Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 1/14/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** E35009

E35009

**EU-25**

**Fishery Products**

**Annual Report - EU Policy & Statistics**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Norval E. Francis, Jr.

U.S. Mission to the EU

**Prepared by:**

Hilde Brans

**Report Highlights:**

This report gives an overview of the current situation in the EU fishery
sector, provides information on the EU\'s import policy and statistical
data on EU fish catches, aquaculture and imports and exports.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Brussels USEU \[BE2\]

\[E3\]

#  

[EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3](#executive-summary)

[SECTION I: SITUATION AND OUTLOOK 3](#section-i-situation-and-outlook)

[PRODUCTION -- GENERAL 3](#production-general)

[EU Fish Catches 3](#eu-fish-catches)

[Aquaculture 5](#aquaculture)

[ENLARGEMENT 6](#enlargement)

[PRODUCTION POLICY 7](#production-policy)

[COMMON FISHERIES POLICY (CFP) 7](#common-fisheries-policy-cfp)

[2005 FISH QUOTAS: "THE PROPOSAL" 7](#fish-quotas-the-proposal)

[OUTCOME OF THE DECEMBER 2004 FISHERIES COUNCIL
8](#outcome-of-the-december-2004-fisheries-council)

[Total Allowable Catches (TACS): "The Final Deal"
8](#total-allowable-catches-tacs-the-final-deal)

[Control and Enforcement 9](#control-and-enforcement)

[Recovery Plans for Endangered Stocks
10](#recovery-plans-for-endangered-stocks)

[Market Intervention 10](#market-intervention)

[TRADE AGREEMENTS 10](#trade-agreements)

[IMPORT POLICY 11](#import-policy)

[EU Audit of U.S. Seafood Inspection Systems
11](#eu-audit-of-u.s.-seafood-inspection-systems)

[IMPORT CONTROLS & CERTIFICATION 11](#import-controls-certification)

[CONTAMINANTS / RESIDUES 12](#contaminants-residues)

[NEW EU FOOD & FEED CONTROLS / FOOD HYGIENE RULES
13](#new-eu-food-feed-controls-food-hygiene-rules)

[Food & Feed Controls 13](#food-feed-controls)

[Food Hygiene 13](#food-hygiene)

[TRACEABILITY 13](#traceability)

[IMPORT DUTIES & QUOTAS 14](#import-duties-quotas)

[Quotas 14](#quotas)

[Tariffs 15](#tariffs)

[MARKETING 15](#marketing)

[Labeling 15](#labeling)

[Packaging 15](#packaging)

[Consumption 16](#consumption)

[Organic Seafood 16](#organic-seafood)

[TRADE -- GENERAL 16](#trade-general)

[Trade -- EU/World 16](#trade-euworld)

[Trade -- EU/US 17](#trade-euus)

[SECTION II: STATISTICAL TABLES 20](#section-ii-statistical-tables)

[GLOSSARY & SOURCES 23](#glossary-sources)

#   {#section-1 .unnumbered}

# EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Commission's proposal to rebuild depleted fish stocks by closing
certain areas for fisheries and severely cut the Total Allowable Catch
(TACs) and fishing effort was, just like last year, met with deep
hostility by the fishery sector. At the December 2004 Fisheries Council,
a compromise agreement was reached when EU Fisheries Ministers agreed to
less severe quota cuts and rejected the proposal to establish closed
areas. Overall, the quota levels set by the Council resulted in a
reduction of 10 percent on average.

The U.S.' seafood inspection system was audited by an EU inspection team
in the summer of 2003. The inspection was carried out in the context of
the Veterinary Equivalency Agreement that the EU concluded with the U.S.
In November 2004, the EU published its final report on the inspection
mission. The U.S. has submitted comments on the inspection team's
findings, however, and some areas of discrepancies still remain between
the two sides.

In April 2004, the EU adopted the so-called "hygiene package", a new set
of rules that aims to merge, harmonize and simplify existing hygiene
requirements. The overall aim is to create a single hygiene regime
covering food and food operators in all sectors. General hygiene rules
are laid down for the production of all food, while specific rules are
laid down for the production of fishery products and bivalve mollusks.
The new rules will enter into force on January 1, 2006, except for
Directive 2002/99/EC setting out the general principles for
certification which entered into force on January 1, 2005. General
traceability also became mandatory on January 1, 2005. Although the
regulation on traceability does not apply to third countries, EU
importers must comply.

As the EU has to rely more and more on imports from third countries for
its processing industry, 80 percent of total EU fish imports were
non-processed fishery products. Fish fillets and other fish meat are the
main imported fishery products and represent 22 percent of total EU fish
imports. In this category, ten percent came from the U.S.

# SECTION I: SITUATION AND OUTLOOK

## PRODUCTION -- GENERAL

### EU Fish Catches

In 2002, the EU-15 reported catches of 5.7 million MT of fish and
fishery products, a decrease of 8 percent compared to 2001. Twenty-five
percent of total EU catches was by Denmark, followed by Spain (15%),
France and U.K. (both 12%). Fish catches in 2002 decreased in most
member states except in Germany, Greece, France and Portugal. Three
quarters of EU catches originate in the Northeast Atlantic. The main
species are sandeels, Atlantic herring, mackerel and sprat, mainly
intended for the processing industry. As a result of the critical
condition of certain fish stocks and the EU's reduced catch limits,
catches of sole (-17%), plaice (-15%) and cod (-19%) decreased again in
2005.

  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
  **Table 1:                                                  
  Nominal fish                                                
  catches by the                                              
  EU-15,                                                      
  1999-2002, in                                               
  1,000 MT live                                               
  weight**                                                    

                 **1999**       **2000**       **2001**       **2002**

  Belgium        30             30             30             29

  Denmark        1 405          1 534          1 510          1 442

  Germany        239            205            211            224

  Greece         119            99             94             96

  Spain          1 188          995            1 099          883

  Finland        145            156            150            145

  France         676            690            672            699

  Ireland        284            283            392            282

  Italy          294            300            312            270

  Netherlands    515            496            518            464

  Austria        0              1              0              0

  Portugal       209            188            192            202

  Sweden         352            339            312            295

  U.K.           838            746            741            690

  **Total        **6 292**      **6 062**      **6 236**      **5 722**
  EU-15**                                                     
  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

Source: Eurostat

+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| **Table 2: Distribution |                      |                    |
| of EU catches by        |                      |                    |
| fishing zones,          |                      |                    |
| 2001-2002,**            |                      |                    |
|                         |                      |                    |
| **in 1,000 MT live      |                      |                    |
| weight**                |                      |                    |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
|                         | **2001**             | **2002**           |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| Northwest Atlantic      | 57                   | 56                 |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| Northeast Atlantic      | 4 659                | 4 274              |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| Eastern Central         | 472                  | 406                |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| Mediterranean & Black   | 563                  | 504                |
| Sea                     |                      |                    |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| Southwest Atlantic      | 118                  | 48                 |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| Southeast Atlantic      | 22                   | 9                  |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| Indian Ocean, West      | 203                  | 280                |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| Inland waters           | 85                   | 85                 |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| **Total**               | **6 236**            | **5 722**          |
+-------------------------+----------------------+--------------------+

