This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Salmon farming industry
06/02/2004
Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson today welcomed
moves aimed at safeguarding the future of the Scottish
salmon farming industry.
The UK has submitted an application, formally supported
by Ireland, to the EU for measures to restrict the import
of farmed Atlantic salmon from non-EU countries.
Mr Wilson echoed the Department of Trade and Industry's
call for the Commission to launch an investigation and at
the same time to impose provisional safeguard measures to
give the Scottish industry the chance to review and
restructure its operation.
Mr Wilson said:
"The aquaculture industry is of vital importance to many
rural and remote communities in Scotland - making a
significant contribution to rural employment.
"We have submitted this application because our salmon
farming industry has faced severe challenges due to
increased imports from non-EU countries. The safeguard
action will bring much needed stability and improved
trading conditions back to the European salmon market and
allow businesses to move on. This in turn should provide a
better climate for renewed investment in the industry.
"The Scottish Executive has worked very closely with
representatives of the industry and with Whitehall on the
submission of a safeguards application.
I am grateful for, and very much welcome, the decision
by the Irish government to support the case. This support
is crucial to trigger an investigation by the European
Commission to allow safeguard measures to be adopted by the
EU."
The measures being sought apply exclusively to farmed
Atlantic salmon and not to wild salmon or other fish
imports from non-EU.
Safeguard measures, if applied, will affect imports of
farmed Atlantic salmon from all non-EU countries. EU
safeguard measures could operate in a number of ways, the
most likely form the measures will take is a tariff based
quota. This operates by imposing punitive duties on imports
above a pre-established country specific threshold.
Safeguard measures can only be taken when there is, or a
significant risk of, serious injury to a Community
industry. In this instance, the serious injury is attested
by the growing number of independent Scottish salmon
producers going into receivership.
Independent Scottish producers account for about 20 per
cent of Community production. With Irish support, this
makes up more than the 25 per cent support required to take
forward a safeguards application. The decision by the
Irish, who are a facing similar threat from imports, has
ensured that this threshold will be met.
The UK safeguarding application (with Irish support) was
lodged with the European Commission on Monday, February 2,
2004. The EC will now have to consider the application,
and if content that it meets the criteria, will put the
application on the agenda for the next meeting of the EC
Safeguarding Committee, which is scheduled for Wednesday,
February 12, 2004.