CELEX: 51988PC0684
Language: en
Date: 1988-12-02
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 103/76 laying down common marketing standards for certain fresh or chilled fish (presented by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (88) 684
Vol. 1988/0224
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 concernant
l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique européenne et de
la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, p. 1) modifié en dernier
lieu par le règlement (UE) 2015/496 du Conseil du 17 mars 2015 (JO L79 du 25. 3.2015, p. 1), ce
dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents classifiés présents dans ce dossier
ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit règlement ou sont considérés déclassifiés
conformément aux articles 26(3) et 59(2) de la décision (UE, Euratom) 2015/444 de la
Commission du 13 mars 2015 concernant les règles de sécurité aux fins de la protection des
informations classifiées de l'Union européenne.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning
the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the
European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as last amended by Council
Regulation (EU) 2015/496 of 17 March 2015 (OJ L 79, 27.3.2015, p. 1), this file is open to the
public. Where necessary, classified documents in this file have been declassified in conformity
with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation or are considered declassified in conformity with
Articles (26.3) and 59(2) of the Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 of 13 March 2015
on the security rules for protecting EU classified information.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1. Februar
1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und
der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983, S. 1), zuletzt geändert durch die
Verordnung (EU) Nr. 2015/496 vom 17. März 2015 (ABI. L 79 vom 25.3.2015, S. 1), ist dieser Akt
der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in diesem Akt in
Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 der genannten Verordnung freigegeben; beziehungsweise werden
sie auf Grundlage von Artikel 26(3) und 59(2) der Entscheidung der Kommission (EU, Euratom)
2015/444 vom      13.   März 2015     über die   Sicherheitsvorschriften für den Schutz von  EU-
Verschlusssachen als herabgestuft angesehen.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                COM(88 ) 684 final
                                                Brussels , 2 December 1988
                                14 15
                             OA-S            F^l
                    51                       S
                    ^
                       к               ^ is
                         N^/Proposal Tor'a
                         X^/Proposa     for a
                        COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC )
                        COUNCIL'REGULATION
  amending Regulation ( EEC ) No 103 / 76 laying down common marketing
            standards for certain fresh or chilled fish
                     (presented by the Commission )
 ---pagebreak---                                    CXPLANATOWY NC NORANOUN
1. The common organisation of the market in fishery products provides
   the    application        of    common     marketing       standards      to   the   products
   concerned .       These standards keep products of unsat isfsctory quality
   off    the    market      and     facilitate       trade     relations       based   on     fair
   competition , thus helping to improve the profitability of production .
   Experience       has    shown     that     the    common     marketing     standard      scheme
   adopted     in    1976    for    the    most   important      fresh   products     has    to   be
   improved to meet the new challenges on the market and to take into
   account     the    development       in production        and c ommerc ia 1 1 aat ion of the
   last years .        In particular the necessary measures must be taken to
   improve      the    quality      of    fish    and    to    assure    s   more    homogeneous
   application        of   the    standard     scheme     in   the   Community      facilitating
   intra trade within the Community .
2. The organolept ical examination of fish constitutes an adequate method
   to grade fish both rapidly and cheaply .                   The present Regulation ( EEC )
   n’   103 / 76 provides for the grading ,                a freshness rating as regards
    appearance , condition and smell .               Each part examined shall be awarded
   marks     corresponding         to    the    freshness      criteria     Indicated      in    the
    sc ale .     The     arithmetic       mean    of   the    marks    awarded     indicate      the
    freshness degree .
    The arithmetic method for the calculation of each different                         freshness
    degree does not permit a sufficiently rapid grading in particular if
    large quantities are destined for sale and does not ensure a correct
    and homogeneous grading in the Community .
    The Commission proposes to replace the present arithmetic scheme by
    the   introduction        of   minimum     freshness      criteria     for   each   freshness
    category     in order        to   simplify     the grading       and    to strengthen the
    requirements for the freshness categories .
