WRITTEN QUESTION E-2194/02 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Industrial fishing geared to the processing of fish into meal.
Date: 2002-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal nutrition, common fisheries policy, environmental impact, fish product, fishery management, import policy, industrial fishing, supply

C 110 E/36

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.5.2003

(2003/C 110 E/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2194/02

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

Subject: Industrial fishing geared to the processing of fish into meal

(19 July 2002)

Given the alleged scarcity of Community fisheries resources and the drastic recovery plans which the
Commission intends to implement for certain species, does the Commission not consider it necessary to
reconsider the question of industrial fishing devoted exclusively to the processing of fish into meal for
animal feed?

Could the needs of the Community domestic market not be met by imports from third countries and by
European industries which process meal exclusively from fishery byproducts?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2002)

Fishing for reduction to fish meal should target fish for which there is no market for direct human
consumption.
like other types of fishing, will be subject to the conservation and
management measures developed under the Community framework programme (CFP), including multi-
annual management plans.

Industrial fishing,

The Commission has recently asked the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to carry
out an evaluation of the impact of industrial fishing on marine ecosystems. It will continue to monitor the
conduct of industrial fisheries to ensure that their impact on human consumption fish species and other
marine species remains low and improved management measures will be proposed as appropriate.

As regards the appropriateness of substituting Community production with imports the Honourable
Member is referred to the answer to his written question E-2192/02 (1).

It does not appear that the proportion of fish meal coming from processing byproducts can be increased
substantially at this time. In 2001 an estimated 170 000 tonnes of fish meal was produced by this sector.
The relative share of production from this source by Member State was: United Kingdom 26 %, Spain,
24 %, Denmark 17 %, Ireland 9,5 %, Sweden 9,5 %, France 7 % and Germany 7 %. There are indications that
this sector may reduce in size due to difficulties in meeting the requirements of Council Directive 2001/
102/EC (2). Because the raw material can come from many different sources and sampling is to be on a lot
basis, the dioxin limits could mean that some of this material will be debarred from use in animal nutrition
in the future.

(1) See page 35.
(2) Council Directive 2001/102/EC of 27 November 2001 amending Directive 1999/29/EC on the undesirable

substances and products in animal nutrition, OJ L 6, 10.1.2002.

(2003/C 110 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2263/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 July 2002)

Subject: Uniform definition of integrated crop production

Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (1) of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products
and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs lays down the conditions under
which agricultural products may be designated and advertised as organic.