Photo: Wiener Fischfachha...
Common Market Organisation (CMO) for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products
As part of the five main elements of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the Common Market Organisation for Products of Fisheries and Aquaculture plays an important role. It has been in existence in the Community for nearly 30 years.
In view of the transformation on the Community market, the basic regulation is being reassessed, amended and set up on a new basis through EC Regulation No. 104/00.The increasingly difficult market situation can be seen particularly clearly against the backdrop of diminishing resources in Community waters. The current Community regulation therefore intends to achieve the following objectives with respect to the fishing product market
- to stabilise its prices, quality, regularity, and availability in a sustainable manner
- to make it more attractive by improving the quality of its products (marketing norms)
- to organise it more transparently by informing consumers better (labelling)
- to integrate it into a responsible system of fishing.
From the standpoint of responsible fishing, the CMO should prevent conduct that could harm stock management. To protect certain stocks of fish, there are minimum biological criteria, such as minimum size (in terms of length), which aim to prevent the catching of excessively young fish.
The stipulated minimum sizes take priority over the commercial sizes (size categories) defined in the marketing norms. There are freshness categories as well as size categories that serve as quality guideline for the consumer. Products imported from non-EU countries cannot be marketed in the Community unless they meet these marketing standards. The Federal Food Safety Agency inspects imported products to make sure that they meet Community criteria.
Labelling rules
As the range of products offered is growing, more information is needed in order to make shopping decisions on the basis of specific criteria. The CMO reform was therefore intended to achieve improved market transparency and to increase consumer protection through consumer information. Under this consumer information programme, vendors are required to provide certain obligatory information to consumers who are shopping for certain fish products.
For instance, consumers have the right to precise information about the trade name (see pdf-file enclosed), the fishing area, and the production methods.
This gives the market a chance to react flexibly to the increasing environmental awareness among consumers and also gives them the possibility of making a responsible contribution to sustainable management of maritime resources.
Downloads
GMO Broschüre (PDF 1150,78 kB )- Labelling.Trade name (PDF 121,09 kB )
25.02.2010, Lebensministerium III/2