 ---pagebreak---                                           2 -
The present regulation ( EEC ) N * 103 / 76 ( Article 6 ) stipulates that
the presence of parasites is taken into account for the purpose of
grading .    According      to  the    view of     the  Commission      this provision
9hould be more precise .         The Commission has already submitted to the
Council a proposal for a Council Regulation ( EEC ) laying down health
conditions    for    the   marketing     of   fish   and fish products concerning
nematodes ( C0M(88)47 final ).          The provisions of the grading scheme as
regards the presence of parasites have to be adapted with a view to
contributing ito a coherent solution of the existing problem .
The use of ice or other appropriate means of cooling on board of the
vessels   are    an   important     element     for   the   conservation      of  a  high
freshness degree of fish . The Commission proposes therefore that                      if
fish   is  iced    or   cooled   by   other     appropriate      means   on   board  that
justifies the presumption of high quality and a less severe checking
for the grading .
Subject   to   the common      marketing      standards     according      freshness  and
size categories        are   those    species     listed    in   Article    3  and which
benefit from the price support scheme of the common organization of
 the market    in   rialiory products .        The Commission believes that          aloo
the commercialisation          of    other     fish   which     is of unaat iaf so t ory
quality can disturb the market of fishery products as a whole and
undermine the confidence of the consumer                 in the high importance of
 fish for healthy eating .        The Commission therefore proposes to extend
 the  organolept ic al      examination      as    regards     the  minimum     freshness
 requirements also to these species . This contributes to a harmonised
 application of minimum freshness criteria                for all    fish   in the whole
 Community .
 The  experience      of   the   specific      sampling     scheme     for   herring  and
mackerel justifies         the  introduction under certain conditiona of a
 similar scheme for other pelagic species .
                                                                        /...
 ---pagebreak---                                       -3-
 7.  txperience has shown Hist Article 9 of the present grading scheme
     which obliges the industry itself to grade the fish does not assure a
     sufficiently correct and homogeneous application of the scheme .   It
     seems advisable to specify that the grading is done by experts
     together with the industry and that the experts are agreed by the
     public authorities of the Member States for this purpose .
it . I lie revised text also provides for the new species benefiting from
     the autonomous withdrawal scheme ( Article 14b of the common
     organisation of the market in fishery products ) the introduction of
     common marketing standards .
                                                                           A
 ---pagebreak---                                       Proposal for a
                             COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC )
amending      Regulation     ( EEC )    N°  103 /76     laying   down    common   marketing
standards for certain fresh or chilled fish
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
Having regard to Counci l Regulation ( EEC ) No 3796 /81 of 29 December 1981 on the
common organization of the market in fishery products { 1 ) , as last
amended by Regulation ( EEC ) No 3468 / 88 ( 2 ), and in particular Article
2(3 ) thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
Whereas Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 103 / 76 ( 3 ), as last amended by Regulation
( EEC ) No 3940 / 87 ( 4 ), laid down common marketing standards for certain fresh
or chi lied fish ;
Whereas     Article    14b of      Regulation      ( EEC )  No  3796 /81   provides   for  a
flat-rate      aid  scheme      for    the  species       listed in Annex VI       to   that
Regulation and common            standards    must     be   laid down     for  the  species
concerned to enable it to be applied ; whereas those species must therefore
be covered by the provisions of Regulation ( EEC ) No 103 / 76 .
( 1 ) OJ NO L 379 , 31.12.1981 , p. 1 .
 ( 2 ) OJ No L 305 , 10.11.1988 , p. 1 .
 ( 3 ) OJ No L 20 , 28.1.1976 , p. 29 .
 (4)         OJ        No           L        373 ,          31.12.1987 ,        p.        6.
