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ABOUT
SIPA
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| Since 1977 and the first European wide seafood cholera scare we have seen a greater involvement by the European Union in the individual affairs of the member countries. The latest antibiotic crisis has brought about a reaction by the EU authorities which is unprecedented in our experience and has led to perhaps the greatest challenges to our business with some companies even facing financial ruin. The discovery of residues of forbidden antibiotics in shrimp has led to a cascade of political and socio-economic upheaval in different parts of the world. The European Community does not allow food containing trace amounts of this antibiotic and other compounds, of Annex IV of the Council Regulation EEC 2377/90. As the regulation does not specify an analytical cut-off point ever lower limits of determination (LOD's) determine the political and economic reality; bans and boycotts. Exporting countries cannot sell their goods to the EC for fear of the presence of Annex IV compounds like chloramphenicol, and the EC is demanding destruction of goods when forbidden chemicals are detected. |
| The increasing centralisation of control by the EU authourities has led to a scenario in which member countries no longer have any say in determining their own affairs in food health matters except at Brussels level. It has therefore become almost impossible to influence or even discuss issues at a local level. We do not believe this situation will change. It is against this background that a number of seafood companies from several countries have come together to form an European association to represent our members at the EU level. We have named this association SIPA - Seafood Importers and Processors Alliance. We believe this is the only way forward to give our members a platform in which to have their views represented and have a voice in forming and reforming EU policy in areas which are of concern to us all. This way SIPA can serve as a european extension of member state bodies, which are already representing seafood companies. |
| Clearly as an industry our most pressing immediate concern is to find a solution to the complete uncertainties that we are all facing in our business transactions. First and foremost this means persuading the authorities to cease the destruct ion of contaminated containers and to allow the return of these containers to the country of origin, following EEC directives 97/78 and 96/23. Neither buyer nor seller can operate safely under the current environment. At the same time we intend to discuss with the authorities about the feasibility of interim measuers to allow the producing nations time to meet the EU goals concerning antiobiotic residues in food products, in particular those for which a zero-tolerance rule is applied. SIPA does not deny that seafood producers should be very conscious when using antibiotics. However, we do believe that there needs to be a much wider ranging scientific discussion concerning food safety generally to put the various issues into their proper perspective. To this end we have already commissioned a highly respected Dutch scientific body , HAN (Heidelberg Appeal Nederland) to report on all areas of food safety, contamination and hygiene. |
| The current
status is that HAN has published the first position paper, which was of
such high scientific standard, that also the food regulatory organisations
in the USA (FDA, NFI, GAA and NAS), which are facing the same problems,
have chosen this position paper as their anchor. Both in the USA and in Europe there will follow a local basket study, which must exclude or confirm the possibility of natural existence of forbidden chemicals like chloramphenicol in food products, which cannot be avoided through normal HACCP programs. |
| We need members and we need to broaden our base. We welcome individual members, associations and overseas representatives also. The bigger we are the more likely our voice will be heard. We have an active website which is being expanded and all members can use and receive the most upto-date topical information. |
| SIPA believe that the association is the way to meet the new challenges which are being presented to us. We can only succeed in our aims of representation if we are truly representative ourselves and we urge you to consider becoming a part. We give below the details of membership and contact details if you have any queries or questions. |
| Yours truly,
Dr. J. Kwakman |