NINTH SESSION OF FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000801 SIPDIS FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME STATE FOR OES/OMC, OES/ETC, IO/EDA, EB/TPP; PASS USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIS ETRD EAGR AORC FAO SUBJECT: NINTH SESSION OF FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISH TRADE ¶1. SUMMARY: THE FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISH TRADE HELD ITS NINTH SESSION IN BREMEN, GERMANY, FEBRUARY 10-14, 2004. GREG SCHNEIDER (U.S.) WAS ELECTED TO CHAIR THE MEETING; RICHARD SISSON OF AUSTRALIA SERVED AS RAPPORTEUR. THE FAO SECRETARIAT PRESENTED A REPORT ON THE RECENT EVENTS CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FISHERY PRODUCTS. THE SUBCOMMITTEE DEALT WITH A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES AND PREPARED TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES, BOTH INTER-SESSIONALLY AND AT ITS NEXT MEETING. THE SUBCOMMITTEE MADE PROGRESS ON SEVERAL ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE U.S. DELEGATION. THESE INCLUDE: (1) COOPERATION BETWEEN THE FAO SECRETARIAT AND THE SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES); (2) ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE GROWING USE OF "ECOLABELS" ON FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS; (3) HARMONIZING THE CATCH DOCUMENTATION SCHEMES IN USE BY A NUMBER OF REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS; (4) TRACEABILITY AND LABELING IN FISH TRADE; AND (5) FAO COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO). ISSUES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES INCLUDED: (1) SAFETY AND QUALITY RELATED TO FISHMEAL AND BSE; (2) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES; (3) FISH TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY; AND (4) ACCESS OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCH TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE. BOTH SPAIN AND THE CITY OF BREMEN OFFERED TO HOST THE NEXT MEETING OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FAO SECRETARIAT TO NEGOTIATE FOR THE BEST VALUE BETWEEN THE SIPDIS TWO POTENTIAL HOSTS. END SUMMARY. -------------- - DISCUSSION OF REPORT ON TRADE IN FISH PRODUCTS -------------- - ¶2. THE DISCUSSION THAT FOLLOWED THE SECRETARIAT'S REPORT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN FISH TRADE HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO SUBSIDIES. MEMBERS NOTED THE CONCENTRATION OF FISH IMPORTS INTO A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF STATES, AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON TRADE OF REGULATORY CHANGES IN THOSE MARKETS. MEMBERS ALSO NOTED THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF CONSUMERS ON FISH TRADE. THEY ALSO NOTED THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF AQUACULTURE IN FISH TRADE. THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE NEEDED TO COORDINATE AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION WITH THE MANY UN AGENCIES AND WITH REGIONAL BODIES AS WELL. -------------- FAO-CITES COOPERATION -------------- ¶3. FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AS COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT FISH STOCKS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED, CALLS FOR CITES TRADE CONTROLS ON MARINE SPECIES HAVE INCREASED. THE APPLICATION OF CITES MEASURES FOR SOME SPECIES IS NOW INEVITABLE. CITES LACKS THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE WITH RESPECT TO MARINE SPECIES, SO MANY CITES AND FAO MEMBERS HAVE SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH A FORMAL COORDINATION MECHANISM BETWEEN THE FAO AND CITES. IN FACT, THE TWO SECRETARIATS DO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER REGULARLY. ¶4. AT THIS YEAR'S SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, THE U.S. HAD THREE OBJECTIVES: (1) ENSURE THAT PLANS FOR TWO FAO EXPERT CONSULTATIONS, ONE ON IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND ONE ON LEGAL ISSUES, WERE APPROVED, AS DIRECTED BY THE 25TH SESSION OF THE FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES; (2) GAIN ROME 00000801 001.2 OF 005 SION IN BREMEN, GERMANY, FEBRUARY 10-14, 2004. GREG SCHNEIDER (U.S.) WAS ELECTED TO CHAIR THE MEETING; RICHARD SISSON OF AUSTRALIA SERVED AS RAPPORTEUR. THE FAO