 ---pagebreak---                                        2
Whereas experience has shown the need to simplify the common marketing
standards to ensure that they are applied more uniformly throughout the
Community ; whereas the arithmetic rating method should therefore be
discontinued and minimum requirements introduced that will help raise the
quality of the fish in each freshness category ;
 Whereas in the assessment of fish quality freshness is decisive ; whereas
rules for   assessing freshness should therefore be specified ;
Whereas the presence of visible parasites affects the commercial value of
products put up for sale ; whereas it is necessary to specify how the
presence of parasites is to be taken into account when classifying fish
into the various freshness categories ;
Whereas provision should      be  made    for the application of sampling
arrangements to pelagic species other than mackerel and herring ; whereas
the   Commission  should    consequently be authorised to adopt rules of
application in regard to the species to be covered by those arrangements ;
Whereas it is necessary to prevent the market in fishery products from
being disturbed by the marketing of species of an unsatisfactory quality
liable to deter consumers from purchasing these products ; whereas
certain minimum freshness criteria for marketing for human consumption
should be laid down for all species ;
Whereas the correct and uniform application of common marketing standards
in the Community is of particular importance for the proper functioning
of the common organisation of the market . in fishery products ; whereas it
is therefore necessary to make Member States more responsible for the
process of classifying fish in the various freshness and size categories ;
Whereas Regulation ( EEC ) No 103 /76 should therefore be amended ,
HAS             ADOPTED              THIS            REGULATION           :
 ---pagebreak---                                           3
                                    Article 1
Regulation ( EEC ) N° 103 / 76 is hereby amended as follows :
1 . Article 3 is replaced by the following :
                                     " Article 3
Marketing standards are hereby laid down for the following species of
saltwater    fish ,  falling    within    heading    0302   of the combined
nomenclature , with the exception of fish meat :
    Plaice ( Pleuronectes platessa )
    Albacore ( Thunnus alalunga )
    Bluefin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus )
    Bigeye tuna ( Thunnus or parathunnus obesus )
 -  Herrings of the species Clupea harengus
    Cod of the species Gadus marhua
    Sardines of the species Sardina pilchardus
    Haddock ( Melanogrammus aeglefinus )
    Coalfish ( Pollachius virens )
    Pollack ( Pollachius pollachius )
 ---pagebreak---                                   4
Mackerel of the species Scomber scombrus
Mackrel of the species Scomber japonicus
Horse mackerel ( Trachurus spp .)
Picked dogfish ( Squalus acanthias )
Catsharks ( Scyliorhinus spp .)
Redfish ( Sebastes spp .)
Whiting ( Merlangus merlangus )
Blue Whiting ( Micromesistius poutassou or Gadus poutassou )
Ling ( Molva spp . )
Anchois ( Engraulis spp .)
Hake of the species Merluccius merluccius
Megrim ( Lepidorhombus spp .)
Breams ( Brama spp . )
Monkfish ( Lophius spp .)
 Dab ( Limanda limanda )
                                                             t
Lemon sole ( Microstomus kitt )
 Pout ( Trisopterus luscus )
 Bogue ( Boops boops )
 Picarei ( Maena smaris )
                                                               S
 ---pagebreak---                                         5
-   Conger eel ( Con ger conger )
    Gurnard ( Trigla spp . )
    Mullet ( Mugil spp .)
    Skates ( Raja spp .)"
2.   The third paragraph of Article 5     is replaced by the following :
     " On the basis of the freshness ratings in Annex A , fish shall be
classified by lot in freshness categories 'Extra' , A or B ".
3.   Article 6 is replaced by the following :
                                   " Artide 6
1.   Fish in freshness categories 'Extra' , A or      B shall attain at least
the freshness ratings fixed for the category concerned in Annex A.
2.   Fish in freshness category 'Extra' must be free from pressure marks ,
injuries , blemishes and bad discoloration .
3.   Fish in freshness category A must be free from blemishes and bad
discoloration .     A very small proportion with       slight pressure marks
and superficial injuries shall be tolerated .
4.    For freshness category B a very small proportion of fish showing
stronger pressure marks and slight injuries shall be tolerated .         Fish
must be free of blemishes and bad discolouration .      Fish the freshness of
the   skin  and eyes    of   which in some respects falls under the      " not
admitted" heading in Annex A but are not in a more advanced state of
decay may be classified in category B.
 ---pagebreak---                                         6
 5.   For the purpose of classifying products into the various freshness
 categories , without predjudice to the applicable health rules , account
 shall also be taken of the presence of parasites and their adverse effect
 on the quality of the products having regard to their nature and
presentation .
