Interim MAPA minister Eumar Novacki. (Photo: MAPA)

Government and companies discuss resumption of seafood exports to EU

BRAZIL
Saturday, January 20, 2018, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

"Suspending the export of Brazilian fish to the European Union was a hard decision and still not well understood," the interim minister Eumar Novacki said at a meeting with businessmen from the fishing sector, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA).

After the EU audit mission that took place in September last year, it was reported that the European authorities were not satisfied with the sanitary conditions of the boats and docks. This led the MAPA to announce, on December 26, the establishment of a temporary suspension of exports to the European block, in order to avoid a possible unilateral embargo by the EU. The self-imposed suspension took effect on January 3.

Eumar Novacki explained that all the aspects and consequences were studied exhaustively, and that suspending the export was the best way to avoid the unilateral decision of the EU, which would further delay the return of the Brazilian fishing sector to this important market.

"For that reason we called that meeting," said the minister. "We are always open to dialogue, but there must be an alignment of our technicians with the sector they represent to overcome this obstacle as soon as possible."

In this regard, it was indicated from the MAPA, that in the businessmen´s opinions, the strategy of suspending the export was correct.

Representatives of 14 entities and four fishing companies discussed for more than four hours with MAPA technicians, led by Jorge Caetano, substitute secretary of the Agricultural Defense Secretariat, which could be done to answer the EU's questions about technical certification of boats and small docks.

At the end of the debates, it was decided by common agreement that a Working Group composed of MAPA technicians, the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO), the Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and representatives of companies and entities, will provide technical advice to INMETRO in the formulation of requirements for certification.

The order of creation of the working group will be published in the next few days, after the indication of the names of the representatives of the companies and entities of the fishing sector.

Related article:

-Aquaculture association criticizes suspension of seafood exports to the EU

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