SECRETARIAT PRESENTED A REPORT ON THE RECENT EVENTS CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FISHERY PRODUCTS. THE SUBCOMMITTEE DEALT WITH A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES AND PREPARED TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES, BOTH INTER-SESSIONALLY AND AT ITS NEXT MEETING. THE SUBCOMMITTEE MADE PROGRESS ON SEVERAL ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE U.S. DELEGATION. THESE INCLUDE: (1) COOPERATION BETWEEN THE FAO SECRETARIAT AND THE SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES); (2) ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE GROWING USE OF "ECOLABELS" ON FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS; (3) HARMONIZING THE CATCH DOCUMENTATION SCHEMES IN USE BY A NUMBER OF REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS; (4) TRACEABILITY AND LABELING IN FISH TRADE; AND (5) FAO COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO). ISSUES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES INCLUDED: (1) SAFETY AND QUALITY RELATED TO FISHMEAL AND BSE; (2) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES; (3) FISH TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY; AND (4) ACCESS OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCH TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE. BOTH SPAIN AND THE CITY OF BREMEN OFFERED TO HOST THE NEXT MEETING OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FAO SECRETARIAT TO NEGOTIATE FOR THE BEST VALUE BETWEEN THE SIPDIS TWO POTENTIAL HOSTS. END SUMMARY. -------------- - DISCUSSION OF REPORT ON TRADE IN FISH PRODUCTS -------------- - ¶2. THE DISCUSSION THAT FOLLOWED THE SECRETARIAT'S REPORT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN FISH TRADE HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO SUBSIDIES. MEMBERS NOTED THE CONCENTRATION OF FISH IMPORTS INTO A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF STATES, AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON TRADE OF REGULATORY CHANGES IN THOSE MARKETS. MEMBERS ALSO NOTED THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF CONSUMERS ON FISH TRADE. THEY ALSO NOTED THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF AQUACULTURE IN FISH TRADE. THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE NEEDED TO COORDINATE AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION WITH THE MANY UN AGENCIES AND WITH REGIONAL BODIES AS WELL. -------------- FAO-CITES COOPERATION -------------- ¶3. FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AS COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT FISH STOCKS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED, CALLS FOR CITES TRADE CONTROLS ON MARINE SPECIES HAVE INCREASED. THE APPLICATION OF CITES MEASURES FOR SOME SPECIES IS NOW INEVITABLE. CITES LACKS THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE WITH RESPECT TO MARINE SPECIES, SO MANY CITES AND FAO MEMBERS HAVE SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH A FORMAL COORDINATION MECHANISM BETWEEN THE FAO AND CITES. IN FACT, THE TWO SECRETARIATS DO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER REGULARLY. ¶4. AT THIS YEAR'S SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, THE U.S. HAD THREE OBJECTIVES: (1) ENSURE THAT PLANS FOR TWO FAO EXPERT CONSULTATIONS, ONE ON IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND ONE ON LEGAL ISSUES, WERE APPROVED, AS DIRECTED BY THE 25TH SESSION OF THE FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES; (2) GAIN ROME 00000801 002.1 OF 005 TO CITES, SO THAT PROPOSALS FOR LISTING OR DE-LISTING COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED SPECIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AGREED BY COFI COULD TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO THE 13TH CITES CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES (COP-13); AND (3) TO GAIN APPROVAL BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN FAO AND CITES SECRETARIATS, SETTING FORTH THE MECHANISM THROUGH WHICH SIPDIS THE TWO WOULD COOPERATE. ¶5. THE THREE OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED. THE MOST DIFFICULT WAS APPROVAL OF THE MOU. WHILE THE U.S. AND JAPAN HAD ACHIEVED CONSENSUS ON A DRAFT TEXT, MOST SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS HAD NOT SEEN THAT TEXT PRIOR