 6.   Fish taken by vessels the average voyage duration of which is more
 than one   day that   were  not put    on ice  after  capture or  given
 equivalent treatment guaranteeing their freshness may not be classified
 in categories Extra or    A  unless   appropriate  inspection  so permits ."
4.   Article 8a becomes Article 9 and in the first line the words " herring
 and mackerel " are replaced by " pelagic fish ".
5.     Article 11 becomes Article 10 and in paragraph 1(a ) " and 8 " is
 replaced by "8 and 9 ".
6.   Article 9 becomes Article 11 and is amended to read :
                                  " Article 1 1
 Classification of fish , including the fish referred to in Article 10(2 ),
 into freshness and size categories shall be undertaken by experts
 approved for this purpose by the competent authorities of the Member States .
 The    experts shall     work on the basis of provisional classification
 carried out by workers in the fish production industry ."
 ---pagebreak--- 7.    Article 10 becomes Article 12 and is amended to read :
                                  " Article 12
Each Member State shall provide       the    Commission and , at their request ,
other    Member  States  with a  list    of   the  names  and addresses    of   the
experts referred to in Article 11 ."
8.    The following Article 13 is added :
                                  " Article 13
Saltwater fish falling under heading 0302 of the combined nomenclature
that are not mentioned in       Article    3   may not   be marketed   for    human
consumption within the Community if their freshness rating is equal to or
below the " not admitted " level indicated in annex A.       The relevant
inspections shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of
Article 11 ."
9.    The following Article 14 is added :
                                  " Article    14
Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation shall be adopted in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 33 of Regulation ( EEC )
No 3796 /81 "
 10 . Article 12 is deleted .
 ---pagebreak---                                      8
11 . Artide 13 becomes Artide 15 .
12 . Annex A is replaced in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation .
13 . The table given in Annex IX hereto is added to Annex B.
                                 Artide 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
in all Member States .
Done at Brussels ,                                    For the Council
                                                       The President
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                                          Annex I
                                              llANNCX A
                                          FRESHNCS5 NATINGS
                                                         CNMLRIA
                                 EXTRA                        A                       •
                                                                                                         NOT ADMITTED
categorica
                                                        APPEARANCE
       I .         Bright , Irldaacant            Plgacntction bright     Plgaantation in tha           Dull plgaantation ( 1 ):
SKIN               pigaantationi do               but not luotrousi       prooaaa of boeoalng
                   dlacoloration )                                        dlaeolourad and dull !
                   Αηιι » nu * , tranaparanl      Slightly cloudy nuouo   Milky aucua                   Opaqua atm ua
                   • ucu·
C VE                Convti ( bulging )}           Convex and allghtly     Fiati                          Concovo in tha
                                                  aunken )                                               eantra              CD
                    Tran apa rant cornea |        Slightly opalaoeant                                    Milky corn··
                                                  cornea |
                    Black , bright pupil          Black , dull pupil                                     Cray pupil
GILLS               Bright eelourt                Leao coloured !         Baeoalng                       Yallowlah          (I )
                                                                          dlaeolourad !
