ANFACO representatives will meet this week with EU officials to discuss the future of the sector. (Photo: ANFACO/Stock File)

Aassociation looks 'to defend' canning sector

SPAIN
Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 02:50 (GMT + 9)

Representatives of the National Association of Fish and Shellfish Canners (ANFACO) will meet this week in Brussels with authorities of the European Union (EU) and executives to discuss the canning sector.

The main objective of the employer's association is “to defend the interests of the industry of processing, commercialisation and canning of fish and shellfish in the context of the EU and International Trade, through the agreements of the EU with third party countries,” indicated Juan Manuel Vieites, Secretary General of ANFACO.

“The sector’s stance on different subjects will be presented and defended and an attempt to influence the decisions of the Commission that affect the sector will be made,” the leader added.

The ANFACO delegation, headed by Vieites, will maintain throughout this week several meetings with the heads of International Trade and Relations with the EU, the European Commission, the Standing Representation of Spain (REPER), of the Galicia-Europe Foundation and with executives.

The employer's association complained that the community authorities usually do not consider canning sector reports, and do not consult them either.

The canners will attend with the intention “of rejecting the manner in Brussels in which decisions are made, without considering, through prior advisory, the sector and the serious and rigorous studies that demonstrate the impact the measures have on European companies,” Vieites explained.

This same week, the Spanish leader will also preside over the General Assembly of Eurothon and will participate in the meeting of the Association of Industries of Community Fisheries (AIPCE).

Also planned is a dialog about commercial talks with third party countries and on:

• partnership agreements with the Pacific States;
• the multilateral commercial talks of the World Trade Organization;
• the reforms of the common fisheries policy (PPC) and the Common Markets Organisation;
• the entry in force of the Illegal Fishing Regulation;
• the innovation in the industrial processing sector;
• the participation of ANFACO and associated companies in the EU Framework Programme.

In other news, overseas canned-product shipments originating in Galicia fell in volume and value between January and November 2009, in comparison to those of the same period of 2008, reveals ANFACO.

Some 97,245 tonnes of Galician canned products were exported through November 2009, that is, 10.5 per cent less than during the same period the previous year.

The value of those shipments fell 14 per cent, to EUR 331 million.

Related article:

- Canned product exports fall  

By Analia Murias
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

 ANFACO-CYTMA - Asociacion Nacional de Fabricantes de Conservas de Pescados y Mariscos (formerly ANFACO-CECOPESCA)

Print