Community aid programmes in this area were created in 1977. At first their aim was to use improvements in processing as an indirect means of helping the catching sector. However, since 1987 the emphasis has been put on promoting new technologies and innovative projects, improving hygiene conditions and putting struggling processing factories to different uses. The consumption of processed fish products, especially in the form of prepared meals, has increased in the Community. New technologies, tougher food hygiene and environmental regulations are imposing severe demands on businesses.
Aid is available for projects involving new methods and products.
To ensure regular stocks of the variety of fish and shellfish products needed, the Community has to rely on imports. Support from the structural policy Processing Community funding can help finance projects which involve new methods and products and add value to the goods. Marketing Structures required to market fish include, among other things, fish auctions, cold storage facilities and wholesale markets. The Community has helped finance the development of such facilities, especially to improve implementation of hygiene regulations. Equipment used to collect and transmit data electronically has also attracted support.