TO THE MEETING. IN ADDITION, THE CHAIR OF THE CITES STANDING COMMITTEE HAD FORWARDED HIS PROPOSED DRAFT MOU TO THE FAO PRIOR TO THE MEETING. TO GAIN APPROVAL OF A SINGLE MOU TEXT, AND TO MAP A PROCESS BY WHICH THE FAO SECRETARIAT COULD NEGOTIATE A FINAL TEXT WITH THE CITES SECRETARIAT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ESTABLISHED A SMALL GROUP, CO-CHAIRED BY JAPAN AND THE U.S. THE SMALL GROUP MET TWICE AND PRESENTED A SLIGHTLY REVISED MOU AND CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SECRETARIAT FOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITES STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIR. BOTH COMPONENTS WERE ADOPTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE. NOTE: POSTS INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A COPY OF THE MOU TEXT OR THE TEXT OF THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE FAO SECRETARIAT MAY CONTACT OES/OMC STETSON TINKHAM BY E-MAIL AT TINKHAMSX@STATE.GOV. END NOTE. ¶6. AUSTRALIA, UNDER INSTRUCTIONS FROM CANBERRA, DID NOT JOIN THE CONSENSUS TO ADOPT THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, BUT STOPPED SHORT OF BLOCKING ADOPTION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS. -------------- ECOLABELING DISCUSSION -------------- ¶7. IN THE FACE OF A PROLIFERATION OF RESPONSES TO CALLS FROM CONSUMERS FOR RELIABLE LABELS THAT AFFIRM THAT FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS ARE SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED, FAO HAS UNDERTAKEN CONSIDERABLE WORK TO PRODUCE INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE ECOLABELING OF FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS. THE MOST RECENT EFFORT WAS AN EXPERT CONSULTATION, HELD 14-17 OCTOBER 2003. THE REPORT OF THE CONSULTATION WAS PRESENTED BY ITS CHAIR, DR. KRISTJAN THORARINSSON. HE DESCRIBED THE SCOPE, PRINCIPLES, MINIMUM SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS SET OUT IN THE DRAFT GUIDELINES. THE CONSULTATION RECOMMENDED THAT "THIRD PARTY" ECOLABEL CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES BE ESTABLISHED. ¶8. THE U.S. POSITION ON ECOLABELING IS STILL EVOLVING. AT THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, THE U.S. DELEGATION SOUGHT TO KEEP OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL MIGHT CERTIFY THAT FISHERIES WERE CONDUCTED IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER. ONE WAY OF DESCRIBING THIS APPROACH WOULD BE TO REFER TO IT AS "SELF- CERTIFICATION." ¶9. DURING DISCUSSION OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, NEW ZEALAND POINTED OUT THAT THE "THIRD PARTY" APPROACH MIGHT LEAD TO INTRACTABLE LEGAL CHALLENGES AMONG NATIONAL AUTHORITIES, FISHERS, CONSUMERS AND THE CERTIFIERS. RATHER THAN HAVE THE FAO INVOLVED IN ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION, NZ SUGGESTED NATIONAL BODIES ALREADY EMPOWERED TO ENFORCE TRUTH-IN- ROME 00000801 002.2 OF 005 TO CITES, SO THAT PROPOSALS FOR LISTING OR DE-LISTING COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED SPECIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AGREED BY COFI COULD TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO THE 13TH CITES CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES (COP-13); AND (3) TO GAIN APPROVAL BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN FAO AND CITES SECRETARIATS, SETTING FORTH THE MECHANISM THROUGH WHICH SIPDIS THE TWO WOULD COOPERATE. ¶5. THE THREE OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED. THE MOST DIFFICULT WAS APPROVAL OF THE MOU. WHILE THE U.S. AND JAPAN HAD ACHIEVED CONSENSUS ON A DRAFT TEXT, MOST SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS HAD NOT SEEN THAT TEXT PRIOR TO THE MEETING. IN ADDITION, THE CHAIR OF THE CITES STANDING COMMITTEE HAD FORWARDED HIS PROPOSED DRAFT MOU TO THE FAO PRIOR TO THE MEETING. TO GAIN APPROVAL OF A SINGLE MOU TEXT, AND TO MAP A PROCESS BY WHICH THE FAO SECRETARIAT COULD NEGOTIATE A FINAL TEXT WITH THE CITES SECRETARIAT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ESTABLISHED A SMALL GROUP, CO-CHAIRED BY JAPAN AND THE U.S. THE SMALL GROUP MET TWICE AND PRESENTED A SLIGHTLY REVISED MOU AND CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SECRETARIAT FOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITES STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIR. BOTH