These two scientific opinions form the key scientific input for this strategy. In determining measures, the most important objective for the Commission is the protection of public health by reducing the human exposure to dioxins and dioxin like PCBs. We will consult with Member States in the near future with a view to bringing forward our strategic proposals in 2001. The economic impact shall be considered but it must be clear that this cannot deteriorate the level of consumers' protection which is pursued by the Commission. There are though specific measures that will need to be taken.
Fish feed is one such case.
The fish concerned cannot continue to enter the food chain as they do at present. It seems clear that action will have to be taken concerning fish meal and fish oil sources from those areas in Europe where levels of contamination are high. This means that the industry concerned will have to adapt and all options for assisting it to do so need rapid examination. But in so far as there are limits to such processing, we probably will have to face the fact that certain fishing activities will need to be reduced and measures taken to assist the operators concerned to reduce their activities. I cannot enter at this stage into more details on the nature of the measures as the scientific opinions have become available only very recently.