The European Parliament adopted by 553 votes to 56, with 13 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending certain Regulations in the field of fisheries and animal health by reason of the change of status of Mayotte with regard to the Union.
The position at first reading adopted by the Parliament following the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:
Legal basis: Parliament proposed to add Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as a legal basis, since Mayotte is an outermost region. It is appropriate to provide for certain specific measures justified by the particular structural, social and economic situation of Mayotte which is compounded by its remoteness, insularity, small size, difficult topography and climate.
Conservation of fisheries resources: as regards Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organism, the report proposed:
The ‘Marine Natural Park of Mayotte’ is defined as the entire exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Mayotte (68 381 km2). The land area of the park shall extend to the upper foreshore, which marks the boundary of the maritime public domain.
Consumer information (Regulation (EC) No 104/2000): with regard to the requirements concerning traceability and consumer information for products offered for retail sale, Parliament proposed to extend to 31 December 2021 the deadline for implementing European legislation to give Mayotte time to comply.
Register of fishing vessels (Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002): France shall be exempted until 31 December 2021 from the obligation to include in its register of Union fishing vessels those vessels that are less than 10 meters in overall length and operate from Mayotte. Until 31 December 2021, France shall keep a provisional register of fishing vessels which are less than 10 meters in overall length and operate from Mayotte. That register shall contain, for each vessel, at least its name, its overall length and an identification code.
Conservation measures: in the waters up to 100 nautical miles from the baselines of Mayotte and in the whole of the Mayotte Marine Natural Park, France may adopt the conservation measures considered necessary for the preservation of the natural resources protected by the legislation establishing that park.
Health rules (Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009): Parliament felt it necessary to see that Mayotte was given enough time to apply the health rules governing animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption. The rules will apply from 1 January 2021.
Control requirements: Members introduced a derogation from Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 to give Mayotte time to comply with the control requirements provided for in this Regulation. By 1 January 2015, France shall establish a national scheme of control applicable to fishing vessels which are less than 10 meters in overall length and operate from Mayotte.
By 30 September 2015, France shall present to the Commission an action plan setting out the measures to be taken in order to ensure the full implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 from 1 January 2018 concerning fishing vessels which are less than 10 meters in overall length and operate from the outermost region of Mayotte.