COMPONENTS WERE ADOPTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE. NOTE: POSTS INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A COPY OF THE MOU TEXT OR THE TEXT OF THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE FAO SECRETARIAT MAY CONTACT OES/OMC STETSON TINKHAM BY E-MAIL AT TINKHAMSX@STATE.GOV. END NOTE. ¶6. AUSTRALIA, UNDER INSTRUCTIONS FROM CANBERRA, DID NOT JOIN THE CONSENSUS TO ADOPT THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, BUT STOPPED SHORT OF BLOCKING ADOPTION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS. -------------- ECOLABELING DISCUSSION -------------- ¶7. IN THE FACE OF A PROLIFERATION OF RESPONSES TO CALLS FROM CONSUMERS FOR RELIABLE LABELS THAT AFFIRM THAT FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS ARE SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED, FAO HAS UNDERTAKEN CONSIDERABLE WORK TO PRODUCE INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE ECOLABELING OF FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS. THE MOST RECENT EFFORT WAS AN EXPERT CONSULTATION, HELD 14-17 OCTOBER 2003. THE REPORT OF THE CONSULTATION WAS PRESENTED BY ITS CHAIR, DR. KRISTJAN THORARINSSON. HE DESCRIBED THE SCOPE, PRINCIPLES, MINIMUM SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS SET OUT IN THE DRAFT GUIDELINES. THE CONSULTATION RECOMMENDED THAT "THIRD PARTY" ECOLABEL CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES BE ESTABLISHED. ¶8. THE U.S. POSITION ON ECOLABELING IS STILL EVOLVING. AT THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, THE U.S. DELEGATION SOUGHT TO KEEP OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL MIGHT CERTIFY THAT FISHERIES WERE CONDUCTED IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER. ONE WAY OF DESCRIBING THIS APPROACH WOULD BE TO REFER TO IT AS "SELF- CERTIFICATION." ¶9. DURING DISCUSSION OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, NEW ZEALAND POINTED OUT THAT THE "THIRD PARTY" APPROACH MIGHT LEAD TO INTRACTABLE LEGAL CHALLENGES AMONG NATIONAL AUTHORITIES, FISHERS, CONSUMERS AND THE CERTIFIERS. RATHER THAN HAVE THE FAO INVOLVED IN ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION, NZ SUGGESTED NATIONAL BODIES ALREADY EMPOWERED TO ENFORCE TRUTH-IN- ROME 00000801 003.1 OF 005 RNS OVER THE LEGAL MORASS DESCRIBED BY NEW ZEALAND AND THE EVOLVING SELF- CERTIFICATION CONCEPT BY REFERRING TO THE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO BOTH ESTABLISH ECOLABELS AND RESPECT THE "...SOVEREIGN RESPONSIBILITIES OF NATIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES." JAPAN EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A PRIVATE, THIRD PARTY SCHEME MIGHT BE "ARBITRARY." ¶10. THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT FAO ORGANIZE A TECHNICAL CONSULTATION TO FURTHER ELABORATE THE WORK OF THE EXPERT CONSULTATION AND TO FINALIZE DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE 26TH MEETING OF COFI. THE CHAIRMAN NOTED THAT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) HAD NOT BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE EXPERT CONSULTATION. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE FAO TRANSMIT THE DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR ECOLABELING TO THE WTO TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE COMMITTEE FOR POSSIBLE COMMENT IN ADVANCE OF THE PREPARATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR THE TECHNICAL CONSULTATION. ¶11. FAO MEMBERS (INCLUDING THE USG) WILL NEED TO SHARPEN THEIR FOCUS ON THIS TOPIC IN PREPARING FOR THE TECHNICAL CONSULTATION AND THE COFI MEETING. -------------- HARMONIZING CATCH DOCUMENTATION SCHEMES -------------- ¶12. THIS AGENDA ITEM AROSE FROM A REQUEST FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF FISHERIES ASSOCIATIONS, WHOSE MEMBERS SOUGHT TO HARMONIZE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY REGIONAL FISHERIES BODIES AND OTHERS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE PAPERWORK BURDENS OF FISHERMEN AND OTHERS IN THE MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION CHAIN. NEVERTHELESS, THE DISCUSSION IN BREMEN INCLUDED A NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS SUGGESTING THAT CATCH DOCUMENTATION ITSELF WAS BURDENSOME! THE SUBCOMMITTEE DID NOT SUPPORT ADDITIONAL EXPERT OR