Fishery and aquaculture products: common organisation of the market COM

OBJECTIVE : To establish a common organisation of markets in fishery products, ensuring that the rules governing the organisation, including the intervention mechanisms, contribute positively to the sustainability of fishing practices. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Regulation 104/2000/EC on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products. CONTENT: The following measures are introduced: - Consumers' information is improved by the introduction of labelling requirements for fishery products when offered for retail sale, as requested by the European Parliament. - Producer organisations: the objective is to strengthen the role and responsibility of producer organisations, imposing on them new obligations concerning the sound management of resources. Compensation will be offered but on a temporary basis. All producer organisations are required to implement anticipatory measures to manage the output of their members and there are penalties if this obligation is not fulfilled. There is provision for the grant of temporary compensation to producer organisations to offset costs arising from this obligation. The aid scheme for the creation of producer organisations and the introduction of quality improvement plans have been transferred to the regulation on structural assistance in the fisheries sector. An additional aid may be granted to producer organisations that develop measures for improving the organisation and the functioning of fish as well as measures allowing for a better balance of supply and demand. This aid will be partly funded from the FIFG. - Intervention: the amount of financial compensation and the quantities eligible will be gradually reduced in 2001-2003, and the level of co-responsibility of producer organisations will be increased. The quantities eligible for carry-over aid (financial aid to be granted to fish being stocked for human consumption at a later stage) will be substantially increased, and the list of permitted processing methods will be extended. Under he mechanism of independent withdrawals and carry-over, only a limited protection may be permanently withdrawn, and the total volume of intervention eligible for compensation remains at fixed percentage of qualities offered for sale. Private storage aid for products frozen on board vessels can be granted to producers' organisations. - Compensatory allowance for tuna for canning · this can be granted under certain conditions, to producers' organisations to compensate for the opening of the Community market to imports. - Trade with third countries · autonomous total or partial suspension of duty is proposed for an indefinite period. - Aquacultural products · a number ofthese products have been subjected to the rules governing the drawing up of operational programmes and quality plans by Producers' Organisations and those concerning consumer information. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 28/01/2000. The Regulation shall take effect on 01/01/2001.