EC asked to set higher standard for ecolabeling of seafood sold in EU

<p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly" class="MsoNormal"><span class="story1"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt">In an address this Wednesday to a high level conference, &#8216;Shaping the future of the Common Fisheries Policy', the report's author Struan Stevenson MEP will tell delegates, including EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki, that he will recommend the industry should sweep away the many differing and confusing eco-labels currently used and set a standard that consumers and the industry can more easily recognise and understand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly" class="MsoNormal"><span class="story1"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt">Commenting ahead of the speech, Struan Stevenson, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Common Market Organisation (CMO) of fisheries and aquaculture said: &#8220;Following extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, my report on CMO reform involves a host of measures to improve fisheries markets, ranging from measures on producer organisations to the question of discards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly" class="MsoNormal"><span class="story1"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt">&#8220;In addition, I have come to the conclusion that providing consumers with clear, easily understood information on fisheries and aquaculture products is absolutely essential. We must sweep away the many differing and confusing eco-labels that have emerged over the years, all making competing claims about the sustainability of catches and the eco-friendliness of their products.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly" class="MsoNormal"><span class="story1"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt">&#8220;Until that happens, I will recommend that the European Commission should establish minimum rules for a voluntary EU eco-label, setting the bar at a higher level than the mandatory rules and regulations that govern the sector just now. I would even suggest extending this voluntary label to companies outside the EU exporting to our markets to ensure there is a level playing field.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly" class="MsoNormal"><span class="story1"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt">&#8220;The on-going programme of CFP reform is a great opportunity to ensure that in future eco-labelling contributes fully to sustainability in a meaningful way for industry and consumers alike.&#8221;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly" class="MsoNormal"><span class="story1"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt">These recommendations, contained in the draft report on the Common Market Organisation, will be submitted for consideration to the European Parliament's Fisheries Committee in March. If formally agreed by the Committee, they will form the basis of the European Parliament's position on a crucial aspect of the Common Fisheries Policy reform package, unveiled by The EU Fisheries Commissioner in July 2011.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>