Source: Eurostat

  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
  **Table 3: Catches of                           
  principal species by                            
  the EU, 2001-2002, in                           
  1000 MT live weight**                           

                          **2001**                **2002**

  Common sole             40                      33

  European plaice         102                     87

  Cod                     170                     138

  Norway pout             64                      78

  Haddock                 64                      76

  Blue whiting            288                     215

  Whiting                 46                      41

  European hake           49                      57

  Ling                    18                      20

  Saithe                  60                      67

  Sandeel                 719                     723

  Atlantic redfish        36                      32

  Angler                  46                      20

  Atlantic horse mackerel 239                     135

  Atlantic herring        617                     552

  European pilchard       244                     248

  European anchovy        126                     103

  European sprat          368                     342

  Skipjack tuna           177                     217

  Yellowfin tuna          156                     160

  Albacore                25                      26

  Swordfish               24                      27

  Atlantic mackerel       423                     442

  Norway lobster          54                      55

  Edible crab             24                      37

  Common shrimps          32                      33

  Blue mussel             146                     127

  Mediterranean mussel    44                      46

  Striped venus           41                      30

  sub-total               4 442                   4 134

  all others              1 794                   1 588

  **Total catches**       **6 236**               **5 722**
  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

Source: Eurostat

### Aquaculture

In 2002, the EU-15 produced 1.2 million MT of fishery products from
aquaculture. The significance of aquaculture production varies among the
member states. Main producing member states are Spain (263 762 MT),
France (249 734 MT), Italy (183 962 MT) and U.K. (179 036 MT). EU
aquaculture comprises three main activities: sea fish farming, marine
shellfish farming and fish farming in fresh water. Main species produced
in the EU are Blue and Mediterranean mussel, rainbow trout, salmon and
oyster.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION BY MEMBER  
  STATE -- CY 2002 (Metric Tons)**    

  Belgium                             1 600

  Denmark                             32 026

  Germany                             49 852

  Greece                              87 928

  Spain                               263 762

  France                              249 734

  Ireland                             62 568

  Italy                               183 962

  Netherlands                         54 442

  Austria                             2 333

  Portugal                            8 437

  Finland                             15 132

  Sweden                              5 618

  United Kingdom                      179 036

  Total EU-15                         1 196 430
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Source: Eurostat

Aquaculture projects can receive both EU and national financial support.
The EU is giving priority to financially support the development of
techniques that substantially reduce the impact of aquaculture on the
environment, the improvement of traditional aquaculture activities that
are important in maintaining employment in specific areas, the
modernization of existing enterprises, the compliance with the EU's
hygiene and health standards and the diversification of farmed species.
Five percent of total EU aid to the fisheries sector goes to
aquaculture.

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **EU AND NATIONAL     |                       |                       |
| FINANCIAL AID TO      |                       |                       |
| AQUACULTURE**         |                       |                       |
|                       |                       |                       |
| **DISTRIBUTION BY     |                       |                       |
| MEMBER STATE -        |                       |                       |
| 2000-2006 FINANCIAL   |                       |                       |
| PERIOD**              |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Member State**      | **EU Aid**            | **National Aid**      |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       | **(1,000 eur)**       | **(1,000 eur)**       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Belgium               | 2 780                 | 3 400                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Denmark               | 10 600                | 3 500                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Germany               | 30 616                | 8 760                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Greece                | 36 738                | 16 930                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Spain                 | 123 020               | 59 920                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| France                | 18 799                | 13 000                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Ireland               | 25 680                | 5 010                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Italy                 | 8 880                 | 14 880                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Netherlands           | 540                   | 900                   |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Austria               | 2 230                 | 3 200                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Portugal              | 8 480                 | 2 800                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Finland               | 3 000                 | 5 200                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Sweden                | 4 000                 | 1 330                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| U.K.                  | 14 827                | 2 570                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **TOTAL EU-15**       | **290 190**           | **141 400**           |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

Source: European Commission

## ENLARGEMENT

On May 1, 2004, 10 new member states joined the EU, bringing the number
of EU coastal states from 13 to 20. With the accession of the 10 new
states, EU waters now extend even further into the Baltic (the Baltic
Sea becoming almost exclusively EU waters) and into the Mediterranean.
It also increases the size of the EU's aquaculture industry. The new
member states will also receive EU financial aid for their fisheries and
aquaculture sector. Total allocation for the new member states amounts
to EUR 272 million for the period May 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006 (ref.
GAIN report E34007 "New EU Member States").

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **EU Financial Aid (May 1, 2004 --  
  December 31, 2006) -- in million    
  EUR**                               

  Cyprus                              3.41

  Czech Republic                      7.25

  Estonia                             12.46

  Hungary                             4.38

  Latvia                              24.33

  Lithuania                           12.11

  Malta                               2.83

  Poland                              201.83

  Slovak Republic                     1.82

  Slovenia                            1.78
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Source: European Commission

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **Aquaculture Production (tons live 
  weight) - 2002**                    

  Cyprus                              1 862

  Czech Republic                      19 210

  Estonia                             257

  Hungary                             11 574

  Latvia                              430

  Lithuania                           1 750

  Malta                               1 116

  Poland                              32 709

  Slovak Republic                     829

  Slovenia                            1 290
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Source: Eurostat

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **Catches (tons live weight) --     
  2002**                              

  Estonia                             102 360

  Latvia                              113 677

  Lithuania                           150 146

  Poland                              222 439
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Source: Eurostat

# PRODUCTION POLICY

## COMMON FISHERIES POLICY (CFP)

New measures adopted in the context of the 2002 reform of the EU's
Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) entered into force on January 1, 2003
(ref. GAIN reports E23007 and 24009). The key features of the new CFP
are:

\- A conservation policy for the management of fisheries resources and
the activities of the EU fishing fleet.

\- A control policy aiming for strengthened and harmonized enforcement
of the rules through intensified cooperation among member states.

\- A structural policy providing financial aid to the fishing industry.

\- An external policy allowing the management of fisheries resources
beyond EU waters.

\- Increased involvement of fishermen and other stakeholders in managing
the CFP and in the decision-making process.

So far, one stakeholder-led Advisory Council, i.e. the North Sea
Regional Advisory Council (NSRAC), has been created. In addition to the
NSRAC, six more are to be created for the following areas or stocks:
Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North-western waters, South-western
waters, pelagic stocks (blue whiting, mackerel, horse mackerel and
herring) in all areas and distant water fisheries.

## 2005 FISH QUOTAS: "THE PROPOSAL"

In November 2004, the European Commission tabled a proposal on fixing
fishing possibilities for 2005. According to new Fisheries Commissioner
Joe Borg, the objective of the proposed measures is to rebuild severely
depleted stocks while maintaining, as far as possible, the economic
activities of the fleets concerned. The International Council for the
Exploration of the Sea's (ICES) latest report, endorsed by the
Commission's own Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on
Fisheries (STECF), confirmed once again that most stocks of demersal
fish and some stocks of pelagic fish are over-exploited and are outside
safe biological limits. The Commission's proposal took account of ICES'
scientific advice and includes further restrictions on fishing effort
and the closure of certain areas for cod fishing.