                                                  Slight trae·· of clear Opaguo aucua                    M'llky aucua
                    No Bueuo                      auc ua
F4.ESH              Bluloh , tranalucant ,        velvety , waxy , dull !  Slightly opaguo               Opaguo              ( 1)
( cut fro «         • aooth ahlnlng
abdoaen )           No changa In original         Colour allghtly
                    colour                        changed
                                                                                                          Rod
THE VERTEBRAL       Uncolourad                     Slightly pink          Pink
                                                                                                                              ( 1)
                                                  Kidney· and raalduao     Kldnaya , raolduoa of         Kldnoya(l ), reeldoaa
ORGANS·             of othar organa ahould         of other organa         othor ergono ond               of othor organo and
     *              ba bright rad , aa             ahould bo dull rod !    blood ohould bo polo          blood ahould ba
                    ahould tha blood inalda blood bocoolng                 rad                            brownlah in colour
                    tha aorta                      dlaeolourad
                              ■■  ■
                                                         CONDITION
        I .         Firn and alaatie               la·· alaatie            Slightly aof t ( f lace id )   Soft ( ricccld )    (1 )
FLESH                                                                      La·· elaetlei                  Seal·· oeally detached
                                                                                                          from akin , eurfacr
                                                                                                          rathor wrinkled
                    Smooth OutfOCè ;· -                                    Waxy ( velvety ) and
                                                                           dull aurfaea                   inclining to aealy
VERTEBRAL           Braaka lnataad of              Stick·                  Stick , « lightly              Ooaa not atlck       11 )
 COLUMN             coaing away
PERITONEUM
                    Sticka completely to           Stick·                  Stick· allghtly                Do·· not atlck      U)
                    f laah
                                                           SMELL
 GILLS , SKIN ,
 ABDOMINAL           Seaweed                       Not  aaall of oaawaad    Slightly rottan               Slightly rottan     (1)
 CAVITY                                            or any bad aaall
                                                   PRESENCE OF PARASITES
  SON .
 FLESH ,                                                                                                considerable ruitier ot
                   no sigi «F pirxit· «             a few signs- of            present                  carasites, widely ·
                                                    parasites                   parasites               distributed, visible,
                                                                                                        noticed . on
                                                                                                        classification
 ( X ) Or in • aore advencad atata of dac ay , 11
 ---pagebreak---                                         ANNEX II
                                       " SIZING
                  Dab                  Lemon sole          Albacore        Bluefin tuna
                kg/fish                   kg/fish           kg/fish           kg/fish
Size 1   0.25 and over          0.6 and over            4 and over         6 and over
Size 2   From 0.13 up to but    From 0.35 up to but     From 1.5 up to     From 4 up to
         excl . 0.25            excl . 0.6              but excl . 4       but excl . 6
Size 3                          From 0.18 up to but
                                excl . 0.35
             Bigeye tima                  Pollack        Blue Whiting            Pout
                kg/fish                   kg/fish       Number of fish         kg/fish
                                                            to kg
Size 1   1 0 and over           5 and over              7 or less          0.25 and over
Size 2   From 3.2 up to but     From 2.5 up to but      From 8 to 14       From 0.125 up
         excl .  10             excl .  5                                  to but excl .
                                                                           0.25
Size 3                          From 1.5 up to but      From 15 to 25      From 0.06 up
                                excl .  2.5                                to but excl .
                                                                           0.125
Size 4 –                        From 0,265 up to but    From 26 to 50
                                         1.5
                      Bogue                    Picarei                 Conger
              Number of fish to kg     Number of fish to kg            kg/fish
    Size 1    5 or less                20 or less             7 and over
    Size 2    6 to 31                  21 to 40               From 3 up to but
                                                              excl . 7
    Size 3    32 to 70                 41 to 90               From 0.5 up to but
                                                              excl . 3
 ---pagebreak---                                             Gurnard
                              Grey Gurnard            Other Gurnards
         Size 1         0 . 25 and over             1 and over
         Size 2         From 0.2 up to but          From 0.4 up to but
                        excl .  0.25                excl . 1
         Size 3                                     From 0.2 up to but
                                                    excl . 0.4
         Size 4                                     From 0.1 up to but
                                                    excl . 0.2
           Horse mackerel                      Mullet                   Skate
                 kg/ fish                      kg/fish                  kg/ fish
Size 1  0.6 and over                    1 and over               5 and over
Size 2  From 0.4 up to but              From 0.5 up to but       From 3 up to but
        excl .  0.6                     excl . 1                 excl . 5
Size 3  From 0.2 up to but              From 0.2 up to but       From 1 up to but
        excl .  0.4                     excl . 0.5               excl . 3
Size 4  From 0.12 up to but             From 0.1 up to but       From 0.3 up to but
        excl .  0.2                     excl . 0.2               excl . 1
Size 5  From 0,02 up to but
        excl .  0.12
           Skate ( flies )
               kg/ fish
Size 1         3 and over
Size 2 From 0.6 up to but excl .
                     3
Size 3
Size 4
Size 5