January 7, 2013

European Commission approves duty free tuna loins

According to Spain's National Association of Manufacturers of Canned Fish and Shellfish (Anfaco-Cecopesca), the European Commission (EC) has approved an annual 22,000 tonne duty-free tuna loin quota in the period of 2013-2015.

This volume shall apply from January 1, 2013 until December, 31, 2015, under the regulation establishing autonomous tariff quotas for certain fishery products.

In the period between 2010 and 2012, the industry received a quota of 15,000 tonnes of tuna loins with a 6% duty.

While Anfaco believes "this quota does not quite cover the needs of raw material of the Spanish and EU processing industry," it highlighted the actions of the Spanish government before the EU institutions to defend the need to improve the design of this quota.

It also mentioned the support of organisations representing the Italian and Portuguese tuna processing and canning industry, "countries which, along with Spain, account for 90% of total production of canned tuna."

The canned tuna processing industry from Spain accounts for 70% of the European production. In addition, this country is the second largest producer in the world, after Thailand.

Spanish canning industry produces more than 350,000 tonnes of canned seafood per year and 65% of the total is canned tuna.

Tuna exports continue to lead Spanish foreign shipments of canned seafood, representing 65% of the total volume and value exported. The main markets are Italy, France, Portugal, UK and Germany.