TECHNICAL CONSULTATIONS ON CATCH DOCUMENTATION HARMONIZATION, NOR DID IT SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT DOCUMENT PRESENTED BY THE SECRETARIAT. GIVEN THAT SOME ELEMENTS IN A HARMONIZED DOCUMENT WERE COMMON AND OTHERS UNIQUE, THE QUESTION WAS POSED AS TO WHETHER ANY THOUGHT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO A HALF-WAY HARMONIZATION. THERE WAS CONSENSUS FOR CONTINUED WORK ON THIS TOPIC BY THE SECRETARIAT, AND SOME, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, SIPDIS CALLED ON THE SECRETARIAT TO CONSIDER ELECTRONIC CATCH DOCUMENTATION AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. -------------- TRACEABILITY AND LABELING IN FISH TRADE -------------- ¶13. DISCUSSION UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM DREW A NUMBER OF COMMENTS THAT ALSO APPLIED TO THE ECOLABELING AND CATCH DOCUMENTATION AGENDA ITEMS. THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS REVEALED THAT TRACEABILITY IS A VAGUE CONCEPT THAT MAY BE USED TO TRACK IUU FISHING, PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES ISSUES, AMONG OTHERS. MANY SPEAKERS NOTED THE NEED FOR TRACING AND LABELING DOCUMENTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN COMPLYING WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS. OTHERS POINTED TO THE FACT THAT, LIKE IT OR NOT, TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS WERE BEING IMPOSED ON SHORT DEADLINES BY MAJOR MARKETS, SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES (CURRENT LEGISLATION CALLS FOR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING BY END SEPTEMBER 2004) AND THE EU (LABELING REQUIREMENTS WILL TAKE EFFECT IN 2005). PARTICIPANTS SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS A REAL NEED FOR CODEX ALIMENTARIUS TO DEVELOP A ROME 00000801 003.2 OF 005 RNS OVER THE LEGAL MORASS DESCRIBED BY NEW ZEALAND AND THE EVOLVING SELF- CERTIFICATION CONCEPT BY REFERRING TO THE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO BOTH ESTABLISH ECOLABELS AND RESPECT THE "...SOVEREIGN RESPONSIBILITIES OF NATIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES." JAPAN EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A PRIVATE, THIRD PARTY SCHEME MIGHT BE "ARBITRARY." ¶10. THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT FAO ORGANIZE A TECHNICAL CONSULTATION TO FURTHER ELABORATE THE WORK OF THE EXPERT CONSULTATION AND TO FINALIZE DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE 26TH MEETING OF COFI. THE CHAIRMAN NOTED THAT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) HAD NOT BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE EXPERT CONSULTATION. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE FAO TRANSMIT THE DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR ECOLABELING TO THE WTO TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE COMMITTEE FOR POSSIBLE COMMENT IN ADVANCE OF THE PREPARATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR THE TECHNICAL CONSULTATION. ¶11. FAO MEMBERS (INCLUDING THE USG) WILL NEED TO SHARPEN THEIR FOCUS ON THIS TOPIC IN PREPARING FOR THE TECHNICAL CONSULTATION AND THE COFI MEETING. -------------- HARMONIZING CATCH DOCUMENTATION SCHEMES -------------- ¶12. THIS AGENDA ITEM AROSE FROM A REQUEST FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF FISHERIES ASSOCIATIONS, WHOSE MEMBERS SOUGHT TO HARMONIZE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY REGIONAL FISHERIES BODIES AND OTHERS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE PAPERWORK BURDENS OF FISHERMEN AND OTHERS IN THE MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION CHAIN. NEVERTHELESS, THE DISCUSSION IN BREMEN INCLUDED A NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS SUGGESTING THAT CATCH DOCUMENTATION ITSELF WAS BURDENSOME! THE SUBCOMMITTEE DID NOT SUPPORT ADDITIONAL EXPERT OR TECHNICAL CONSULTATIONS ON CATCH DOCUMENTATION HARMONIZATION, NOR DID IT SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT DOCUMENT PRESENTED BY THE SECRETARIAT. GIVEN THAT SOME ELEMENTS IN A HARMONIZED DOCUMENT WERE COMMON AND OTHERS UNIQUE, THE QUESTION WAS POSED AS TO WHETHER ANY THOUGHT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO A HALF-WAY HARMONIZATION. THERE WAS CONSENSUS FOR CONTINUED WORK ON THIS TOPIC BY THE SECRETARIAT, AND SOME, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, SIPDIS