For the most depleted stocks, the Commission proposed:

\- Stocks subject to recovery plans: cod in the North Sea, Kattegat,
Skagerrak, eastern Channel, west of Scotland, Irish Sea -- increased
restrictions on fishing effort mainly through the establishment of
closed areas.

\- Stocks for which recovery plans are being established: southern hake,
Iberian-Atlantic lobster, Bay of Biscay and western Channel sole,
eastern Baltic cod and North Sea plaice -- adapted TACs and associated
measures in anticipation of recovery or management plans.

\- Stocks in mixed fisheries, such as haddock and whiting in the North
Sea and west of Scotland (caught with cod) or sole (plaice) --
restrictions to protect the associated depleted stocks.

For deep-sea species, the Commission proposed to reduce the quotas and
fishing effort for 2005 and 2006 in fisheries that have been regulated
for the past two years. It also proposed to limit effort and catches in
fisheries such as deep-sea shark that are not yet regulated. Catches
would be cut by 50% in species as advised by scientists and by 30% where
substantial but unspecified cuts were advised.

## OUTCOME OF THE DECEMBER 2004 FISHERIES COUNCIL

The Commission's proposal was met with deep hostility by the fishery
sector in several member states while environmentalists had similar
feelings for the compromise agreement that was reached at the December
2004 Council. The original proposal to close certain areas in the North
Sea was abandoned in the final deal when EU Fisheries Ministers agreed
to less severe quota cuts and restrictions. The compromise agreement was
adopted almost unanimously. Lithuania was the only member state that
voted against while Greece abstained. In a statement the World Wide Fund
for Nature (WWF) strongly criticized the EU Fisheries Council's
decisions rejecting, for at least the second year, measures to save
dwindling stocks and ignoring scientific advice from ICES. Greenpeace
stated that the decisions would contribute nothing toward the urgent
protection of cod, plaice and sole.

### Total Allowable Catches (TACS): "The Final Deal"

Overall, the quota levels set by the Fisheries Council result in a
reduction of 10% on average.

**Bay of Biscay:** The TAC for anchovy in the Bay of Biscay was reduced
by only 10% and not 85% as originally proposed. The Council and the
Commission agreed to set up a long-term management plan for the
sustainable exploitation of anchovy.

**Baltic Sea:** The TAC for cod in the eastern Baltic Sea has been set
at 39,000 MT with a temporary closure of four and a half months. For the
western cod stock, a closure of two months has been decided. Three
additional zones in the Baltic Sea will be closed all year round to cod
fisheries.

**North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, West of Scotland, English Channel,
Irish Sea:** Instead of closing certain areas in the North Sea, the
number of days at sea for the white fish vessels has been reduced by one
day, except for the west of Scotland where the reduction will be two
days.

The table below shows the fishing effort limitations for cod, defined
according to fishing gear and fishing area:

  ---------------------------------------- ----------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
  **Maximum days at sea per month**        **Fishing                                   
                                           Gear**                                      

  **Areas**                                **A**       **B**   **C**   **D**   **E**   **F**

  Kattegat                                 9           13      13      16      21      19

  North Sea and Skagerrak                  9           13      13      16      21      19

  West of Scotland                         8           13      13      16      21      19

  English Channel                          9           13      13      16      21      19

  Irish Sea                                10          13      13      16      21      19
  ---------------------------------------- ----------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------

A = demersal trawls, seines or similar towed gears of mesh size equal to
or greater than 100 mm except for beam trawls;

B = beam trawls of mesh size equal to or greater than 80 mm;

C = static demersal nets including gill nets, trammel nets and tangle
nets;

D = demersal long lines

E = demersal trawls, seines or similar towed gears of mesh size between
70 mm and 99 mm except beam trawls with mesh size between 80 mm and 99
mm;

F = demersal trawls, seines or similar towed gears of mesh size between
16 mm and 31 mm except beam trawls;

In order to encourage the use of more selective gear, vessels using mesh
size of 120 mm (described in point A above) will receive one extra day
(3 days in Skagerrak and Kattegat), provided that the member states
concerned develop in 2005 a system of automatic suspension of fishing
licenses in case of infringements and are prepared to support closed
areas in waters where they are fishing when scientific advice indicates
that existing effort control measures are not sufficient to achieve
recovery plan objectives.

The Council agreed to an effort control scheme for the sole stock in the
Western Channel, restricting vessels targeting sole to 20 days at sea
per month.

**Iberian Peninsula:** An effort control scheme has been agreed to for
the southern hake stock. Vessels that caught more than 5 tons of hake in
any of the years 2001, 2002 or 2003 will be allocated 22 days at sea.
Portuguese vessels will be limited to 24 days per month for 11 months
with one month of complete closure.

The Council agreed to adopt by May 2005, a recovery plan for hake and
Norway lobster. The recovery plan will be subject to the opinion of the
European Parliament.

The TACs for 2005 were published as Council Regulation 27/2005 in
Official Journal L12 of January 14, 2005.

**Deep-sea fish stocks:** The TACs for 2005 will only be cut by 15% and
not by 50% as originally proposed and there will be a 10% cut in fishing
effort levels based on the actual effort deployed by vessels catching
deep-sea fish in 2003 (Council Regulations 2269/2004 and 2270/2004).
Catch limitations have been agreed for a number of deep-sea stocks not
previously covered by TACs.

### Control and Enforcement

Strengthening enforcement and making it more uniform throughout the EU
is one of the objectives of the reformed CFP. According to Fisheries
Commissioner Borg, stocks would have been in a much better state if
everybody had played fair and applied the fisheries rules. In July 2004,
the European Commission published its second edition of the Common
Fisheries Policy Scoreboard. It showed that while there had been some
progress in member states' transmission of data for 2003, substantial
improvements are required to conserve fish stocks. The scoreboard is
available at
<http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/scoreboard/index_en.htm>.

To improve compliance, the Commission will present proposals on better
enforcement of the control measures in relation to the recovery plan for
cod. These measures would include the obligation to land cod in
designated ports and the threshold will be decreased from 2 to 1 ton. A
doubling of the percentage of cod landings will have to be inspected.
Transshipment of cod at sea (transfer from one vessel to another) will
be forbidden. The Council and the Commission also agreed to develop in
2005, measures on the issuing and withdrawal of licenses to encourage
better behavior from the fishermen.

### Recovery Plans for Endangered Stocks

Under the 2002 CFP reform, it was agreed to apply a precautionary
multi-annual approach to fisheries management. So far, long-term
recovery measures have been adopted for northern hake (Council
Regulation 811/2004) and cod in the North Sea, Kattegat and Skagerrak,
eastern Channel, west of Scotland and Irish Sea (Council Regulation
423/2004).

