Report on the Implementation of the derogation to ... - Trade Websites

Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
• Development of a web-based system providing access to all documentation by all parties
(Note: NFA is committed to the development of such a system).
• Greater role for NFA port offices in processing CCs, and investigation of a cost recovery
system for the CCS, possibly linked to SPS certification duties.
• PNG to require PNG-registered vessels to land only in to designated PNG ports and prohibit
direct landings into third countries; also consider transfer to PNG flag.
• Assure full traceability through the use of original CCs only, with detailed records kept of all
CC components in mother CCs, and FVFODFs to accompany mother CCs.
• Establish a dialogue box in the web-based system to report and share experiences when
exporting to EU member states.
An EU-IUU inspection of the PNG system was scheduled by DG MARE for mid-November 2011, but
the results of this were not available as of mid-December 2011.
5.6 SPS Regulations
5.6.1 Background
For countries to be eligible to export fisheries products to the European Union, rigorous Sanitary and
Phytosanitary (SPS), or food safety measures must be in place to ensure a level of hygiene and safety
associated with market access. 217 Countries need to be placed on a list of countries deemed eligible
to export to the EU, with the principal eligibility criterion as follows:
• A Competent Authority (CA) must exist which is responsible for official controls throughout
the food production chain. The CA must be in the public sector and must generally have
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regulatory authority for fish and fisheries inspection. It must be empowered, structured
and resourced to implement effective inspection and guarantee credible certification of the
relevant hygiene conditions. The country itself must have EU-standard food safety legislation
in place.
• National authorities must guarantee that relevant hygiene and public health requirements
are met. These relate to fishing vessels, landing sites, processing plants and operational
processes (e.g. freezing, storage).
The EU Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection (DG SANCO) is responsible for food
safety in the EU, and through its Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), requires the adoption of agreed
inspection, examination and certification procedures. Exporting companies in qualifying countries
need to apply to their CA for permission to export.
DG SANCO carries out periodic inspections of national CAs, and also maintains a regularly updated
list of approved processing plants (onshore processing plants and freezer vessels, including industrial
fishing vessels and carrier vessels). 219
Only three PICs are on the DG SANCO list for fishery products (PNG, Fiji and Solomon Islands). Most
of the distant water fishing nations (e.g. China, EU, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, USA) and
neighbouring metropolitan countries (e.g. Australia, NZ, Indonesia) are also listed. Most of the
217 Doherty 2008:6-8.
218 Doherty 2008:11.
219 See https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/sanco/traces/output/listsPerCountry_en.htm#
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