Controversy In Spain Over Higher Quota For Loins ff

By Atuna.com

After many months of negotiations, the European Union has introduced its latest offer for preferential quotas of imported, pre-cooked tuna loins – a vital product for Spanish canners and something that the Spanish canning industry has been pushing to increase for some time now.

According to ANFACO, Spain’s National Association of Manufacturers of Canned Fish and Seafood, the European Union (EU) has proposed the maximum import of 25,000 tons of tuna loins with no tariffs. The offer is close to the quota that Spanish canners requested – 30,000 tons tax-free – which they say is needed to survive and remain competitive among emerging countries.

Currently, the present quota is fixed at 15,000 tons at 6% tariff. Spanish canners say the supply of raw material at a good price has been a problem in recent years, as the Spanish fleet is selling their tuna – sourced from the Pacific and Indian Oceans – in Southeast Asia, and not Europe.

ANFACO says the Spanish canneries require 250,000 tons of whole round frozen tuna and only 127,000 tons are being landed, coming mostly from the Pacific.

Meanwhile, the Spanish fishing industry has strongly opposed the bid for duty-free imports of pre-cooked tuna loins. Earlier this year, CEPESCA, the Spanish Fisheries Confederation, said it did not approve of ANFACO’s strategy to “drop the prices for raw material by getting supply from fleets that show little responsibility.” The petition to increase the quota will create a loss of jobs in Spain – and not maintain employment as ANFACO previously suggested – as a large work force is required to clean the whole round tuna, said the group. CEPESCA is supported by the boat owner organizations, ANABAC and OPAGAC, which represent the entire Spanish tuna fleet.

If the EU trade regulation is put into effect, it would last for three years, during the period 2013-2015. Spain would be allowed to import the preferential quota of tuna loins from third countries, which have no trade agreement with the EU. These include Thailand, China and Vietnam.