Proposals have been presented for the recovery of sole in the Western
Channel and the Bay of Biscay (COM/2003/819) and for southern hake and
Norway lobster in the Cantabrian Sea and western Iberian Peninsula
(COM/2003/818). A long-term management plan will be set up for anchovy
in the Bay of Biscay and cod in the Baltic Sea.

### Market Intervention

Council Regulation 2132/2004 fixes for the fishing year 2005 the guide
prices and Community producer prices for certain fishery products. The
guide prices are set annually according to the average prices registered
over the previous three years in representative ports. Market
intervention mechanisms are activated when the prices of certain fish
and shellfish products fall below a given level, i.e. the withdrawal
price. The withdrawal price is determined annually by the European
Commission and is based on the guide prices set by the Council.
Intervention measures include financial aid for withdrawing products
from the market (Commission Regulation 2258/2004) and private storage
aid for frozen products that cannot be sold at the EU selling price and
are temporarily withdrawn from the market (Commission Regulation
2262/2004). EU selling prices are also fixed annually and range from 70%
to 90% of the guide prices (Commission Regulation 2258/2004 and
2259/2004).

## TRADE AGREEMENTS

There are currently 22 bilateral fisheries agreements in force between
the EU and third countries. The nature of the fisheries agreement varies
in terms of the partner country. Reciprocity agreements - exchanging
fishing opportunities in their respective waters - are usually concluded
with Northern European countries which have the capacity to fully
exploit their resources. Other countries, in particular African and
Indian Ocean countries, who do not fully exploit their fishery
resources, receive a financial contribution from the EU to access their
fishing zones.

Agreements are in force with Angola, Cape Verde, Comoros, Ivory Coast,
Gabon, Gambia, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kiribati, Madagascar,
Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Sao Tome, Senegal, Seychelles,
Solomon Islands, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway.

# IMPORT POLICY

Third countries exporting fisheries products to the EU must have public
health legislation and inspection systems in place equivalent to those
in the EU. An EU certification guide giving an overview of required
health certificates (GAIN report E34074) and a guidance document for
third country authorities on the procedures to be followed when
importing live animals and animal products into the EU can be downloaded
from our website at
[www.useu.be/agri/usda.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/usda.html).

Third countries from which the EU authorizes the import of fishery
products and bivalve mollusks are classified into two categories. The
first category consists of the so-called "fully-harmonized" countries
that were audited by an EU inspection team and for which a specific
decision has been taken under Council Directive 91/493/EEC (directive on
production standards for fishery products) or under Council Directive
91/492/EEC (production standards for bivalve mollusks). The second
category consists of the "pre-listed" countries. These countries have
sanitary requirements and control systems equivalent to the EU's but
have not yet been inspected by the EU's Food and Veterinary Office.
Imports from pre-listed countries may be subject to additional national
requirements and may only be marketed in the importing member state. The
U.S.' seafood inspection system was audited in the summer of 2003 in
order to move from the "pre-listed" countries category to the
"fully-harmonized" countries category.

On January 1, 2006, the EU's new Food & Feed Controls Regulation
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 882/2004) will enter into
force. This regulation provides for a new procedure to draw up
third-country list which means that the current authorization to import
from pre-listed countries expires on December 31, 2005.

### EU Audit of U.S. Seafood Inspection Systems

Commission Decision 97/296/EC, last amended by Decision 2004/359/EC,
draws up the list of third countries from which the import of fishery
products for human consumption is authorized. Commission Decision
97/20/EC, last amended by Decision 2002/469/EC, draws up the list of
third countries authorized to export bivalve mollusks to the EU. The
U.S. is included in the list of "pre-listed" countries, part II of the
annex to both decisions. In order to move from the "pre-listed"
countries group to the "fully-harmonized" countries group, the U.S.'
seafood inspection system was audited by an EU inspection team in the
summer of 2003.

The inspection was carried out in the context of the Veterinary
Equivalency Agreement (VEA) that the EU concluded with the U.S. The
objectives of the mission were to verify if the U.S.' food safety
control programs and its enforcement provides the guarantees required in
the VEA and to audit the implementation, control and enforcement of
FDA's mandatory HACCP system that fishery product establishments have to
carry out. In November 2004, the EU published its final report on the
inspection mission. The U.S. has submitted comments on the inspection
team's findings, however, and some areas of discrepancies still remain
between the two sides. An action plan to be submitted by the U.S. to the
EU should include a timetable for its completion and a review of the
current U.S. fishery product establishments approved for export to the
EU.

## IMPORT CONTROLS & CERTIFICATION

Directive 97/78/EC, as amended, lays down principles for veterinary
check on products imported from third countries. Inspections of
consignments include: documentary check (health certificates), identity
check (visual inspection to ensure consistency between certificates and
product) and physical check (inspection of the product itself).
Commission Regulation 136/2004 lays down procedures for veterinary
checks at EU border inspection posts on imports from third countries.

Directive 2002/99/EC establishes animal health rules governing the
production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of
animal origin for human consumption, including aquaculture products.
Chapter II relates to imports from third countries. Directive 2002/99/EC
is part of the EU's new "food hygiene package" and entered into force on
January 1, 2005. More information on the EU's new food hygiene rules can
be found on
[www.useu.be/agri/foodsafe.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/foodsafe.html).

Each shipment must be accompanied by a health certificate using the
model provided by Commission Decision 2001/67/EC for fishery products
and by Commission Decision 96/333/EC for mollusks, echinoderms,
tunicates and marine gastropods. Certificates in the different official
EU languages, in pdf-format, can be downloaded from the Food & Drug
Administration's (FDA) website at
[www.cfsan.fda.gov/\~dms/eucert.html](http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/eucert.html).
In the U.S., both the FDA and the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) have the authority to issue certificates for export to the EU.

Commission Decision 2003/858/EC, as amended, lays down the animal health
conditions and verification requirements for imports of live fish, their
eggs and gametes intended for farming, and live fish of aquaculture
origin and products thereof intended for human consumption. Commission
Decision 2003/804/EC lays down the animal health conditions and
certification requirements for imports of mollusks, their eggs and
gametes for further growth, fattening, relaying or human consumption.
Information on certification can be obtained from NMFS and APHIS (Animal
& Plant Health Inspection Service).

Links to the referenced legislation can be found on our website at
[www.useu.be/agri/seafood2.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/seafood2.html).

## CONTAMINANTS / RESIDUES

According to the European Commission 2003 report on the functioning of
the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), 24 percent of
information notifications concerned fish, crustaceans and mollusks.
Information notifications generally concern food consignments from third
countries that were tested at the border and rejected upon detection of
a certain risk. The main hazards included seafood contaminated with
heavy metals (cadmium and mercury) and residues of veterinary medical
products.

Commission Regulation 466/2001, as amended, sets out maximum levels for
certain contaminants in foodstuffs, incl. fishery products. Commission
Regulation 221/2002 (amendment to Regulation 466/2001) covers heavy
metals lead, cadmium and mercury. Information on contaminants can be
found at
[www.useu.be/agri/pesticides.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/pesticides.html).

