WRITTEN QUESTION E-0018/01 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: EU financing, FIFG, Galicia, designation of origin, mollusc, shellfish farming

21.8.2001

EN

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.