FSA Interested Parties Letter (FIN 02/2008), 18 February 2008

HYGIENE - European Commission Proposal to Amend Import Rules for Fish Oil

A complete copy of this letter (with the Commission proposals) is available on this site. See: February 2008 FSA Fish Oil Update

This letter provides an update on progress of the restricted working group that is considering fish oil import conditions with the European Commission and builds on information contained in FIN 12/2007 of 17 December 2007. It also asks for views of interested parties on the attached proposal and on the parameters and standards for crude and refined oils as soon as possible but by 26 February 2008 at the latest.

The group met on 17 January 2008 and received presentations from a number of trade organisations including:

• E.U. Fish Processors Association / E.U. Federation of National Organisations of Importers and Exporters of Fish (AIPCE-CEP)
• EU Fishmeal Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED)
• The European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM)

The International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Association (IFFO) were also present to help inform discussions.

The European Commission have now had time to develop draft proposals in relation to fish oil which are shown in Annex I. These were received by the Agency on 15 February. Please note that the draft may not necessarily represent the views of the Commission or the Food Standards Agency and the document that is presented for formal adoption may differ.

The Agency is now seeking your views on the proposals and also on which parameters and standards may be suitable for inclusion in the two tables indicated (for crude and refined oils).

The next meeting of the restricted working group is being held on 27 February and therefore it would be helpful to receive views of interested parties by close of play 26 February. I apologise for the short period of time available for a response.