Dec
14
Mussels from Galicia. (Photo: Stock File)
New labelling and biotoxin analysis worry mussel industry
SPAIN
Monday, December 15, 2014, 03:40 (GMT + 9)
This Saturday the new rules of the European Union (EU) allowing packaging mussel without explicit mention of the country of origin or the species used will come into force, which concerns raft fishermen and mussel farmers from Galicia.
This situation is added to the fact that, as of 1 January, 2015, the implementation of biotoxin chemical control method comes into effect.
Galicia has always refused to use this method because it ensures that it harms the sector’s interests. Instead, it advocates the continuity of mouse bioassays.
According to the newspaper Faro de Vigo, these two “historical” events can have long term consequences on the production and marketing of Galician mussel.
The Undersecretariat of Marine Affairs and part of the productive sector on several occasions expressed their disagreement about biotoxin chemical analysis method.
And regarding the new labelling, the Galician Mussel Regulatory Council defends the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and so it has tried to prevent the implementation of that rule.
Besides, the Council also blames cannery industries and accuses them of supporting the removal of identifying information to encourage imports from third countries, especially from Chile.
The Council notes that “the European Commission (EC) believes it is necessary for processed and canned seafood products to indicate the commercial and scientific name of the species, production method and farming area (country of origin) of the product, as it is stated in the proposed regulation for which the Common Market Organisation for Fisheries and Aquaculture is set.”
And it complains that “given this proposal, part of the canning industry proposed to remove the obligation to inform the consumer, and the dynamics of corporate governance, parliamentary amendments were presented collecting the removal of such information”.
For its part, the Association of Mussel Fishermen from Combarro and Raxó, Ameconra, Mexilón de Galicia and Somego de Bueu met in the Council of Pontevedra with the Mayor Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores, and PSOE spokesman, Agustín Fernández, to continue collecting the support for the estuary from political parties.
The local government supports the raft fishermen sector and will defend the correct labeling of processed molluscs.
To Suso Castiñeiras, Ameconra secretary, the new rules of the common organization of fishery and aquaculture markets “makes it possible to hide the origin of processed or preserved mussels from third countries”.
And that harms “the consumer in their rights and interests and favours companies trading foreign mussel, hiding information and harming companies processing mussels that are farmed in Galicia, affecting employment,” he concluded.
Related article:
– Mussel sector is in an ‘economic emergency’ status, Regulatory Council claims
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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