The monitoring of residues of veterinary drugs and other chemicals in
animals and animal products, including aquaculture, is addressed in
Council Directive 96/23/EC. In order to export to the EU, third
countries must submit residue-monitoring plans. The U.S. is included in
the list established by Commission Decision 2004/685/EC on the approval
of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries.

## NEW EU FOOD & FEED CONTROLS / FOOD HYGIENE RULES

### Food & Feed Controls

A new regulation on official controls to ensure compliance with EU food
and feed laws will enter into force on **January 1, 2006** (European
Parliament and Council Regulation 882/2004). It will replace existing EU
rules on control systems adopted separately for the animal feed sector,
the food sector and the veterinary sector.  The new regulation
reorganizes official controls in all sectors and at all stages of
production, processing and distribution, using the \"farm to fork\"
principle. It provides a common approach with regard to controls on
imports of food and feed from third countries and to the treatment of
rejected shipments.  Official controls will verify compliance of all
food and feed with food and feed laws and rules on animal health. The
new regulation also sets harmonized fees for veterinary checks on
imported goods. More information can be found in GAIN report E34023
"Food and Feed Controls" and on our website at
[www.useu.be/agri/foodsafe.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/foodsafe.html).

### Food Hygiene

In April 2004, the EU adopted the so-called "hygiene package", a new set
of rules that aims to merge, harmonize and simplify very detailed and
complex hygiene requirements currently scattered over 17 directives. The
overall aim is to create a single hygiene regime covering food and food
operators in all sectors. General hygiene rules are laid down for the
production of all food, while specific rules are laid down for meat and
meat products, bivalve mollusks, fishery products, milk and dairy
products, eggs and egg products, frogs\' legs and snails, animal fats
and greaves, gelatin and collagen. Imported products of animal origin
must comply with the new hygiene rules.

Directive 2002/99/EC sets out the general principles for certification.
Certificates must be issued in the official or one of the official
languages of the member state of destination and those of the member
state in which the border inspection takes place or must be accompanied
by a certified translation. However, a member state **may** consent to
the use of an official Community language other than its own. Exporters
are advised to check with the competent authorities in the country of
destination. Certificates must be signed BEFORE the consignment leaves
the control of the competent authority in the country of origin
otherwise the EU will not accept the goods. Regulation 852/2004
establishes general requirements for primary production, including
HACCP. Regulation 853/2004 lays down specific hygiene rules for live
bivalve mollusks, fishery and processed products. Regulation 854/2004
establishes specific rules for the organization of official controls on
products of animal origin intended for human consumption.

The new hygiene rules will enter into force on January 1, 2006 except
for Council Directive 2002/99/EC also called "hygiene 4" which enters
into force on January 1, 2005. Once the new hygiene rules have entered
into force, Directives 91/492/EEC and 91/493/EEC on the health
conditions for the production and placing on the market of live bivalve
mollusks and fishery products will be repealed.

Links to the new hygiene rules and to GAIN report E34015 on hygiene 4
"General requirements for veterinary certificates" can be found on our
website at
[www.useu.be/agri/foodsafe.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/foodsafe.html).

## TRACEABILITY

On January 1, 2005, general traceability became mandatory throughout the
EU food system. Regulation EC/178/2002 sets out general provisions for
traceability covering all food and food operators. The regulation
defines traceability as the ability to trace and follow food through all
the stages of production, processing and distribution. Although the
regulation does not apply to third countries, EU importers must comply
which means that they have to be able to identify the source of the
product in the country of origin. EU importers are encouraging third
country suppliers to use a bar coding system similar to the system used
for internal EU purposes, such as the EAN 128 (European Article
Numbering). Also see GAIN report E34091 and
<http://www.ean-int.org/index.php?http://www.ean-int.org/128.html&2>.

## IMPORT DUTIES & QUOTAS

### Quotas

As part of the EU's reform of the Common Market Organization in fishery
and aquaculture products, autonomous tariff quotas were opened for the
period 2001-2003 (Council Regulation 2803/2000). In order to ensure
continuation of supplies for the processing industry, the Commission
adopted a successor quota regime for the period 2004-2006 (Council
Regulation 379/2004). The in-quota tariff only applies when the customs
value of the imported product is at least equal or higher than the
reference price fixed by the EU (Commission Regulation 427/2004 for
2004, to be fixed for 2005).

  ----------------------------------------- --------------- -------------
  **Description**                           **Quota         **Rate of
                                            Quantity**      Duty (%)**

  Cod livers and fish livers of the species 300             0
  Boreogadus saida, fresh or chilled, for                   
  processing                                                

  Cod and fish of the species Boreogadus    10 000          0
  saida, salted or in brine, for processing                 

  Tubes of squid, frozen, with skin and     30 000          3.5
  fins, for processing                                      

  Squid, frozen whole, tentacles and fins,  1 500           3
  for processing                                            

  Herrings, excl. livers and roes, for      20 000          0
  processing                                                

  Loins of tunas and skipjack, for          4 000           6
  processing                                                

  Herrings, spiced and/or vinegar-cured, in 6 000           6
  brine, for processing                                     

  Shrimps and prawns of the species         7 000           6
  Pandalus borealis, cooked and peeled, for                 
  processing                                                

  Cod, excl. lives and roes, fresh, chilled 50 000          0
  or frozen, for processing                                 

  Hake, frozen, for processing              20 000          0

  Blue grenadier, fillets and other meat    15 000          0
  for processing                                            

  Rock lobster, frozen for processing       1 500           6

  Southern blue whiting, frozen fillets and 2 000           0
  other meat for processing                                 

  Alaska Pollack, frozen for processing     10 000          0

  Anchovies, salted or in brine, for        2 000           0
  processing                                                

  Surimi, frozen, for processing            30 000          0
  ----------------------------------------- --------------- -------------

Under the Uruguay Round Agreement, the EU agreed to open tariff quotas
for certain commodities. The table below shows the WTO quotas for fish,
as published in Annex 7 to the EU's 2005 Tariff Schedule (Commission
Regulation 1810/2004):

  ------------------------------- ----------------------- ----------------
  **Description**                 **Quota Quantity (MT)** **Rate of Duty
                                                          (%)**

  Tunas (for the canning          17 250                  0
  industry)                                               

  Herrings                        34 000                  0

  Silver hake                     2 000                   8

  Fish of the genus Coregonus     1 000                   5.5

  Fish of the genus Allocyttus    200                     0
  and of the species Pseudocyttus                         
  maculates                                               

  Cod of the species Gadus morhua 25 000                  0
  and Gadus ogac                                          

  Shrimps of the species Pandalus 500                     0
  borealis, shelled, boiled,                              
  frozen, but not further                                 
  processed                                               
  ------------------------------- ----------------------- ----------------

### Tariffs

EU tariffs applicable to fish and processed fish products can be found
in the EU's Tariff Schedule. Tariffs applicable as of January 1, 2005
were published in Official Journal L 327 and can be downloaded from the
Internet at
<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2004/l_327/l_32720041030en00010877.pdf>.
Chapter 3 relates to fresh, chilled and frozen fish, chapter 16 to
processed fish products. Tariffs can also be looked up in the EU's
on-line customs database which can be accessed through our website at
[www.useu.be/agri/customs.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/customs.html).

