This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000801 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR OES/OMC, OES/ETC, IO/EDA, EB/TPP; PASS USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIS ETRD EAGR AORC FAO
SUBJECT: NINTH SESSION OF FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISH TRADE 
 
 
¶1.   SUMMARY:  THE FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISH TRADE HELD ITS NINTH SESSION IN 
BREMEN, GERMANY, FEBRUARY 10-14, 2004.  GREG SCHNEIDER 
(U.S.) WAS ELECTED TO CHAIR THE MEETING; RICHARD SISSON 
OF AUSTRALIA SERVED AS RAPPORTEUR.  THE FAO SECRETARIAT 
PRESENTED A REPORT ON THE RECENT EVENTS CONCERNING 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FISHERY PRODUCTS.  THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE DEALT WITH A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES 
AND PREPARED TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES, BOTH 
INTER-SESSIONALLY AND AT ITS NEXT MEETING.  THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE MADE PROGRESS ON SEVERAL ISSUES OF CONCERN 
TO THE U.S. DELEGATION.  THESE INCLUDE: (1) COOPERATION 
BETWEEN THE FAO SECRETARIAT AND THE SECRETARIAT OF THE 
CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES 
    (CITES); (2) ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE GROWING USE 
OF "ECOLABELS" ON FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS; (3) HARMONIZING 
THE CATCH DOCUMENTATION SCHEMES IN USE BY A NUMBER OF 
REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS; (4) 
TRACEABILITY AND LABELING IN FISH TRADE; AND (5) FAO 
COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO). 
ISSUES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
INCLUDED:  (1) SAFETY AND QUALITY RELATED TO FISHMEAL AND 
BSE; (2) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND 
THE COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES; (3) FISH TRADE AND FOOD 
SECURITY; AND (4) ACCESS OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCH 
TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE.  BOTH SPAIN AND THE CITY OF 
BREMEN OFFERED TO HOST THE NEXT MEETING OF THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE, CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FAO 
SECRETARIAT TO NEGOTIATE FOR THE BEST VALUE BETWEEN THE 
 
SIPDIS 
TWO POTENTIAL HOSTS.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
DISCUSSION OF REPORT ON TRADE IN FISH PRODUCTS 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2.   THE DISCUSSION THAT FOLLOWED THE SECRETARIAT'S 
REPORT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN FISH TRADE HIGHLIGHTED 
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA TRADE 
NEGOTIATIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO SUBSIDIES. 
MEMBERS NOTED THE CONCENTRATION OF FISH IMPORTS INTO A 
RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF STATES, AND THE POTENTIAL 
IMPACT ON TRADE OF REGULATORY CHANGES IN THOSE MARKETS. 
MEMBERS ALSO NOTED THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF CONSUMERS ON 
FISH TRADE.  THEY ALSO NOTED THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF 
AQUACULTURE IN FISH TRADE.  THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT 
    THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE NEEDED TO COORDINATE AND EXCHANGE 
INFORMATION WITH THE MANY UN AGENCIES AND WITH REGIONAL 
BODIES AS WELL. 
 
--------------------- 
FAO-CITES COOPERATION 
--------------------- 
 
¶3.   FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AS COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT FISH 
STOCKS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED, CALLS FOR CITES TRADE CONTROLS 
ON MARINE SPECIES HAVE INCREASED.  THE APPLICATION OF 
CITES MEASURES FOR SOME SPECIES IS NOW INEVITABLE.  CITES 
LACKS THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE WITH RESPECT TO MARINE 
SPECIES, SO MANY CITES AND FAO MEMBERS HAVE SOUGHT TO 
ESTABLISH A FORMAL COORDINATION MECHANISM BETWEEN THE FAO 
AND CITES.  IN FACT, THE TWO SECRETARIATS DO INTERACT 
WITH EACH OTHER REGULARLY. 
 
¶4.   AT THIS YEAR'S SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, THE U.S. HAD 
THREE OBJECTIVES:  (1) ENSURE THAT PLANS FOR TWO FAO 
EXPERT CONSULTATIONS, ONE ON IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND 
ONE ON LEGAL ISSUES, WERE APPROVED, AS DIRECTED BY THE 
25TH SESSION OF THE FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES; (2) GAIN 
 
