Council Regulation (EEC) No 104/76 of 19 January 1976 laying down common marketing standards for shrimps of the genus "Crangon" sp.p.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 104/76 of 19 January 1976 laying down common marketing standards for shrimps of the genus "Crangon" sp.p.
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 100/76 of 19 January 1976 on the common organization of the market fishery products (1), and in particular Article 2 (3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 100/76 provides that common marketing standards may be laid down ; whereas the application of such standards should help to improve the quality of shrimps marketed and thus facilitate their sale;
Whereas one way of improving quality is to prohibit the marketing for human consumption of shrimps which are not of a given degree of freshness or of a given size;
Whereas virtually all Community shrimps are boiled in water immediately after being caught to prevent any deterioration in their freshness ; whereas it is therefore advisable as a first priority to lay down standards for shrimps simply boiled in water;
Whereas, in almost all Member States engaged in sea fishing, shrimps which have been adjudged fit for human consumption under national regulations are offered for sale after grading by size ; whereas shrimps are also graded according to degree of freshness;
Whereas the adoption of standards for shrimps has assumed particular importance in view of the measures on the determination and formation of prices provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 100/76 ; whereas the grading hitherto carried out at national level should therefore be standardized;
Whereas shrimps have hitherto been graded only before being sold for the first time, since a large proportion of such shrimps is immediately shelled or otherwise processed ; whereas application of common standards should therefore be limited to the first marketing stage in the Community;
Whereas the standards must apply to all shrimps intended for human consumption, including imported shrimps, marketed on the territory of the Member States of the Community ; whereas the limitation of the obligation incumbent on the industry to shrimps intended for human consumption enables a clearer and more rapid distinction to be made between products which are permitted for human consumption and which, being used for that purpose, are therefore subject to grading, and other products ; whereas this will facilitate both marketing at the stage where standards are applied and the checking of compliance with these standards ; whereas it seems necessary, however, to exclude from the field of application of the standards certain direct sales of small quantities to retailers or consumers;
Whereas freshness is a decisive factor in assessing the quality of shrimps ; whereas grading by size is also essential because of the diversity of consumers' buying habits and the processing methods normally used in the Community;
Whereas there is at present no objective method of assessing the freshness of shrimps both rapidly and cheaply ; whereas only organoleptic examination, which is, moreover, in use in the Member States, meets this requirement and constitutes an acceptable method;
Whereas, in view of normal practice in most Member States, it is advisable that the industry should grade shrimps for freshness and size ; whereas, with a view in particular to assessing freshness by organoleptic criteria, provision should be made for the collaboration of experts appointed for this purpose by the trade organizations concerned;
(1) See page 1 of this Official Journal.  Whereas, in order to keep each other informed, each Member State should supply the other Member States and the Commission with a list of the names and addresses of the experts and trade organizations concerned;
Whereas it is essential that shrimps imported from third countries should conform to Community standards;
Whereas the application of Community standards to these shrimps means that additional information must be given on packages ; whereas, however, this information is not necessary in the case of shrimps landed in the Community direct from the fishing grounds from third country vessels, it being understood, however, that such shrimps may be marketed only in accordance with the provisions applicable to Community catches,