Importance of Eco-Labeling Fish Products

To this end, the CEO has stated that criteria required should be met by products labeled as organic. Mr Hermida said: "These criteria should be simple to understand and use, and should be based on scientific evidence to guide the market."

Andres Hermida expressed this at the opening of the conference "The Ecolabelling in fisheries products," which was held with the objective of informing the industry about the current legislative framework for eco-labeling schemes.

During his speech, the CEO explained that in the process of reform of the Common Market Organisation for fisheries products, the European Commission proposed that a portion of the information provided to consumers would be mandatory and some voluntary.

In this sense, Mr Hermida said that: "The Secretary General of Fisheries considers it necessary to establish minimum standards to ensure the credibility of the certifications in products whose main feature is its exhaustibility if not managed properly."

Therefore, the CEO added: "It is important that the reform of the CMO includes minimum requirements for the ecolabelling of fish products in line with the FAO guidelines."

Mr Hermida added to the Common Fisheries Policy and supports sustainability of fishery resources, "but we believe it is necessary that existing schemes are consistent with this sustainability and have a regulatory framework that ensures so."

This day, which involved representatives of FAO, the European Commission, Frying of the Sea, Marine Stewardship Council, and representatives of all the links in the value chain of fisheries products, is part of the Action Plan for the Quality of Fish Products (2010-2012), promoted by the General Secretariat of Fisheries and developed by ANFACO.

This Action Plan aims to help all the Spanish fisheries and aquaculture sector to implement the measures necessary for the overall improvement of quality throughout the production, processing and marketing of fishery products and aquaculture.