In a non-binding resolution adopted by the European Parliament on May 30, MEPs agreed that all imported fisheries products should meet the high standards imposed by EU laws.
Passed by 590 votes to 52 with 41 abstentions, MEPs called on the Commission to ensure that fisheries and aquaculture products from non-EU countries comply with EU conservation, management standards and hygiene requirements by implementing control measures more efficiently.
They also called on the Commission and the member states to intensify their efforts to ensure that existing EU legislation is more consistently implemented and applied at all stages of the supply chain.
MEPs also suggested the creation of a label to identify the EU’s fishery products.
“We are highly dependent on imported fishery products and this has an impact on trade policy within the EU,” said rapporteur Linnéa Engström (Greens/EFA, SV). “There’s no point in competing on low prices for EU catches. It would be bad for fishermen in the EU. Instead, we must apply the same high standards required under EU law to imported fish. Since there are many species overfished or fished right to the limit in non-EU countries, we also demand action against illegal fisheries, to ensure that only sustainable fishery products come in to the EU.”