## MARKETING

### Labeling

Regulation 2065/2001 establishes labeling requirements for fresh,
chilled or frozen fishery and aquaculture products (products under
Chapter 3 of the EU Tariff Schedule) intended for the retail sector.
Information concerning the commercial designation, the production method
and the catch area must be provided on the label, on the packaging or by
means of a commercial document accompanying the product. The regulation
can be downloaded from our website at
[www.useu.be/agri/seafood2.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/seafood2.html).

Processed products must comply with the EU's general labeling directive
2000/13/EC. An amendment to this directive makes the labeling of all
potential allergenic ingredients mandatory. The list of allergenic
ingredients includes fish and products thereof and crustaceans and
products thereof. As of November 25, 2005, the marketing of products not
complying with the allergenic labeling requirements will be prohibited.

### Packaging

Council Regulation 1935/2004 establishes requirements for materials and
articles intended to come into contact with food. This new regulation
takes a more modern approach to the principle that food contact
materials should not interact with the food they contain. It allows the
introduction of "active" and "intelligent" packaging and sets out the
main requirements for their use. More information in GAIN report E34103
"Food Contact Materials -- Active and Intelligent Packaging", available
on our website at
[www.useu.be/agri/packaging.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/packaging.html).

### Consumption

Fish has a positive image and is considered to be an essential
ingredient in a healthy diet. Consumers are moving away from fresh fish
and smoked and salted fish products in favor of ready-made meals.
Convenience food products containing fish are becoming increasingly
popular with the younger, working generations who are looking for more
ready-to-eat and easy-to-use fisheries products. The preference for
these types of products results in a changing demand for raw products
and brings challenges that will have to be met by the fishing industry.
The change in consumer behavior together with the increasing number of
depleted fish stocks in EU waters, is also resulting in a substantial
reliance on imports from third countries to respond to the needs of the
EU market. However, the EU's strict sanitary and traceability
requirements put a lot of pressure on the EU's processing industry and
the supplying third countries.

EU 1999 consumption figures were included in GAIN report E24009. Updated
EU consumption figures are not yet available.

### Organic Seafood

Demand for organic seafood is increasing because of health and
environmental concerns. At Biofach 2004, the international trade fair
for organic products, experts from different countries discussed the
need for standards on organic aquaculture. Aquaculture production has
full control over the entire production process (feed, quality of the
water, stocking densities, use of chemicals/antibiotics) while capture
fisheries cannot guarantee the same level of control. This means that
organic seafood can only come from aquaculture and not from capture or
wild fisheries. It was stressed that a major constraint in expanding the
market for organic seafood is the lack of a universally accepted
standard and that the EU needs to create a European label for organic
aquaculture.

# TRADE -- GENERAL

The EU has one of the world's highest trade deficits in fish and fishery
products. In 2003, EU imports of fish and fishery products totaled EUR
11.8 billion while exports totaled EUR 1.9 billion, a trade deficit of
EUR 9.9 billion. In terms of volume, the EU imported 3.9 million MT of
fish and fishery products and exported 1.5 million MT, a deficit of 2.4
million MT. Norway was again the leading supplier of fish and fishery
products, accounting for 15.6% of total EU imports. Other main origins
were Iceland, China, Argentina, U.S., Morocco, Russia, Faroe Isles,
Thailand and India. The EU's main export destinations were Nigeria,
Russia, China, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Seychelles, Japan and Poland.

China managed to recover its position as one of the main suppliers to
the EU when the EU ban on imports from China was lifted. Imports of
products of animal origin originating in China had been banned following
the detection of residues of veterinary drugs.

## Trade -- EU/World

In CY 2003, total EU imports of fishery products amounted to 3.9 million
MT, a 5% increase compared to 2002. Spain is the leading importing
member state (25%), followed by Denmark (14%), U.K. (12%) and Germany
(11%). The Netherlands (33%) and Spain (21%) are still the main
exporting member states.

The EU has to rely more and more on imports from third countries for its
processing industry. In 2003, 80% of total EU fish imports were
non-processed fishery products. Fish fillets and other fish meat (HS
code 0304) are the main imported fishery products and represent 22% of
total EU fish imports. In this category, 10% of total EU imports came
from the U.S.

Of the major EU importing member states, Spain is mainly importing
frozen fish, crustaceans and mollusks (72% of its fishery products
imports), Denmark fresh or chilled fish (49%), Germany fish fillets and
other fish meat (61%) and U.K. prepared or preserved fish and fish
fillets and other fish meat (60%).

  ------------ ------------------------ ----------------- ----------------
  **TOTAL EU                                              
  IMPORTS, BY                                             
  HS-CODE, CY                                             
  2003**                                                  

  **HS Code**  **Description**          **Metric Tons**   **1000 EUR**

  0302         Fresh or chilled fish    575 858           1 439 717

  0303         Frozen fish              595 118           1 015 426

  0304         Fish fillets & other     876 378           2 577 892
               fish meat                                  

  0305         Dried & salted fish      167 820           812 545

  0306         Crustaceans              443 053           2 402 137

  0307         Mollusks                 521 787           1 379 398

  1604         Prepared or preserved    636 000           1 599 870
               fish                                       

  1605         Prepared or preserved    142 385           673 637
               crustaceans & mollusks                     

  **Total**                             **3 958 398**     **11 810 620**
  ------------ ------------------------ ----------------- ----------------

Source: Eurostat

## Trade -- EU/US

In CY 2003, 4.3% of the EU's total imports of fish and fishery products
originated in the U.S. The U.S. supplied 168,264 MT of fish and fishery
products to the EU, with a value of EUR 472 million. Products under HS
heading 0304 "fish fillets and other fish meat" accounted for 10%. In
this category, imports of Alaska Pollack were the most significant.

  ----------- ----------------------- ----------------- ------------ ---------
  **U.S.                                                             
  MARKET                                                             
  SHARE OF                                                           
  TOTAL EU                                                           
  IMPORTS, CY                                                        
  2003 --                                                            
  Metric                                                             
  Tons**                                                             

  **HS Code** **Description**         **Imports from    **Imports    **%
                                      all third         from U.S.**  Share**
                                      countries**                    

  0302        Fresh or chilled fish   575 858           3 007        0.5

  0303        Frozen fish             595 118           34 451       5.8

  0304        Fish fillets & other    876 378           88 132       10
              fish meat                                              

  0305        Dried & salted fish     167 820           4 014        2.4

  0306        Crustaceans             443 053           6 882        1.6

  0307        Mollusks                521 787           11 682       2.2

  1604        Prepared or preserved   636 000           18 978       3
              fish                                                   

  1605        Prepared or preserved   142 385           1 119        0.8
              crustaceans & mollusks                                 

  **Total**                           **3 958 398**     **168 264**  **4.3**
  ----------- ----------------------- ----------------- ------------ ---------

Source: Eurostat

The four major EU importers of U.S. fishery products are Germany (22% of
EU imports from the U.S.), France (20%), Spain (17%) and U.K. (16%).