CALLED ON THE SECRETARIAT TO CONSIDER ELECTRONIC CATCH DOCUMENTATION AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. -------------- TRACEABILITY AND LABELING IN FISH TRADE -------------- ¶13. DISCUSSION UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM DREW A NUMBER OF COMMENTS THAT ALSO APPLIED TO THE ECOLABELING AND CATCH DOCUMENTATION AGENDA ITEMS. THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS REVEALED THAT TRACEABILITY IS A VAGUE CONCEPT THAT MAY BE USED TO TRACK IUU FISHING, PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES ISSUES, AMONG OTHERS. MANY SPEAKERS NOTED THE NEED FOR TRACING AND LABELING DOCUMENTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN COMPLYING WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS. OTHERS POINTED TO THE FACT THAT, LIKE IT OR NOT, TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS WERE BEING IMPOSED ON SHORT DEADLINES BY MAJOR MARKETS, SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES (CURRENT LEGISLATION CALLS FOR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING BY END SEPTEMBER 2004) AND THE EU (LABELING REQUIREMENTS WILL TAKE EFFECT IN 2005). PARTICIPANTS SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS A REAL NEED FOR CODEX ALIMENTARIUS TO DEVELOP A ROME 00000801 004.1 OF 005 -------------- ¶14. THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED THE RESULTS OF ITS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO). DESPITE THE HOPES OF MANY DELEGATES THAT A WAY COULD BE FOUND TO USE THE HARMONIZED SCHEDULE (HS) OF TARIFF CODES IN TRACING THE FLOW OF FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS THROUGH THE STREAM OF COMMERCE, THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO WAYS TO REVISE THE HS CODES: SLOW AND SLOWER! FAO MEMBERS WERE ENCOURAGED TO PASS IDEAS FOR COLLABORATION WITH THE WCO TO THE SECRETARIAT. IN DISCUSSING THE TOPIC, MEMBERS ALSO REFERRED TO THE NEED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CAPTURE FISHERY PRODUCTS AND AQUACULTURE FISHERY PRODUCTS, AND HOW THE HS CODE SYSTEM SEEMED TO PROVIDE A LOGICAL MECHANISM BY WHICH TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. -------------- -------------- SAFETY AND QUALITY, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON FISHMEAL -------------- -------------- ¶15. THIS ITEM WAS PLACED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE AGENDA SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IN THE WAKE OF THE "MAD COW" BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) DISEASE OUTBREAK IN EUROPE. DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE USE OF MEAL MADE FROM PARTS OF BSE-INFECTED ANIMALS, EU RULES (AND IMPRECISE DETECTION METHODOLOGIES) DRAMATICALLY RESTRICTED SALES OF FISHMEAL FROM PERU INTO THE EU MARKET. PERU AND THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR FISHMEAL AND OIL PRODUCERS ARGUED FORCIBLY FOR THE EU TO LIFT ITS RESTRICTIONS. THE EU COULD ONLY REPLY THAT NEW ANALYTICAL TESTS MIGHT MAKE EASING THE RULES A POSSIBILITY DURING 2004. IT WAS AGREED THAT HACCP-BASED SYSTEMS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AN IMPROVEMENT IN FISH SAFETY AND QUALITY AND THAT THEIR APPLICATION SHOULD BE EXPANDED. FAO CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS IN THIS AREA ARE WIDELY AGREED TO BE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THIS STRATEGY. -------------- -- SUBCOMMITTEE FOR FISH TRADE AND COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES -------------- -- ¶16. TOPICS DISCUSSED UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM DEALT WITH COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FAO AND THE COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES (CFC). A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL REGIONAL COLLABORATIONS WERE DESCRIBED, OFTEN IN MORE DEPTH THAN SOME PARTICIPANTS MAY HAVE WISHED. NEVERTHELESS, THE COLLABORATION IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW FAO EXPERTISE AND LIMITED FUNDS CAN BE PARTNERED WITH FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES OBJECTIVES OF THE FAO. -------------- FISH TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY -------------- ¶17. THIS AGENDA ITEM EVOKED A SERIES OF INTERVENTIONS ABOUT THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN HARVESTING OR PRODUCING FISH FOR FOOD WITHIN FAO MEMBER COUNTRIES AND HARVESTING OR PRODUCING FISH FOR TRADE. NORWAY HAD FUNDED A STUDY ON THE TOPIC. THE STUDY HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SECTOR FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES (AND AQUACULTURE) IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ROME 00000801 004.2 OF 005 -------------- ¶14. THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED THE RESULTS OF ITS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO). DESPITE THE HOPES OF MANY DELEGATES THAT A WAY COULD BE FOUND TO USE THE HARMONIZED SCHEDULE (HS) OF TARIFF CODES IN TRACING THE FLOW OF FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS THROUGH THE STREAM OF COMMERCE, THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO WAYS TO REVISE THE HS CODES: SLOW AND SLOWER! FAO MEMBERS WERE ENCOURAGED TO PASS IDEAS FOR COLLABORATION WITH THE WCO TO THE SECRETARIAT. IN DISCUSSING THE TOPIC, MEMBERS ALSO REFERRED TO THE NEED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CAPTURE FISHERY PRODUCTS AND AQUACULTURE FISHERY PRODUCTS, AND HOW THE HS CODE SYSTEM SEEMED TO PROVIDE A LOGICAL MECHANISM BY WHICH TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. -------------- -------------- SAFETY AND QUALITY, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON FISHMEAL -------------- -------------- ¶15. THIS ITEM WAS PLACED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE AGENDA SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IN THE WAKE OF THE "MAD COW" BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) DISEASE OUTBREAK IN EUROPE. DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE USE OF MEAL MADE FROM PARTS OF BSE-INFECTED ANIMALS, EU RULES (AND IMPRECISE DETECTION METHODOLOGIES) DRAMATICALLY RESTRICTED SALES OF FISHMEAL FROM PERU INTO THE EU MARKET. PERU AND THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR FISHMEAL AND OIL PRODUCERS ARGUED FORCIBLY FOR THE EU TO LIFT ITS RESTRICTIONS. THE EU COULD ONLY REPLY THAT NEW ANALYTICAL TESTS MIGHT MAKE EASING THE RULES A POSSIBILITY DURING 2004. IT WAS AGREED THAT HACCP-BASED SYSTEMS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AN IMPROVEMENT IN FISH SAFETY AND QUALITY AND THAT THEIR APPLICATION SHOULD BE EXPANDED. FAO CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS IN THIS AREA ARE WIDELY AGREED TO BE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THIS STRATEGY. -------------- -- SUBCOMMITTEE FOR FISH TRADE AND COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES -------------- -- ¶16. TOPICS DISCUSSED UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM DEALT WITH COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FAO AND THE COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES (CFC). A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL REGIONAL COLLABORATIONS WERE DESCRIBED, OFTEN IN MORE DEPTH THAN SOME PARTICIPANTS MAY HAVE WISHED. NEVERTHELESS, THE COLLABORATION IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW FAO EXPERTISE AND LIMITED FUNDS CAN BE PARTNERED WITH FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES OBJECTIVES OF THE FAO. -------------- FISH TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY -------------- ¶17. THIS AGENDA ITEM EVOKED A SERIES OF INTERVENTIONS ABOUT THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN HARVESTING OR PRODUCING FISH FOR FOOD WITHIN FAO MEMBER COUNTRIES AND HARVESTING OR PRODUCING FISH FOR TRADE. NORWAY HAD FUNDED A STUDY ON THE TOPIC. THE STUDY HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SECTOR FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES (AND AQUACULTURE) IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ROME 00000801 005.1 OF 005 EMPLOYMENT IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES AND FOR WOMEN, AND THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS TO SMALL ENTERPRISES AND WOMEN. -------------- -------------- SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCH -- ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE -------------- -------------- ¶18. THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED ON ITS PAPER THAT EXPLORED FACTORS THAT PREVENT SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCHES FROM ENTERING