Food Safety Monitoring System in the EU: Labelling and Traceability Dr John Ryder FAO, Dhaka, Bangladesh
A COUPLE OF FACTS
USD billion 60 Top Importers and Exporters in 2010, 2011 & 2012 * includes intra-eu trade 50 40 30 20 10 0 EU-27* Japan USA China Korea Rep EU-27* China Norway Thailand Viet Nam Source: Globefish Highlights 2013
Global market trends Strong growth: now 4 th biggest importer and biggest exporting country Steadily increasing per kaput consumption: 31 kg/kaput long-term growth: # 1 market (EU 27) rising population and stable consumption at 23 kg/kaput increasing import dependence long-term growth, overtaking Japan as # 1 importing country rising population and stable consumption 24 kg/kaput long-term decline in fish consumption and imports of meat>fish. high consumption but falling: 57 kg/kaput
FISH LABELLING AND TRACEABILITY
Not new for fish Consumer information at the point of sale: The commercial designation of the species of fish The method of production The origin Traceability required
SO WHAT S NEW
December 2014 13 December 2014 was an important date for fish labelling and traceability in the European Union Two new regulations came into force
1169/2011 full title Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the PROVISION OF FOOD INFORMATION TO CONSUMERS amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004
Food Information to Consumers 1169/2011 The FIC establishes horizontal consumer information requirements applicable to all foodstuffs Includes specific reference to fish
1379/2013 full title Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the COMMON ORGANISATION OF THE MARKETS IN FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1184/2006 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000
Common Marketing Organisation 1379/2013 Chapter IV relevant Consumer Information Other chapters on Professional Organisations, Competition Rules, Common Marketing Standards Specifically focuses on fishery and aquaculture products that are sold to consumers or mass caterers in the EU
EU imports Regulation (EU) No. 1379/2013 explicitly states that it is necessary to ensure that imported products entering the Union market comply with the same requirements and marketing standards that Union producers have to comply with, and for certain aspects of labelling, the legislation specifically includes imported product.
Two ways to discuss the new regulations Describe what is required from the CMO regulation and what is required from the FIC regulation could get confusing and repetitive Describe by fish product form and taking the requirements from both regulations
Recommended guide. and this talk will use this guide as its basis
Two categories A. Unprocessed and certain processed fishery and aquaculture products B. Other processed fishery and aquaculture products
A. Unprocessed and certain processed fishery and aquaculture products Applies to all unprocessed and some processed products (e.g. salted, smoked products, cooked shrimps in their shells). These products can be 'prepacked and 'nonprepacked The CMO Regulation (Chapter IV) and the FIC Regulation both apply
Minimum catch area information Area 27 and 37 needs more detail
Other mandatory information If defrosted Not needed if fish are ingredients present in the final product; or have been previously frozen for health safety purposes; or have been defrosted before smoking, salting, cooking, pickling, drying or a combination of these processes; or are foods for which freezing is a technologically necessary step. Allergens prominent in ingredients list but not needed if food name provides the information List and quantity (%) of ingredients (if prepacked) Nutrition declaration (from Dec 13 2016)
Continued Date of freezing - only applies to unprocessed products Date/month/year Date of packaging for live bivalves At least Date/Month Added water if relevant Added proteins name animal origin if relevant Packaged in a protective atmosphere if relevant Formed fish need to state if relevant
Other voluntary information Date of catch (at sea) or harvest (farmed) Details of flag state if fish caught at sea More detailed description of catch gear Environmental, ethical or social information Nutrition declaration (up to Dec 13 2016)
B. Other processed fishery and aquaculture products Applies to processed products such as canned, composite products, breaded products, etc. These products can be pre-packed and nonprepacked. Only the FIC Regulation applies
Other Mandatory information Added water if relevant Added proteins name animal origin if relevant Packaged in a protective atmosphere if relevant Formed fish need to state if relevant Canned tuna and bonito / sardine There are specific marketing standards for these products as well. These can be found in Regulations 1536/92 and 2136/89 respectively
How to display the mandatory information to consumers For prepacked products - on the package or on a label attached. For non-pre-packed products covered by the CMO regulation - labels, billboards, posters or the like. Conspicuous place and be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible. Not hidden or obscured. Guides on font size The complete name of the food and the net weight shall appear in the same field of vision.
Traceability Traceability information must be passed throughout the marketing chain, i.e. from producer to processor, wholesaler, caterer, etc., up to the point of retail sale, either by the labelling or packaging of the product or on the commercial documents accompanying the food So the system is not changed, just the amount of information going down the chain
Useful documents A pocket guide to the EU s new fish and aquaculture consumer labels. European Commission. European Union - New Labelling & Traceability Requirements. A Guideline for the Pacific Islands Seafood Industry. Forum Fisheries Agency/Devfish II. European Union Labelling Requirements. A guideline for the seafood industry. New Zealand Seafood Council. November 2014.