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Exporting Seafood to the European Union. Boston Seafood Show March 12, 2012 Stéphane Vrignaud. Summary. IUU Legislation EU health import requirements Other issues. IUU Legislation. Principle : To stop imports of illegally caught fish, Who: All EU and third countries fleets
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Exporting Seafood to the European Union Boston Seafood Show March 12, 2012 Stéphane Vrignaud
Summary • IUU Legislation • EU health import requirements • Other issues
IUU Legislation • Principle: To stop imports of illegally caught fish, • Who: All EU and third countries fleets engaged in fishing, • Regulation 1005/2008, last amended by Reg. 86/2010, covers the IUU framework, • A Catch certificate is provided with all imports from 3rd countries,
Where are we ? • U.S. – EU Agreement signed on November 2009. • → Very light U.S. specific catch certificate (no reference to catching vessel…), • → Recognition of electronic certification by the EC. • The EU will review the IUU framework regulation by 2013 • Lobby to amend list of species covered by the IUU legislation.
The Catch Certification Scheme: • All marine fishery products traded with the EC, including processed products, shall be accompanied by validated catch certificates, • Appropriate flag State authority of the fishing vessel(s) which made the catches will validate the catch certificate, • The validation must certify that the catch was made in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and international conservation and management measures.
Who does what ? • NOAA SIP issues: • → Catch certificate, • → Annex IV for non U.S. origin but products further processed in the U.S. • → Article 14.1 attestation for non U.S. origin products not further processed in the U.S. • Operators are responsible for: • → Transport details, • → EU importer declaration.
Some tips • Regulations 1005/2008, amended by Regulation 86/2010 is the only legal document, • The IUU Handbook is not a legal document, • U.S. catch certificates are electronic. No original paper is provided, • NOAA signature is digital, no handwritten signature.
Useful links • DG MARE web site on IUU: • http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/illegal_fishing/info/index_en.htm • NOAA Fisheries office - European Union: • Stephane.Vrignaud@trade.gov
Some basics • NOAA took certification over from FDA (June 17, 2009) • New fishery and aquaculture product health certificate in place since June 15, 2011 • Very vague EU implementing rules… • EU legislation regarding veterinary controls (Directive 97/78/EC) is not harmonized amongst member states. • “A Directive is a law binding on the Member States as to the result to be achieved, but the choice of method , through transposition into National law, is their own. “
More Basics… • Don’t ship before U.S.-EU list is in force ! • Certificate must be dated BEFORE or the same day as bill of lading. No batching allowed!!! • Box I.7 Country of origin – see next slide • Box I.8 Region of origin - only for live bivalve subject to regionalization (may be used for IUU purpose – DSFA related) • Box I.18 please WCO full description of product (“raw Dogfish backs” instead of “raw backs”)
Listing Process • The EU list is the only list of reference for EU BIPs: • https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/sanco/traces/output/FFP_US_en.pdf • It takes at least 45 days to update the EU list once the new FDA list is communicated !
Labeling • All packages (outer AND inner) should be properly labeled per Regulation 853/2004, Annex II, • The minimum for inner package should be : → Product of USA, → Commercial name of product, → Establishment approval number • Freezing date should be mentioned on label when different from production/catch date (doesn’t apply when dates are the same).
Some exceptions! • → Decision 2006/199 (Article 5) “frozen fishery products in bulk and intended for further processing”, • → Point 11 of Annex II or Reg. 853/2004 “fishery products in transport container or large package and intended for further processing” .
Triangular Trade • The last country of dispatch (China, Japan, Korea) must issue the certificate • But NOAA shall continue to issue either certificate of export or EU certificate for the first part of the journey, • The third country of transit must issue an EU certificate, based on that U.S. certificate, even if no further processing occurred, • Shipments must be stored in EU approved cold storage.
Scallops and Lobsters • STP (tripolyphosphates) in fresh scallops not allowed per Directive 95/2/EC • Only allowed in frozen and deep frozen scallops • New additive legislation in place by June 2013 will maintain this rule. • ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ • Some German retailers (Lidl, Norma, NettoStavenhagen und Penny) have decided to ban U.S. and Canadian lobsters for animal health concerns. • Strong communication campaign needed!!!
Shellfish Equivalency Discussions • EU ban of U.S. shellfish since July 2010, • US-EU technical working groups are currently discussing, • FDA audited the UK in April 2011. Still more audits to be performed in the EU • EC and NOAA committed to reach the best possible agreement, • EU towards adoption of Codex Code of Practice. • Constant attention from the industry is needed.