Mexican press publications stated that as of 10th March 2003 Mexican tuna could re-enter the U.S. market. Despite the demand of the Earth Island Institute (EII) for a 90-day postponement of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce ruling, Mexico tuna industrialists feel confident that the outcome will be favorable.
Mexican Fishery Commissioner Jerónimo Ramos indicated that EII would use these 90 days (until March 10th) to provide the courts with proof on the damage to the ecosystems.
According to the Mexican press: the ecological group Earth Island is the promoter of the tuna embargo and is also the owner of the Dolphin Safe concept, through which it gains US$ 6 million annually.
Ramos conveyed Mexico’s assurance that the decision taken by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce was based on scientific data and therefore trusts that the final decision in March will again favor Mexico, as has occurred in previous occasions.
However, in the meantime, Mexico will have to wait until March to export tuna to the U.S., without EII dolphin safe labels and applying the IDCP Dolphin Safe label validated by the InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and other international organisms.
Source : Mexican Press