ROME 00000801  001.2 OF 005 
 
SION IN 
BREMEN, GERMANY, FEBRUARY 10-14, 2004.  GREG SCHNEIDER 
(U.S.) WAS ELECTED TO CHAIR THE MEETING; RICHARD SISSON 
OF AUSTRALIA SERVED AS RAPPORTEUR.  THE FAO SECRETARIAT 
PRESENTED A REPORT ON THE RECENT EVENTS CONCERNING 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FISHERY PRODUCTS.  THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE DEALT WITH A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES 
AND PREPARED TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES, BOTH 
INTER-SESSIONALLY AND AT ITS NEXT MEETING.  THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE MADE PROGRESS ON SEVERAL ISSUES OF CONCERN 
TO THE U.S. DELEGATION.  THESE INCLUDE: (1) COOPERATION 
BETWEEN THE FAO SECRETARIAT AND THE SECRETARIAT OF THE 
CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES 
    (CITES); (2) ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE GROWING USE 
OF "ECOLABELS" ON FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS; (3) HARMONIZING 
THE CATCH DOCUMENTATION SCHEMES IN USE BY A NUMBER OF 
REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS; (4) 
TRACEABILITY AND LABELING IN FISH TRADE; AND (5) FAO 
COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO). 
ISSUES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
INCLUDED:  (1) SAFETY AND QUALITY RELATED TO FISHMEAL AND 
BSE; (2) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND 
THE COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES; (3) FISH TRADE AND FOOD 
SECURITY; AND (4) ACCESS OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCH 
TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE.  BOTH SPAIN AND THE CITY OF 
BREMEN OFFERED TO HOST THE NEXT MEETING OF THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE, CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FAO 
SECRETARIAT TO NEGOTIATE FOR THE BEST VALUE BETWEEN THE 
 
SIPDIS 
TWO POTENTIAL HOSTS.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
DISCUSSION OF REPORT ON TRADE IN FISH PRODUCTS 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2.   THE DISCUSSION THAT FOLLOWED THE SECRETARIAT'S 
REPORT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN FISH TRADE HIGHLIGHTED 
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA TRADE 
NEGOTIATIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO SUBSIDIES. 
MEMBERS NOTED THE CONCENTRATION OF FISH IMPORTS INTO A 
RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF STATES, AND THE POTENTIAL 
IMPACT ON TRADE OF REGULATORY CHANGES IN THOSE MARKETS. 
MEMBERS ALSO NOTED THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF CONSUMERS ON 
FISH TRADE.  THEY ALSO NOTED THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF 
AQUACULTURE IN FISH TRADE.  THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT 
    THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE NEEDED TO COORDINATE AND EXCHANGE 
INFORMATION WITH THE MANY UN AGENCIES AND WITH REGIONAL 
BODIES AS WELL. 
 
--------------------- 
FAO-CITES COOPERATION 
--------------------- 
 
¶3.   FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AS COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT FISH 
STOCKS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED, CALLS FOR CITES TRADE CONTROLS 
ON MARINE SPECIES HAVE INCREASED.  THE APPLICATION OF 
CITES MEASURES FOR SOME SPECIES IS NOW INEVITABLE.  CITES 
LACKS THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE WITH RESPECT TO MARINE 
SPECIES, SO MANY CITES AND FAO MEMBERS HAVE SOUGHT TO 
ESTABLISH A FORMAL COORDINATION MECHANISM BETWEEN THE FAO 
AND CITES.  IN FACT, THE TWO SECRETARIATS DO INTERACT 
WITH EACH OTHER REGULARLY. 
 
¶4.   AT THIS YEAR'S SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, THE U.S. HAD 
THREE OBJECTIVES:  (1) ENSURE THAT PLANS FOR TWO FAO 
EXPERT CONSULTATIONS, ONE ON IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND 
ONE ON LEGAL ISSUES, WERE APPROVED, AS DIRECTED BY THE 
25TH SESSION OF THE FAO COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES; (2) GAIN 
 
ROME 00000801  002.1 OF 005 
 
 TO CITES, SO THAT 
PROPOSALS FOR LISTING OR DE-LISTING COMMERCIALLY 
EXPLOITED SPECIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF 
REFERENCE AGREED BY COFI COULD TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO 
THE 13TH CITES CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES (COP-13); AND 
(3) TO GAIN APPROVAL BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR A MEMORANDUM 
OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN FAO AND CITES 
SECRETARIATS, SETTING FORTH THE MECHANISM THROUGH WHICH 
 
SIPDIS 
THE TWO WOULD COOPERATE. 
 
¶5.   THE THREE OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED.  THE MOST 
DIFFICULT WAS APPROVAL OF THE MOU.  WHILE THE U.S. AND 
JAPAN HAD ACHIEVED CONSENSUS ON A DRAFT TEXT, MOST 
    SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS HAD NOT SEEN THAT TEXT PRIOR TO THE 
MEETING.  IN ADDITION, THE CHAIR OF THE CITES STANDING 
COMMITTEE HAD FORWARDED HIS PROPOSED DRAFT MOU TO THE FAO 
PRIOR TO THE MEETING.  TO GAIN APPROVAL OF A SINGLE MOU 
TEXT, AND TO MAP A PROCESS BY WHICH THE FAO SECRETARIAT 
COULD NEGOTIATE A FINAL TEXT WITH THE CITES SECRETARIAT, 
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ESTABLISHED A 
SMALL GROUP, CO-CHAIRED BY JAPAN AND THE U.S.  THE SMALL 
GROUP MET TWICE AND PRESENTED A SLIGHTLY REVISED MOU 
AND CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SECRETARIAT FOR 
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITES STANDING COMMITTEE 
CHAIR.  BOTH COMPONENTS WERE ADOPTED BY THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE.  NOTE:  POSTS INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A 
COPY OF THE MOU TEXT OR THE TEXT OF THE INSTRUCTIONS TO 
THE FAO SECRETARIAT MAY CONTACT OES/OMC STETSON TINKHAM 
BY E-MAIL AT TINKHAMSX@STATE.GOV. END NOTE. 
 
