EU Canning Industry Wants Quota Abolishedff

Last April 12th the European canning sector requested to the European Commission for an increase on the market protection clauses that can prevent the entry of Asian canned tuna into the European markets. The quantities will be 25,750 tons from Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia under the “EU single duty” quota system starting July 1^st 2005.

During this meeting, the canning industrialists and the European Commission representatives also took the decision to create two committees for the follow up of the canning industries activities. One committee will be focused on the report that the European Government is preparing about the canning sector, and the other committee will be concentrated on the need to look for new tuna fishing agreements with third countries in order to maintain Europe’s strong commercial position in the tuna world.

Therefore, they all agreed a forthcoming visit with the new European Union Fishing Commissioner, Mr. Jorgen Holmquist, as well as the designation of Vigo as the next venue city for the Tuna Conference which will house a new bilateral meeting in 2006.