed about the true nature of products on sale (their origin and production or catch conditions), MEPs call for stringent and transparent criteria for quality, traceability and labelling. They also demand a vigilant approach to products from new, particularly intensive, types of aquaculture and call for a critical study of the health implications.

The resolution was adopted by the committee unanimously and comes before the full Parliament in July.