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Tuna loins. (Photo: Stock File)
Galicia demands tariff quota expansion for tuna loins
SPAIN
Friday, May 15, 2015, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
The Galician Parliament approved a motion to urge the central government, through an emergency procedure, to request the expansion of the tariff quota for tuna loins for the period between 2016 and 2018.
This measure received the unanimous support of the three parliamentary majority groups: the Popular Party (PP), the Socialist Party of Galicia (PSDG) and the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG), and was adopted by twelve votes in favor and one against.
“Twelve thousand jobs in the factories in Galicia are at risk as well as 3 per cent of the GDP of the community,” explained Deputy Jose Manuel Balseiro, a Fisheries spokesman of the Popular Party.
The approved motion urges Xunta of Galicia to sue the Spanish government:
- Setting a request to extend the tariff quota for tuna loins for the 2016-2018 period up to a total of 30,000 tonnes at 0 per cent tariff;
- Checking the use of the annual tariff established considering the implementation by the European Commission (EC) of item 1 of that article and subsequent expansion by 20 per cent.
The National Association of Canned Fish and Shellfish Manufacturers (ANFACO-CECOPESCA) stressed that with this initiative, the Galician Parliament responds to the demand of the Galician, Spanish and European canning industry to increase the quota, owing to its undeniable impact on competitiveness and employment levels.
Moreover, ANFACO dismissed the criticism of the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA), who questioned the enforcement of the Community legislation against illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing in the field of raw material supply for the Community and Spanish canning industry.
In addition, it reiterated that achieving a tuna loin quota amounting to 30,000 tonnes with 0 per cent tariff and a clause of 20 per cent automatic increase in case there is exhaustion of the quota for the 2016-2018 period is indispensable to enable the operation of the supply and demand principle in the raw material market for the seafood product canning and processing industry.
According to ANFACO, the quota is essential to ensure the permanence of the processing activity in Galicia, Spain and Europe.
Related article:
– Govt promises to defend Spanish canning sector from Asian one
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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