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The Fish Inspector, October 2025

Monday, November 24, 2025
The October 2025 edition of The Fish Inspector is available for download. Either click the image below or visit the Infofish website.
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EU-UK relations: Council greenlights negotiations on agri-food deal and linking emissions trading systems

Tuesday, November 18, 2025
On 13 November 2025, the Council formally authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the UK on an agreement for a common sanitary and phytosanitary area (SPS) and to link greenhouse emissions trading systems (ETS). The aim of the SPS agreement is to reduce the burden of trading agricultural products...
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Official Journal: Commission notice to importers concerning imports of fish products from Senegal into the EU

Monday, November 17, 2025
Please note the following FRUCOM Circular, originally published on 6 October 2025: On 2.10.2025, the European Commission published Commission notice to importers concerning imports of fish products from Senegal into the EU (C/2025/5257) The European Commission informs European Union operators that there are reasonable doubts concerning the proper application of...
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The Global Dialogue for Seafood Traceability (GDST)

Thursday, November 13, 2025
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The GDST is a non-profit organisation that aims to standardise traceability data in the seafood supply chain, with a focus on data that relates to social and ethical responsibility. The GDST devlops guidance and software allows this data to be exchanged smoothly along the seafood supply chain. You can find...
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Seafood Europe publishes its Sustainability Manifesto

Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Seafood Europe’s Sustainability Manifesto sets out its vision for a healthy marine and aquatic environment that sustains coastal communities and a thriving European seafood industry. It reflects the commitment of the European seafood industry to safeguard the future of marine and aquatic resources through sustainable practices and by actively working towards...
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Seafood Europe publishes its 2025 EU Seafood Supply Synopsis

Thursday, November 6, 2025
The 2025 European Union Seafood Supply Synopsis, published by Seafood Europe (formerly AIPCE-CEP), provides the latest analysis of seafood trade flows by main species. The report once again demonstrates the EU’s significant dependence on imported seafood in order to meet the European consumer’s demand for whitefish, salmon, tuna and shrimp. The...
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Potential funding for importers to attend the 2026 World Seafood Congress, 9-11 February

Sunday, October 5, 2025
MPEDA (the Indian Marine Product Exports Development Authority) has offered to pay the costs (air fare and hotel) of attending the World Seafood Congress in Chennai, India (9-11 February), for bona fide foreign buyers representing an importing business to participate in buyer/seller events in association with the World Seafood Congress and...
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Western Sahara update on preferential treatment - 3 October 2025

Friday, October 3, 2025
Please note this email from Ms Lebo Mofolo at FRUCOM, received this afternoon, 3/10/2025: Dear All, Good afternoon, wonderful to see many of you earlier this week. I just spoke with Isabel from DG TAXUD. The agreement with Morocco has just been finalised, which means that the provisional application of...
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Global Shrimp Forum 2025: shrimp welfare

Thursday, September 4, 2025
Humane slaughter practices for shrimp Growing pressure from regulators, retailers and NGOs in Europe is pushing the global shrimp industry to address and improve animal welfare standards, particularly at the point of slaughter. The session focused on a critical welfare issue: ensuring shrimp are rendered unconscious in a way that...
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Global Shrimp Forum 2025: Shrimp Trade Statistics 2025

Wednesday, September 3, 2025
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03/09/2025 This morning, Willem van der Pijl and colleagues gave a presentation entitled Shrimp trade statistics: status and future prospects. I have attached the presentation slides at the bottom of this page for you to download. See also the Undercurrent News item (free to read) here. In summary: Ecuador leads growth,...
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Missed notifications during July 2025

Monday, August 18, 2025
Dear SIPA Member,   Notifications of updates to the website were not sent between 8th July and 1st August 2025. I apologise for the inconvenience. Over that period, the following documents were added: 31st July 2025: The Fish Inspector, July 2025 29th July 2025: Update on antimicrobial medicinal products (India,...
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Flash Sale - Responsible Seafood Summit 2025

Friday, August 15, 2025
Anyone wishing to register for the 2025 Responsible Seafood Summit is encouraged to take advantage of the current flash sale, which allows a saving of $300. This year the Summit will be held in Cartagena, Colombia, from 29 September to 2 November. Please see the details below or click here...
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The Fish Inspector, July 2025

Thursday, July 31, 2025
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The July 2025 edition of The Fish Inspector is available for download. Either click the image below or visit the Infofish website.
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Update on antimicrobial medicinal products (India, Indonesia etc.)

