UPDATE ON EU POLICY AND ACTIONS ON ECOLABELS FOR

FISH

by Richard Bates

EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

DG MARITIME AFFAIRS & FISHERIES

Round Table on Eco-labelling and Certification in the Fisheries Sector –

The Hague 22-23/4/2009

Outline of presentation

• 1) Background – before and after the mid-2005 Communication on eco-labelling schemes for fisheries products

• 2) What we are doing now regarding the preferred option = minimum requirements for voluntary schemes

• 3) Revision of the European Ecolabel Scheme

Ecolabelling - background

• 1997 First discussion on need to consider environmental certification schemes of a non-discriminatory & optional nature for EU market but options diverge on how to go about this;

• 2002 Commission adopted a Community action plan on integrating environmental criteria into the Common Fisheries Policy;

• 2005 Commission Communication ‘Launching a debate on a Community approach towards ecolabelling schemes for fisheries products’ (COM(2005)275);

• 2005 UN-FAO Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of fish and fishery products from marine capture fisheries.

Ecolabelling - background

• Debate launched on eco-labelling in 2005 (Communication from the Commission to Council, the European Parliament and the EESC, COM(2005)275)

• Considered 3 options:

1: No action, no public intervention

2: Single Community scheme

3: Minimum requirements for voluntary schemes

• Broad consultation 2005 +:

EU Institutions

Stakeholders Conference, ACFA (Advisory Cttee)

Expert Group meetings

Advisory Committee (ACFA)April 2006

• In favour option 3 for marine captures only• "Sustainable fishing" instead of "eco-labelling"• Problems consumer confusion and implementation costs• Regular information campaigns• Costs to be distributed fairly across the value chain• European Fisheries Fund to fund implementation costs• Clear mechanisms for certification and accreditation• Public register of certified labels• Not a conservation tool - added value to EU and international

conservation rules• Tool against illegal (IUU) fishing• May improve image of fishing companies

European Parliament Resolution7 September 2006

• Option 3 does not fully address the issue• Independent monitoring for consumer reliability• Independent accreditation & certification bodies• Public system more guarantees than private one• Not barrier to trade, coherent with internat.

guidelines• Ensure accurate information, traceability value

chain• Label easy to understand + advertising

campaigns

Agriculture & Fisheries Council16 April 2007

• In favour option 3

• Avoid contradictory labels confusing consumers

• International acceptance non-labelled products

• New tool against IUU, added value CFP and income

• Based on FAO guidance to avoid discrimination

• Ensure traceability

• Not in conflict with existing schemes

• EU register of basic specifications

• Cost bearable for producers

• Easy to understand by consumers

Developments on the ground…

• Growth in the number of private labels (3-4 widespread)

• Different specifications/costs/duration of certification etc.

• Marine Stewardship Council most widely used (c1,800 products, 35 fisheries, high retail value)

• Many Member States consider national schemes

• More demands for ecolabelling by purchasers

2) What are we doing now…..

• 2008 – Successful in request for capture fisheries and aquaculture products to be included in proposed scope of revised European Ecolabel-Scheme - agreed by the legislators on 2.4.09 but not to be used for food or feed before a study is undertaken re feasibility and value-added - More about this this under part 3) …

• 2009 - Currently working on draft Council Regulation on minimum criteria for labelling the products of sustainable fishing to be adopted by Commission in autumn 2009

Minimum requirements - voluntary schemes

• Broad consensus that the time has now come now to underpin, via EU legislation in the form of minimum criteria for voluntary labelling, the 2005 FAO Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of fish and fishery products from marine capture fisheries (as amended in 2009).

• Focus on sustainability of capture fisheries under the headings stock, environment and management, up to the point of landing (only chain of custody aspects covered thereafter) and will not per se create a logo, but facilitate the development of credible logos where consumers can be assured that basic ground-rules are met.

Minimum requirements for voluntary schemes

• Precise, objective and verifiable criteria

• Independent assessment and chain of custody

• Open access

• Ensuring proper control

• Accurate information to the consumer

Possible criteria …

• Compliance with IUU rules (Regulation 1005/2008)

• Stocks not to be overfished and to be within safe biological limits

• Fishing (total allowable catches) sustainable taking account of scientific advice and the precautionary approach

• Management plans

• Possible use of effort ceilings in the absence of forecasts on which to base total allowable catches

• Reflection on best solutions ongoing

• Work has now commenced on a regulatory impact assessment

3) Community Ecolabel Scheme –an actual ecolabel (Flower label)

• Ecolabel Flower – focus on product cycle (COM(2008) 401, 16.7.08) – criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel would be developed following meetings with sector and Member States (6 month time scale subject to positive outcome of study by 2011) –aquaculture may follow later (organic issue to be resolved)

• EU Ecolabelling Board would likely provide the rules for the first part of the lifecycle of the flower ecolablel. Additional aspects such as processing, pre-packaging, packaging and transport would need to be developed separately.

• The two pillars would likely continue independently (minimum criteria for voluntary schemes + flower ecolabel with some periodic cross referencing).