INTERNATIONAL TRADE. PARTICIPANTS COMMENTED FAVORABLY ON THE BALANCED VIEWS PRESENTED IN THE REPORT. PARTICIPANTS ALSO ENDORSED CONTINUING WORK BY FAO ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES ON INCREASING THE CONTRIBUTION OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES IN FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION, WHICH WOULD BE THE TOPIC OF A FUTURE EXPERT CONSULTATION. THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT FAO GIVE A HIGHER PRIORITY TO THE SMALL-SCALE SECTOR. -------------- GENERAL COMMENT -------------- ¶19. THE AGENDA OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING WAS GENERALLY WELL ORGANIZED AND THE SECRETARIAT WAS WIDELY PRAISED FOR THE ELEVATED QUALITY OF THE PAPERS PREPARED FOR THIS MEETING. THOSE CASES WHERE OVERLAP AND LACK OF FOCUS OCCURRED WERE MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF THE COMPLEXITIES AND THE INTER-CONNECTIVITY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER, RATHER THAN THE ABILITY OF THE SECRETARIAT TO ORGANIZE ITS WORKLOAD. THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IS AN EFFECTIVE BODY FOR THE ELABORATION OF SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES RELATED TO TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS. SIMILARITIES IN THE SPECIES TYPES AND IN THE PRODUCT FORMS FROM WILD CAPTURE FISHERIES AND FROM AQUACULTURE, AS WELL AS THE ALREADY HUGE AND STILL GROWING CONTRIBUTION OF AQUACULTURE TO TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS MEAN THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE TRADE ASPECTS OF AQUACULTURE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE. FAO WILL NEED TO COORDINATE THE WORK OF THE SECRETARIAT WITH RESPECT TO THOSE TASKS UNDERTAKEN BY THIS SUBCOMMITTEE AND BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE. HALL ROME 00000801 005.2 OF 005 EMPLOYMENT IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES AND FOR WOMEN, AND THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS TO SMALL ENTERPRISES AND WOMEN. -------------- -------------- SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCH -- ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE -------------- -------------- ¶18. THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED ON ITS PAPER THAT EXPLORED FACTORS THAT PREVENT SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCHES FROM ENTERING INTERNATIONAL TRADE. PARTICIPANTS COMMENTED FAVORABLY ON THE BALANCED VIEWS PRESENTED IN THE REPORT. PARTICIPANTS ALSO ENDORSED CONTINUING WORK BY FAO ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES ON INCREASING THE CONTRIBUTION OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES IN FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION, WHICH WOULD BE THE TOPIC OF A FUTURE EXPERT CONSULTATION. THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT FAO GIVE A HIGHER PRIORITY TO THE SMALL-SCALE SECTOR. -------------- GENERAL COMMENT -------------- ¶19. THE AGENDA OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING WAS GENERALLY WELL ORGANIZED AND THE SECRETARIAT WAS WIDELY PRAISED FOR THE ELEVATED QUALITY OF THE PAPERS PREPARED FOR THIS MEETING. THOSE CASES WHERE OVERLAP AND LACK OF FOCUS OCCURRED WERE MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF THE COMPLEXITIES AND THE INTER-CONNECTIVITY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER, RATHER THAN THE ABILITY OF THE SECRETARIAT TO ORGANIZE ITS WORKLOAD. THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IS AN EFFECTIVE BODY FOR THE ELABORATION OF SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES RELATED TO TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS. SIMILARITIES IN THE SPECIES TYPES AND IN THE PRODUCT FORMS FROM WILD CAPTURE FISHERIES AND FROM AQUACULTURE, AS WELL AS THE ALREADY HUGE AND STILL GROWING CONTRIBUTION OF AQUACULTURE TO TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS MEAN THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE TRADE ASPECTS OF AQUACULTURE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE. FAO WILL NEED TO COORDINATE THE WORK OF THE SECRETARIAT WITH RESPECT TO THOSE TASKS UNDERTAKEN BY THIS SUBCOMMITTEE AND BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE. HALL NNNN 2004ROME00801 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED