Co-ordinator: CEFAS

Objectives

1. Explanation and guidance provided to regulatory agencies and exporters in participating Asian countries on the complex and diverse array of rules resulting from integration of many EU fisheries-specific regulations within the new EU ‘hygiene package’.
2. The competent authorities of participating Asian countries, the European Commission and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) briefed on the purpose intent and progress of the SEAT project.
3. Specific policy advice and guidance provided to the participating Asian countries for national implementation of the EAFI (WP8).

Description of work and role of participants

11.1 Provide guidance on the new EU ‘hygiene package’ of regulations. Given the highly technical nature of compliance and its related costs (this likely to pose serious challenges for Asian exporters their industries and governments in the immediate future). This will take place through face-to-face meetings with the regulatory agencies and exporters in the participating Asian countries. Use will be made of the learning outcomes in under WP10 to assist in the guidance given.

T11.2 Hold start-up and mid-project meetings with the competent authorities of participating Asian countries, the European Commission and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to explain the concepts and progress of development of an EAFI. In particular getting these key policy stakeholders to see the trade, consumer and policy advantages of the development of an (EAFI in Asian countries exporting aquaculture products to the EU.

T11.3 Produce written guidelines on the development and scope of national policy for the implementation of the EAFI in Asian countries – in which the values related to food production, processing and marketing are transparent, based on a neutral and comprehensive holistic evidence-base and the result of inclusive negotiation of the stakeholders involved

T11.4 Provide specific advice and guidance to national experts and aquaculture policy groups in the government services of Asian countries involved and to the European Commission, on national and international policy (and possibly legislation) needs for the implementation of the EAFI.This will be done through a series of presentations on the concept (T12.1) means for its implementation at face-to face meetings with representatives of the competent authorities of the individual countries involved (this will be done by partners 1, 2, 6, 8 and 11), and with appropriate officials of the European Commission Commission will be done by partners 1, 2,6