Tuesday, July 29, 2025
29/07/2025 I have added the following update in our Legislation area regarding future imports from India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka: Latest developments on Regulation 2024/2598 on antimicrobial medicinal products, and third countries not in compliance with EU requirements
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Items of interest to SIPA members in the latest FRUCOM newsletter (30/06/2025)

Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Please note the following items of particular interest to SIPA members in the FRUCOM Newsletter of 30th June 2025. Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons: notes, presentation and slides from the AgrInfo webinar The current and future status of Indonesia within the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) A summary of the MAC Working...
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Items of interest in the latest FRUCOM Newsletter (26/05/2025)

Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Please note the following items in the latest FRUCOM Newsletter (26/05/2025) that may be of particular interest: 2024 EFSA Annual Report on Emerging Risks and Horizon Scanning Activities EFSA has recommended further research into glass fibres in shellfish (following a study by the University of Brighton, UK) and into levels...
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The Fish Inspector, April 2025

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
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The April 2025 edition of The Fish Inspector is available. To download, click the image below or visit the Infofish website.
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2025 SIPA General Assembly to be held online on 9 April

Friday, February 21, 2025
Dear SIPA Member, The SIPA General Assembly will be held this year on Wednesday 9th April at 14:00h EST (Brussels time). I will circulate the agenda and associated papers separately when we announce the General Assembly officially. In the meantime, please mark your calendar.   Best wishes, Ivan Bartolo (President)
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DG MARE presentations: Changes to the IUU catch certification scheme and TRACES-CATCH

Thursday, February 6, 2025
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On 30th January 2025, staff from the MARE IUU Team gave 2 presentations on the changes to the EU IUU Regulation catch certification scheme and on TRACES-CATCH. You can download the presentation slides from the links below. Also find below the link to our FAQ on ‘What is new in...
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Action required: aquaculture imports from India, Indonesia etc. at risk

Monday, January 20, 2025
20/1/2025 Aquaculture product from countries such as India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka will not be permitted for import into the EU from 3 September 2026 unless their authorities provide reassurances on antimicrobial products New EU regulations restrict the use of antimicrobial products in animals intended for human consumption. Non-EU countries...
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The Fish Inspector, January 2025

Tuesday, January 7, 2025
The January 2025 edition of The Fish Inspector is available. To download, click the image below or visit the Infofish website.
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2024 EU Seafood Supply Synopsis

Tuesday, November 5, 2024
The EU Fish Processors and Traders Association (AIPCE-CEP) has published its 2024 EU Seafood Supply Synopsis (formerly known as the Finfish Study). The report provides valuable insights into the European fish and seafood processing sector, highlighting the essential role of seafood in the EU’s diet and its potential to aid...
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Items of interest in the latest FRUCOM Newsletter (04/11/2024)

Tuesday, November 5, 2024
The latest FRUCOM Newsletter (04/11/2024), available here, contains updates on the subjects below. Please refer to the newsletter for full details. EU–Vietnam: yellow card status A representative of the EU External Action Services said that it is still not possible to lift Vietnam’s yellow card because Vietnam’s central government faces...
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The Fish Inspector, October 2024

Thursday, October 17, 2024
The October 2024 edition of The Fish Inspector is available for download on the Infofish website.
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Trade with Southeast Asian Countries: FRUCOM call for questions

Tuesday, September 10, 2024
You are invited to send in questions regarding seafood trade with South and South-East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. This is in anticipation of a meeting between FRUCOM and the Head of Unit in DG TRADE with responsibility for these countries. Please direct your questions to me (Ivan Bartolo, i.bartolo@seafoodalliance.org), and...
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The Fish Inspector, July 2024

Friday, July 12, 2024
The July 2024 edition of The Fish Inspector is available for download on the Infofish website.
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Articles of interest in FRUCOM Newsletter 08/07/2024

