Fisk og forbrugere, et nyt initiativ fra EU og Levende Havs kommentarer dertil

Fisk og forbrugere

Udsendt 22.11.01

Kommentar til dette EU forslag, udfærdiget i jan. 2002.

Et vigtig kriterium ved denne ordning var at at forbrugerne skulle have oplysninger om fra hvilket farvandsområder de køber en fisk. Dette kriterium må siges at være noget udvandet. For danske forbrugere og farvande får det den betydning, at man kun får oplysninger om fisken kommer fra den østlige del af Østersøen. Resten af de danske farvande, inklusiv hele Nordsøen, kommer under en betegnelse. Det må siges at være et meget lavt informations niveau, så vi og forbrugerne må håbe på at ordningen snares bliver udvidet til mindst også at give oplysninger om de kendte farvandsområder som Storebælt, Kattegat, Skagerrak, Nordlige og sydlige del af Nordsøen m.m.

Fra starten af 2002 skal forbrugerne have flere oplysninger sammen med fisken. De skal bl.a. vide hvilken fisk (arter) de køber, dvs. vi må forvente at mystiske fisk som lakseørred, koteletfisk, kongeåll forsvinder fra køledisken. Vigtigt bliver det også, at forbrugerne nu skal have klar besked om de køber en vildtfanget fisk eller en fisk som er opdrættet i fangenskab.
Og som det vigtigste. Forbrugerne skal oplyses om, i hvilket farvand reglan online fisken er fanget. Dette sidste krav til fiskeprodukterne er særligt gode oplysninger, for med disse oplysninger kan man fravælge fisk fra farvande hvorfra buy fosamax man ikke ønsker at spise fisk, måske pga. af forureningen. Ligesom man kan tilvælge fisk fra de farvande, med de meste bæredygtige fiskebestande.

”Disse EU krav til fiskeprodukter hilser vi velkommen og vi opfatter dem som første skridt på vejen mod en mere omfattende mærkningsordning for fisk, en mærkning som også oplyser om fangsttidspunkt, hvem der har fanget fisken og med hvilke redskaber” siger projektleder Kurt Bertelsen Christensen.

Pressemeddelelse udsendt den 22.10.2001 fra DG 14 Fiskerikommissionen

Consumers to get more information on fisheries products

European Commission has adopted a Regulation requiring more detailed information for consumers about fisheries and aquaculture products. From 1 January 2002, a number of details will have to feature on these products specifying their names, origin and method of production. “The aim of this measure is to boost consumer choice. The new labelling requirement will inform consumers about the production method, the area and the exact name of the product they buy. It will strengthen the traceability of fisheries products. Consumers will find it easier to choose their fisheries products according to the criteria which matter to them. Greater traceability will also facilitate the buffalo pharmacy monitoring of fisheries products from the ship to the shop, enhancing conservation of fish stocks”, Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Fisheries said.

From 1 January of next year, all fisheries products on sale at retailers will have to be appropriately labelled with the following information

– the commercial name of the species

– the production methods, whether the product come from wild fisheries or aquaculture and

– the area where the fish was caught.

The commercial designation or name of the species will be that established in each Member State. The addition of the scientific name is left to the discretion of the operators concerned.

The production method will be indicated according to one of the following: “caught in…”, “caught in fresh water, “farmed” or “cultivated”. Member States may decide whether this information is required when the commercial designation and the area of capture make it obvious that the fish was caught at sea.

With regard to the information on the area, products caught at sea will have to show the area from a defined list. Products caught in freshwater will require a reference to the Member State or third country of origin of these products. As for farmed products, the reference will be to the Member State or third country in which the product undergoes the final development stage. Operators may choose to provide additional information on the catch area.

To facilitate traceability, at all stages of the marketing process, fisheries products will have to be labelled or accompanied by a document indicating the three sets of information described above as well as the scientific name of the products.

Background

These rules are part of the Common Organisation of the Market in fisheries and aquaculture products establishing, among other things, common marketing standards to these products. This is to keep products of unsatisfactory quality off the market and to ensure fair competition for traders.

Given the widening variety of supply, the EU considers it essential to provide consumers with a minimum of information on the characteristics of the fisheries and aquaculture products. The new requirement will meet this need and also facilitate the checks on the quality of these products.