EU market for fishery and aquaculture products
Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 — common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products
As part of the reform of the EU’s common fisheries policy (CFP), the regulation revises the aims and regulation of the common organisation of the markets of fishery and aquaculture (fish and shellfish farming) products.
KEY POINTS
The scheme covers 5 main areas:
professional organisations;
marketing standards;
consumer information;
competition rules;
market intelligence (collecting and analysing relevant market data to use as a basis for decision-making).
Professional organisations
The regulation sets out a number of specific aims for producer organisations including promoting sustainable fishing and reducing discards.
The reform also focuses on the collective management of activities through production and marketing plans. The rules and structure of these plans are set out in a subsequent implementing regulation, and the European Commission has set out recommendations to facilitate the role of competent national authorities in this respect.
Rules on the recognition of producer organisations and inter-branch organisations are set out in the text and in a further implementing regulation.
Marketing standards
Common marketing standards are established for fishery products regardless of whether their origin is from within or outside of the EU. Those fishery products that do not comply with these standards may still be used for purposes other than direct human consumption (for example, petfood, cosmetics).
Consumer information
Labelling for consumers must indicate:
the commercial name of the species (the name or names accepted or permitted locally or regionally in a country) and its scientific name;
the production method;
where the product was caught or farmed and the type of fishing gear used;
whether the product has been defrosted;
the expiry date, where appropriate.
Competition rules
The common organisation of the markets is subject to EU competition rules, but there are certain exceptions to ensure the proper functioning of the policy and the achievement of EU objectives (e.g. adjustment of members’ level of production).
Market intelligence
The Commission is to provide market intelligence for professional organisations, stakeholders and policymakers through the dissemination of economic knowledge, market analysis and price monitoring.
BACKGROUND
This regulation is the second of 3 elements in the legislative package of CFP reform. It accompanies Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the CFP (see summary) and Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European and Maritime Fisheries Fund (see summary).It has applied since 1 January 2014.
DOCUMENT
Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1184/2006 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, pp. 1-21)
Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Commission Recommendation 2014/117/EU of 3 March 2014 on the establishment and implementation of the Production and Marketing Plans pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products (OJ L 65, 5.3.2014, pp. 31-38)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1418/2013 of 17 December 2013 concerning production and marketing plans pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products (OJ L 353, 28.12.2013, pp. 40-42)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1419/2013 of 17 December 2013 concerning the recognition of producer organisations and inter-branch organisations, the extension of the rules of producer organisations and inter-branch organisations and the publication of trigger prices as provided for by Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products (OJ L 353, 28.12.2013, pp. 43-47)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1420/2013 of 17 December 2013 repealing Regulations (EC) No 347/96, (EC) No 1924/2000, (EC) No 1925/2000, (EC) No 2508/2000, (EC) No 2509/2000, (EC) No 2813/2000, (EC) No 2814/2000, (EC) No 150/2001, (EC) No 939/2001, (EC) No 1813/2001, (EC) No 2065/2001, (EC) No 2183/2001, (EC) No 2318/2001, (EC) No 2493/2001, (EC) No 2306/2002, (EC) No 802/2006, (EC) No 2003/2006, (EC) No 696/2008 and (EC) No 248/2009 following the adoption of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products (OJ L 353, 28.12.2013, pp. 48-50)
Aquaculture animals and products – health rules
Directive 2006/88/EC – animal health requirements for aquaculture animals
It sets out:
animal health requirements for the sale, import or transit of aquaculture animals (farmed fish and shellfish);
minimum measures to increase general awareness and prevent disease;
minimum measures in the event of a suspected, or established, outbreak of disease.
It has applied since 14 December 2006. EU countries had to incorporate it into national law by 1 May 2008.
Directive 2006/88/EC will be replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 from 2 April 2021.
Scope
The legislation does not apply to fish or shellfish for ornamental purposes, caught in the wild or destined to be processed into fishmeal, fish feed, oil or similar products.
Authorisation
EU countries’ national authorities must ensure that each fish farm is authorised.
To receive their authorisation, fish farms must:
keep records of all fish and shellfish moved into and out of the premises;
demonstrate high standards of hygiene;
operate a risk-based animal health surveillance scheme to detect diseases and any increased levels of mortality.
National authorities must maintain an up-to-date and publicly available register of authorised fish farms.
Disease prevention
The legislation sets out a list of diseases and the species susceptible to them.
Disease prevention measures must be in place when aquaculture animals are transported.
Farmed fish and shellfish must be healthy. They require an animal health certificate when offered for sale.
Imported fish and shellfish must comply with EU animal health requirements.
The EU may decide to inspect the farms they come from.
Notification
Fish farm owners and vets must immediately report any increase in mortality or suspicions of a disease to the relevant authority.
National authorities must notify other EU countries and the European Commission as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein within 24 hours of a disease being confirmed.
Disease control
If a disease is suspected, control measures are taken, such as conducting laboratory tests and placing the farm in quarantine.
When a disease is confirmed, the authorities:
officially declare the farm is infected;
establish a containment area, with protection and surveillance zones;
ban the restocking and movement of the fish and shellfish.
EU countries must satisfy specific requirements before being given disease-free status.
Commission experts, accompanied by national officials, may carry out on-the-spot inspections. National authorities may take more stringent measures if they wish.
DOCUMENTS
Council Directive 2006/88/EC of 24 October 2006 on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals (OJ L 328, 24.11.2006, pp. 14-56)
Successive amendments to Directive 2006/88/EC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Commission Decision 2008/392/EC of 30 April 2008 implementing Council Directive 2006/88/EC as regards an Internet-based information page to make information on aquaculture production businesses and authorised processing establishments available by electronic means (OJ L 138, 28.5.2008, pp. 12-20)
Commission Decision 2010/221/EU of 15 April 2010 approving national measures for limiting the impact of certain diseases in aquaculture animals and wild aquatic animals in accordance with Article 43 of Council Directive 2006/88/EC (OJ L 98, 20.4.2010, pp. 7-11).