WRITTEN QUESTION E-0016/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Mussel farming in the EU.
Date: 2001-01-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: food inspection, health legislation, shellfish farming, standardisation

C 235 E/88

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

used for products whose quality or characteristics are due to a particular geographical environment
(including natural and human factors) or whose reputation is attributable to that geographical origin. The
Regulation applies to all agricultural products intended for human consumption referred to in Annex I to
the EC Treaty (cid:129) i.e. including fish, crustaceans and molluscs.

The Regulation, which introduces a Community procedure for geographical product name registration
based on producers applying jointly and mandatorily describing their products in a specification, also lays
down an inspection system and defines the Community protection accorded by registration.

The Commission has indeed received an application from the Spanish authorities regarding registration of
the name in question as a protected designation of origin, for which the product(cid:146)s characteristics must be
essentially or exclusively due to the defined geographical area. Further information has already been
requested with a view to completing examination of the application.

The Community rules encourage the development of labels and generally of measures to promote the
quality of fishery products. Contributions towards the cost of registering labels may be made under
Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and
arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (2), Article 14 of which
stipulates that Member States may, under the conditions specified in Annex III, take measures to encourage
collective operations to find and promote new market outlets for fishery and aquaculture products,
including operations associated with quality certification, product labelling, rationalisation of product
names and product standardisation; the Community financial assistance is chargeable to the financial
instrument for fisheries guidance (FIFG).

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(2001/C 235 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0016/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Mussel farming in the EU

Mussel farming is of vital importance in the coastal region of Galicia, where there are some 11 500 jobs
directly linked to the sector, of which 8 500 are permanent, as well as 7 000 jobs indirectly related to it.
This is particularly important, bearing in mind that the resources generated by mussel production are
spread across a broad social base and that decisions are taken locally, with the result that funds are
reinvested in the region.

This has a multiplier effect on the local economy, helping to produce socio-economic stability.

As far as aquaculture in general is concerned it is mussel farming which is the backbone of the sector,
since between 250 and 300 million kilos of mussels are cultivated annually in Galicia, making it the
world(cid:146)s second largest producer after China and the leading European producer, accounting for 50 % of
total EU production, with 35 % being sold fresh, 41 % earmarked for traditional processing and 24 % for
new alternative processing methods, which are increasingly popular.

Does the Commission not think that the various rules applicable in the EU should be standardised, such as
those on biotoxin controls, where the methods and processes used differ from one Member State to
another?

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/89

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2001)

The Commission is sending the Honourable Member and Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat a list of the Community
legislation directly applicable in this sector.

On the second question, the Commission considers that standardisation concerning marine biotoxins is
very important in view of their significance to human health. Major efforts are being made to develop
standardised methods for this purpose. This is being done with the collaboration of the Community
Reference Laboratory for marine biotoxins in Vigo, Spain.

(2001/C 235 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0018/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Mussel farming in the EU

Mussel farming is of vital importance in the coastal region of Galicia, where there are some 11 500 jobs
directly linked to the sector, of which 8 500 are permanent, as well as 7 000 jobs indirectly related to it.
This is particularly important, bearing in mind that the resources generated by mussel production are
spread across a broad social base and that decisions are taken locally, with the result that funds are
reinvested in the region. This has a multiplier effect on the local economy, helping to produce socio-
economic stability.

As far as aquaculture in general is concerned it is mussel farming which is the backbone of the sector,
since between 250 and 300 million kilos of mussels are cultivated annually in Galicia, making it the
world(cid:146)s second largest producer after China and the leading European producer, accounting for 50 % of
total EU production, with 35 % being sold fresh, 41 % earmarked for traditional processing and 24 % for
new alternative processing methods, which are increasingly popular.

The mussel farming management board in Galicia has already applied for a protected designation of origin
(PDO) for this product, which would serve as a world-wide standard since it would be the first ever
awarded to a seafood product.

In order to provide better protection of EU consumers, does the Commission not think that this PDO
would make a fundamental contribution to identifying the mussel as a high-quality final product or
ingredient of other finished products?

What measures has the EU taken, or will it take, to boost demand for quality mussels in the European
market and facilitate identification of this product, thereby preventing errors or confusion over identity
that might benefit non-EU producers of inferior quality products or products which do not meet the
minimum health and safety standards of the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2001)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission(cid:146)s answers to his Written Questions E-0013/01 (1)
and E-0016/01 (2).

(1) See p. 87.
(2) See p. 88.