Tuesday, July 9, 2024
This week’s edition of the FRUCOM Newsletter (FRUCOM Newsletter 08/07/2024) contains several articles of interest to SIPA members, including: FRUCOM members meet with Ulrich Weigl – DG TRADE future head of Vietnam delegation trade desk. EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Contaminants: Commission shares information regarding mineral oil Contaminants:...
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Kontali Shrimp: EU Market Update, June 2024

Friday, June 28, 2024
This report, by Kontali Shrimp, dropped into my inbox.   by Sander Visch The market in Europe is improving over last year, as total shrimp import reveals a 2% growth during Q1. Part of the growth is explained by a more positive market outlook, but also prices have been going...
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Responsible Seafood Summit, St Andrews, Scotland, 21–24 October 2024: member discount

Tuesday, June 25, 2024
The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has kindly provided a discount to all SIPA members wishing to attend the 2024 Responsible Seafood Summit in St Andrews, Scotland. The discount allows SIPA members to register at the Tier 1 rate of $1600+VAT, which is a $500 saving on the standard Tier 3...
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Contact with the EU's DG Trade delegation in Hanoi

Thursday, May 30, 2024
FRUCOM has recently released a Circular regarding the EU delegation in Hanoi. It appears that FRUCOM is in touch with a high ranking DG Trade official who will soon be stationed with the EU delegation in Hanoi, Vietnam. If you are involved in business with Vietnam, this is an opportunity...
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Of SIPA member interest in the FRUCOM Newsletter of 27/05/2024

Tuesday, May 28, 2024
There are 2 items of particular interest to SIPA members in the FRUCOM Newsletter of 27/05/2024.   IUU FISHING: SENEGAL ISSUED WITH A ‘YELLOW CARD’ BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION The Commission has issued Senegal with a yellow card because it identified deficiencies in the Senegalese monitoring, control and surveillance systems...
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Of SIPA member interest in FRUCOM Newsletter of 06/05/2024

Tuesday, May 7, 2024
There are several items of interest to SIPA members in the latest FRUCOM newsletter: Entry into force of the EU – New Zealand trade agreement Official controls: the EU to discuss animal diseases Additives: EU notifies the removal of the flavouring substance benzene-1,2-diol Additives: Member States endorse non renewal of...
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The EU–New Zealand Trade Agreement is now in force

Tuesday, May 7, 2024
The EU–New Zealand trade agreement entered into force on 1 May 2024. The agreement eliminates duties on EU food and drink exports to New Zealand. It also eliminates or substantially reduces EU duties on most New Zealand goods exported to the EU, notably fish and seafood products. According to the...
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Reminder: SIPA General Assembly 2024 (via Teams) on Wednesday 10 April

Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Dear SIPA Member, This is a reminder that you are invited to the 2024 SIPA General Assembly, which will be held online on Wednesday 10 April at 14.00 Brussels time (13.00 London time). The meeting will be held as an interactive Teams meeting. (Join the meeting). The agenda, the accounts and the...
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Announcement of the 2024 General Assembly (via Teams), 10 April 2024

Wednesday, March 20, 2024
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Dear SIPA Member,     You are invited to the 2024 SIPA General Assembly, which will be held online on Wednesday 10 April at 14.00h Brussels time (13.00h London time). The meeting will be held as an interactive Teams meeting.   The agenda, the 2023 accounts and the proposed 2024 budget are attached. The approved...
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Changes to the EU Fisheries Control Regulation and the IUU Regulation (CATCH)

Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Dear SIPA Member, Please note the informative Commission presentations on the changes to the Fisheries Control Regulation and to the IUU Regulation (specifically to catch certification) in the last item of FRUCOM Newsletter of 12/02/2024. Best wishes, Ivan Bartolo
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Call for information and data on mineral oil hydrocarbons

Monday, February 5, 2024
FRUCOM is collecting information and data on mineral oil hydrocarbons to send to the European Commission in response to its call for evidence. Please see the FRUCOM circular below and send any information either to the FRUCOM secretariat (ksaari@frucom.eu) or to me (i.bartolo@seafoodalliance.org) by 20 February 2024. FRUCOM participated in...
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EUMOFA talk on 25 January 2024: Digitalisation and full traceability of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors

Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Dear SIPA Member, EUMOFA invites you to join the upcoming talk, which will be held online on 25 January 2024, from 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. (CET), on Zoom. The topic will be: Digitalisation of the fisheries sector and full traceability of fishery and aquaculture products : achievements and remaining...
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Request for comments on the maximum inorganic arsenic levels in fish

Thursday, December 21, 2023
Further to the previous message on the inorganic arsenic proposal, the European Commission is currently running a consultation on the maximum levels of inorganic arsenic permissible in fish and seafood products. SIPA has the opportunity to respond to the Commission on the proposal through FRUCOM, who will be providing an...
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Maximum levels of inorganic arsenic in fishery products: new proposal

Friday, December 15, 2023
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The European Commission has produced a new proposal on the maximum levels of inorganic arsenic permitted in fishery products. You can download the proposal using the links below. Note that this is draft legislation that has not yet been adopted.
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FRUCOM invitation to a webinar on Sustainability Reporting, 24 January 2024

Monday, December 11, 2023
The Agri-Food Chain Sustainability Roundtable is organising a webinar on Corporate Sustainability Reporting in the Agri-Food Chain, which will take place online on 24 January, from 16h30 – 18h00 CET. The agri-food industry is operating in a landscape where sustainability reporting is rapidly evolving, becoming ever more complex especially in...
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SIPA General Assembly 2024

Friday, December 8, 2023
Dear SIPA Member,  We will be holding the 2024 SIPA General Assembly online (Microsoft Teams) on Wednesday 10th April at 14.00h (Brussels time). I have sent a separate email with a calendar invite for you to add to your calendar.  Best wishes,  Ivan Bartolo  SIPA President   Email: i.bartolo@seafoodalliance.org  Tel: +44...
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FRUCOM draft letter on need for harmonization of national official controls

Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Please note the first item in the latest FRUCOM newsletter: Draft letter on need for harmonization of national official controls. FRUCOM has drafted a letter to the European Commission on the need for harmonization of national official controls. The draft letter contains examples of products (figs and nuts) that were...
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2024-2026 autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs)

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
On 27 November 2023, the European Council adopted a regulation opening the autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs) for 2024, 2025 and 2026. The Council has now released the proposal for the regulation on the 2024–2026 ATQs. It is available through this link.   UPDATE 6/12/2023 The Regulation (Regulation 2023/2720) was published...
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Short-weighting of retail frozen shrimp in California

Monday, October 2, 2023
Of 106 retail packs of frozen shrimp (prawns) sampled in California, 37% were found to be underweight. Article on Food Authenticity Network: Short weight frozen shrimp California
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EFSA: Update of the risk assessment of mineral oil hydrocarbons in food

Wednesday, September 20, 2023
EFSA published an update to its the risk assessment of mineral oil hydrocarbons in food on 13 September 2023. EFSA split the mineral oil hydrocarbons into two groups: mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH). Regarding MOSH, EFSA concluded that current dietary exposure does not raise...
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UK publishes its import control model and delays import controls by 3 months

Tuesday, August 29, 2023
The UK has published it’s ‘final’ Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). This latest version of the BTOM introduces another delay to post-Brexit border controls on EU goods entering Britain. The BTOM contains the UK’s plan for introducing a ‘simplified and digitised’ approach to implementing controls, including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks...
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General Assembly 2023: draft minutes

Monday, July 17, 2023
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Dear SIPA Member,   Thank you for your participation in the 2023 SIPA General Assembly.   Please find the draft minutes of the General Assembly attached here. Members who attended are invited to reply to me with any comments or amendments as soon as possible, and no later than 1...
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Reminder: 2023 General Assembly (via Zoom), Monday 17 July

Sunday, July 9, 2023
Dear SIPA Member, This is a reminder that you are invited to the 2023 SIPA General Assembly, which will be held online on Monday 17 July at 14.00 Brussels time (13.00 London time). The meeting will be held as an interactive Zoom meeting. The agenda, the 2022 accounts and the proposed...
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Free virtual access to the 2023 Shrimp Summit (24–26 July)

Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Dear SIPA Member, The Center for Responsible Seafood (TCRS) has kindly provided a discount code for SIPA members to gain Virtual Access to the Shrimp Summit (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 24–26 July 2023). Enter the code VRTSIPA during checkout (final payment screen) to obtain a 100% discount off the...
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