Catch certificates mandatory for exports to EU

Published on Janyary 01, 2010:

THOOTHUKUDI: As per the regulation brought in by the European Commission, a catch certificate should be accompanied with all the seafood products that are exported to European Union countries from January 1, 2010. In a press statement by P V Baby, Assistant Director of MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority) at Thoothukudi, the regulation is applicable to consignments exported directly or through third countries.

Earlier, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN and regional fisheries management organisations such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission necessitated the member countries to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The release added that in line with the above requirement, catch certificates are mandatory for all seafood exports to EU.

All major seafood exporting countries have decided to implement the above requirement and have informed the EU. The catch certificate prepared by the industry, either vessel operator or the exporter, has to be validated and countersigned by the government authority.

Baby added that India exports seafood worth Rs 2,800 crore to European Union, which is one-third of the country’s total export.

As the European Union market is one of the major markets for India, the Government of India has decided to implement the catch certificate scheme and has authorized MPEDA to validate the catch certificate and monitor the same.

The release also added that MPEDA has made arrangements to monitor catch supply by boats to exporters directly and through agents. MPEDA has decided to supply log sheets to the boats to indicate supply of catch to exporters and forms of catch certificates free-of-cost.

The boat operators are requested to submit the log sheet with relevant details to data entry operator at fishing harbours within 72 hours of unloading the catch. Further assistance can be had from toll free numbers: 1800- 425-1545, 1800-425-1676 and 1800-425- 0160.
Source: http://www.expressbuzz.com/finance/story.aspx?Title=Catch%20certificates%20mandatory%20for%20exports%20to%20EU&artid=I1M48BR91n0=&SectionID=XT7e3Zkr/lw=&MainSectionID=XT7e3Zkr/lw=&SEO=P+V+Baby,+MPEDA,+FAO,+EU&SectionName=HFdYSiSIflu29kcfsoAfeg==