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **EU IMPORTS OF U.S. FISHERY      |                                   |
| PRODUCTS, BY MEMBER STATE (Metric |                                   |
| Tons)**                           |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| **HS Chapters 0302 + 0303 +       |                                   |
| 0304 + 0305 + 0306 + 0307 +       |                                   |
| 1604 + 1605**                     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **France**                        | **32 920**                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Netherlands                       | 12 325                            |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **Germany**                       | **37 449**                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Italy                             | 5 394                             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **U.K.**                          | **27 236**                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Ireland                           | 232                               |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Denmark                           | 7 855                             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Greece                            | 1 653                             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Portugal                          | 10 781                            |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **Spain**                         | **28 835**                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Belgium                           | 2 467                             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Luxembourg                        | 6                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Sweden                            | 1 070                             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Finland                           | 43                                |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Austria                           | 5                                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **TOTAL EU-15**                   | **168 264**                       |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

Source: Eurostat

Significant volumes of frozen albacore were imported by Spain; of Alaska
Pollack by Germany, France and U.K.; of surimi by France and Spain and
of canned salmon by U.K. Italy, France and Spain were the main importers
of live U.S. lobster.

+------------------------+----------+---------+----------+-----------+
| **MAIN U.S. FISH &     |          |         |          |           |
| FISHERY PRODUCTS - BY  |          |         |          |           |
| MAJOR IMPORTING EU     |          |         |          |           |
| MEMBER STATES -- CY    |          |         |          |           |
| 2003**                 |          |         |          |           |
+------------------------+----------+---------+----------+-----------+
| **Product**            | **CN     | *       | **Volume | **Value** |
|                        | Code**   | *Member | (MT)**   |           |
|                        |          | State** |          | **(1,000  |
|                        |          |         |          | EUR)**    |
+------------------------+----------+---------+----------+-----------+
| Frozen whole           | 0303 41  | Spain   | 10 530   | 18 006    |
| albacore/longfinned    | 11       |         |          |           |
| tuna for processing    |          |         |          |           |
+------------------------+----------+---------+----------+-----------+
| Frozen fillets of      | 0304 20  | Germany | 31 146   | 65 543    |
| Alaska Pollack         | 85       |         |          |           |
|                        |          | France  | 7 730    | 16 784    |
|                        |          |         |          |           |
|                        |          | U.K.    | 7 096    | 15 419    |
+------------------------+----------+---------+----------+-----------+
| Frozen meat of Alaska  | 0304 90  | Germany | 2 555    | 2 922     |
| Pollack                | 61       |         |          |           |
|                        |          | U.K.    | 2 241    | 3 089     |
|                        |          |         |          |           |
|                        |          | France  | 2 157    | 2 486     |
+------------------------+----------+---------+----------+-----------+
| Surimi                 | 0304 90  | France  | 8 510    | 15 182    |
|                        | 05       |         |          |           |
|                        |          | Spain   | 3 893    | 6 996     |
+------------------------+----------+---------+----------+-----------+
| Canned Salmon          | 1604 11  | U.K.    | 13 805   | 48 374    |
|                        | 00       |         |          |           |
+------------------------+----------+---------+----------+-----------+
| Live Lobster           | 0306 22  | Italy   | 2 662    | 33 487    |
|                        | 10       |         |          |           |
|                        |          | Spain   | 1 559    | 18 603    |
|                        |          |         |          |           |
|                        |          | France  | 1 549    | 19 240    |
+------------------------+----------+---------+----------+-----------+

Source: Eurostat

  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
  **TOTAL EU IMPORTS OF                           
  U.S. FISH & FISHERY                             
  PRODUCTS -- BY CATEGORY                         
  -- CY 2003**                                    

  **Category**            **Metric Tons**         **Value (1,000 EUR)**

  Salmon                  16 772                  28 765

  Canned Salmon           16 952                  56 371

  Groundfish              18 652                  40 123

  Groundfish Fillets      58 338                  122 541

  Flatfish                379                     1 667

  Lobster                 6 723                   83 505

  Squid / Cuttlefish      7 651                   12 480
  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

Source: Eurostat

In calendar year 2003, the U.S. was one of the main suppliers to the EU
of canned salmon groundfish fillets and lobster. EU imports from the
U.S. and its share of total EU imports were as follows: salmon 16,772 MT
(6%), canned salmon 16,952 MT (60%), groundfish 18,652 MT (6%),
groundfish fillets 58,338 MT (15%), flatfish 379 MT (1%), lobster 6,723
MT (32%) and squid/cuttlefish 7,651 MT (3%).

In 2003, EU imports of groundfish fillets from the U.S. fell by almost
30%. EU imports from the U.S. had almost doubled in 2002 when imports of
certain fishery products from China were banned following the detection
of the antibiotic chloramphenicol. The ban was lifted in 2002 allowing
China to resume its position as leading supplier to the EU in 2003.

The U.S. is one of the major suppliers of lobster to the EU with Canada
being its main competitor. In 2003, the U.S. supplied 6,723 MT of
lobster to the EU with a value of EUR 84 million. The most significant
decrease was noted for lobster from Cuba (-38%) and Peru (-24%).

With a market share of 82%, Norway dominates the EU market for fresh
salmon. Imports from Norway increased by 14% compared to 2002, while
imports from Chile decreased by 83%. Chile is moving from exporting
fresh salmon parts for the processing industry to canning the salmon
themselves. The U.S. lost 27% of its share of the EU canned salmon
market to Thailand and China.

# SECTION II: STATISTICAL TABLES

**EU-15 IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS: JANUARY-DECEMBER
2003 & 2002 (Source: Eurostat)**

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------
  **Product: Salmon                                                  
  (excl. fillets)                                                    
  (in Metric                                                         
  Tons)**                                                            

  **Destination**   **Exports               **Origin**   **Imports   
                    from the                             into the    
                    EU-15**                              EU-15**     

                    **2003**    **2002**                 **2003**    **2002**

  U.S.              13 968      6 100       U.S.         16 772      17 160

  Japan             3 371       1 503       Norway       246 060     216 264

  Canada            1 056                   Faroe Isles  31 076      28 707

  Switzerland       783         668         Canada       4 932       3 395

  Taiwan            768         316         Iceland      1 060       328

  Lebanon           476         328         China        577         111

  Bulgaria          342                     Poland       425         488

  Czech Rep.        335         392         Chile        271         1 586

  Sth Korea         287                     Argentina    37          

  Russia            275         923         Colombia     33          116

  Total third       24 508      13 237      Total third  301 405     268 481
  countries                                 countries                
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------
  **Product: Canned                                                  
  Salmon (in Metric                                                  
  Tons)**                                                            

  **Destination**   **Exports               **Origin**   **Imports   
                    from the                             into the    
                    EU-15**                              EU-15**     

                    **2003**    **2002**                 **2003**    **2002**

  U.S.              47          33          U.S.         16 952      23 082

  Switzerland       96          89          Canada       8 388       9 287

  Norway            39          70          Thailand     1 094       739

  Hungary           24          15          Chile        783         800

  Slovenia          21                      Norway       562         679

  Hong Kong         17                      China        198         

  Singapore         17                      Sth Korea    192         374

  Russia            15          16          Iceland      58          69

  Malta             13                      Malaysia     47          

  Australia         13                      Poland       30          49

  Total third       454         399         Total third  28 375      35 269
  countries                                 countries                
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------
  **Product:                                                         
  Groundfish (in                                                     
  Metric Tons)**                                                     

  **Destination**   **Exports               **Origin**   **Imports   
                    from the                             into the    
                    EU-15**                              EU-15**     

                    **2003**    **2002**                 **2003**    **2002**

  U.S.              307         292         U.S.         18 652      15 582

  China             6 805       1 854       Norway       64 276      57 226

  Algeria           2 783       1 229       Russia       60 173      71 244

  Jordan            2 316       870         Faroe Isles  35 813      33 283

  Ukraine           1 727                   Sth Africa   35 487      37 450

  Israel            1 666       343         Namibia      22 493      27 516

  Lithuania         1 615       297         Chile        19 534      19 820

  Canada            992         317         Argentina    19 242      20 551

  Russia            712                     Iceland      16 936      11 657

  Croatia           516                     Canada       7 165       9 291

  Total third       24 055      9 031       Total third  325 825     325 292
  countries                                 countries                
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------
  **Product:                                                         
  Groundfish                                                         
  Fillets (in                                                        
  Metric Tons)**                                                     

  **Destination**   **Exports               **Origin**   **Imports   
                    from the                             into the    
                    EU-15**                              EU-15**     

                    **2003**    **2002**                 **2003**    **2002**

  U.S.              511         1 050       U.S.         58 338      83 214

  Switzerland       1 193       1 224       China        114 527     70 247

  Norway            669         430         Russia       59 842      70 758

  China             453         138         Iceland      52 548      46 821

  Russia            387         258         Norway       38 355      38 110

  Algeria           287         331         Faroe Isles  18 070      22 428

  Slovakia          271         103         Poland       14 988      12 397

  Iceland           225                     Chile        12 254      12 231

  Poland            200         214         Lithuania    2 525       

  Czech Rep.        171         321         Greenland    1 865       1 884

  Total third       5 754       5 337       Total third  380 466     376 189
  countries                                 countries                
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------
  **Product:                                                         
  Flatfish (in                                                       
  Metric Tons)**                                                     

  **Destination**   **Exports               **Origin**   **Imports   
                    from the                             into the    
                    EU-15**                              EU-15**     

                    **2003**    **2002**                 **2003**    **2002**

  U.S.              964         2 287       U.S.         379         324

  Taiwan            7 189       4 455       Greenland    12 978      7 887

  Japan             7 010       8 356       Norway       7 340       7 899

  China             5 053       4 490       Morocco      6 651       6 035

  Hong Kong         1 683       882         Faroe Isles  4 058       3 864

  Morocco           982         730         Iceland      3 831       2 793

  Malta             351                     Senegal      3 608       1 968

  Sth Korea         338         284         Mauritania   1 573       2 554

  Switzerland       291         330         China        1 380       1 181

  Poland            283         2 173       Sth Korea    1 165       

  Total third       25 441      26 327      Total third  46 515      39 355
  countries                                 countries                
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------
  **Product:                                                         
  Lobster (in                                                        
  Metric Tons)**                                                     

  **Destination**   **Exports               **Origin**   **Imports   
                    from the                             into the    
                    EU-15**                              EU-15**     

                    **2003**    **2002**                 **2003**    **2002**

  U.S.              11          27          U.S.         6 723       6 688

  Japan             306         349         Canada       7 811       7 556

  Sth Korea         68          24          Cuba         2 070       3 337

  Switzerland       48          32          Bahamas      1 030       892

  China             35          25          Sth Africa   326         212

  Russia            33          6           El Salvador  263         250

  Norway            28          51          Australia    259         

  Canada            12                      Morocco      250         272

  Czech Rep.        11          13          Mauritania   168         149

  Slovenia          10                      Peru         155         203

  Total third       634         627         Total third  20 910      20 925
  countries                                 countries                
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------
  **Product: Squid                                                   
  / Cuttlefish (in                                                   
  Metric Tons)**                                                     

  **Destination**   **Exports               **Origin**   **Imports   
                    from the                             into the    
                    EU-15**                              EU-15**     

                    **2003**    **2002**                 **2003**    **2002**

  U.S.              152         111         U.S.         7 651       12 220

  Croatia           4 251       4 762       India        55 253      48 507

  Slovenia          1 689       1 747       Falkland     41 721      33 076
                                            Isl.                     

  China             1 238       568         Thailand     40 127      34 363

  Sth Africa        1 146       1 249       Peru         16 929      8 114

  Turkey            1 091       711         China        16 840      14 805

  Algeria           664         694         New Zealand  12 891      12 959

  Russia            438         480         Morocco      12 397      21 852

  Japan             363         721         Sth Africa   10 592      7 144

  Switzerland       310                     Vietnam      9 326       5 773

  Total third       14 428      15 439      Total third  274 208     242 254
  countries                                 countries                
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------

# GLOSSARY & SOURCES

APHIS Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

CFP Common Fisheries Policy

CN Combined Nomenclature (tariff codes)

CY Calendar Year

DG Directorate General

EAN European Article Numbering

EU European Union

FDA Food & Drug Administration

HS Harmonized System (tariff codes)

HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point

ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

MT Metric Ton (1000 kg)

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service

NSRAC North Sea Regional Advisory Council

STECF Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries

TAC Total Allowable Catch

U.K. United Kingdom

U.S. United States

VEA Veterinary Equivalency Agreement

WTO World Trade Organization

WWF World Wide Fund for Nature

Exchange Rates:

2003: 1 Euro = 1.130865 U.S. Dollar

2002: 1 Euro = 0.944905 U.S. Dollar

EU Legislation:

The referenced legislation can be downloaded from the Internet at
<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/en/index.htm>.

Sources:

European Commission -- DG Fisheries, DG Health & Consumer Protection

Eurostat

Seafood International

**Visit our website:** our website
**[www.useu.be/agri/usda.html]{.underline}** provides a broad range of
useful information on EU import rules and food laws and allows easy
access to USEU reports, trade information and other practical
information.

EU Fishery Products reports prepared by the individual EU member states
and information on EU seafood import regulations can be found on our
website at
[www.useu.be/agri/seafood2.html](http://www.useu.be/agri/seafood2.html).

E-mail: AgUSEUBrussels@usda.gov.

**Related reports from USEU Brussels:**

  ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------
  **Report Number**                                            **Title**                            **Date Released**

  E34041                                                       New European Fisheries Fund          7/30/2004

  E34007                                                       Common Fisheries Policy -- New EU    4/29/2004
                                                               member states                        

  E24009                                                       EU Annual Fishery Products Report    1/14/2004

  These reports can be accessed through our website                                                 
  [www.useu.be/agri](http://www.useu.be/agri) or through the                                        
  FAS website                                                                                       
  <http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/default.asp>.                                        
  ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------