¶6.   AUSTRALIA, UNDER INSTRUCTIONS FROM CANBERRA, DID NOT 
JOIN THE CONSENSUS TO ADOPT THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, 
BUT STOPPED SHORT OF BLOCKING ADOPTION OF THE 
INSTRUCTIONS. 
 
---------------------- 
ECOLABELING DISCUSSION 
---------------------- 
 
¶7.   IN THE FACE OF A PROLIFERATION OF RESPONSES TO CALLS 
FROM CONSUMERS FOR RELIABLE LABELS THAT AFFIRM THAT FISH 
AND FISH PRODUCTS ARE SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED, FAO HAS 
UNDERTAKEN CONSIDERABLE WORK TO PRODUCE INTERNATIONAL 
GUIDELINES FOR THE ECOLABELING OF FISH AND FISH 
    PRODUCTS.  THE MOST RECENT EFFORT WAS AN EXPERT 
CONSULTATION, HELD 14-17 OCTOBER 2003.  THE REPORT OF THE 
CONSULTATION WAS PRESENTED BY ITS CHAIR, DR. KRISTJAN 
THORARINSSON.  HE DESCRIBED THE SCOPE, PRINCIPLES, 
MINIMUM SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURAL AND 
INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS SET OUT IN THE DRAFT GUIDELINES. 
THE CONSULTATION RECOMMENDED THAT "THIRD PARTY" ECOLABEL 
CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES BE ESTABLISHED. 
 
¶8.   THE U.S. POSITION ON ECOLABELING IS STILL EVOLVING. 
AT THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, THE U.S. DELEGATION SOUGHT 
TO KEEP OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES 
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL MIGHT CERTIFY THAT FISHERIES WERE 
CONDUCTED IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER.  ONE WAY OF DESCRIBING 
THIS APPROACH WOULD BE TO REFER TO IT AS "SELF- 
CERTIFICATION." 
 
¶9.   DURING DISCUSSION OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, NEW ZEALAND 
POINTED OUT THAT THE "THIRD PARTY" APPROACH MIGHT LEAD TO 
INTRACTABLE LEGAL CHALLENGES AMONG NATIONAL AUTHORITIES, 
FISHERS, CONSUMERS AND THE CERTIFIERS.  RATHER THAN HAVE 
THE FAO INVOLVED IN ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION, NZ SUGGESTED 
NATIONAL BODIES ALREADY EMPOWERED TO ENFORCE TRUTH-IN- 
 
ROME 00000801  002.2 OF 005 
 
 TO CITES, SO THAT 
PROPOSALS FOR LISTING OR DE-LISTING COMMERCIALLY 
EXPLOITED SPECIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF 
REFERENCE AGREED BY COFI COULD TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO 
THE 13TH CITES CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES (COP-13); AND 
(3) TO GAIN APPROVAL BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR A MEMORANDUM 
OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN FAO AND CITES 
SECRETARIATS, SETTING FORTH THE MECHANISM THROUGH WHICH 
 
SIPDIS 
THE TWO WOULD COOPERATE. 
 
¶5.   THE THREE OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED.  THE MOST 
DIFFICULT WAS APPROVAL OF THE MOU.  WHILE THE U.S. AND 
JAPAN HAD ACHIEVED CONSENSUS ON A DRAFT TEXT, MOST 
    SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS HAD NOT SEEN THAT TEXT PRIOR TO THE 
MEETING.  IN ADDITION, THE CHAIR OF THE CITES STANDING 
COMMITTEE HAD FORWARDED HIS PROPOSED DRAFT MOU TO THE FAO 
PRIOR TO THE MEETING.  TO GAIN APPROVAL OF A SINGLE MOU 
TEXT, AND TO MAP A PROCESS BY WHICH THE FAO SECRETARIAT 
COULD NEGOTIATE A FINAL TEXT WITH THE CITES SECRETARIAT, 
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ESTABLISHED A 
SMALL GROUP, CO-CHAIRED BY JAPAN AND THE U.S.  THE SMALL 
GROUP MET TWICE AND PRESENTED A SLIGHTLY REVISED MOU 
AND CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SECRETARIAT FOR 
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITES STANDING COMMITTEE 
CHAIR.  BOTH COMPONENTS WERE ADOPTED BY THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE.  NOTE:  POSTS INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A 
COPY OF THE MOU TEXT OR THE TEXT OF THE INSTRUCTIONS TO 
THE FAO SECRETARIAT MAY CONTACT OES/OMC STETSON TINKHAM 
BY E-MAIL AT TINKHAMSX@STATE.GOV. END NOTE. 
 
¶6.   AUSTRALIA, UNDER INSTRUCTIONS FROM CANBERRA, DID NOT 
JOIN THE CONSENSUS TO ADOPT THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, 
BUT STOPPED SHORT OF BLOCKING ADOPTION OF THE 
INSTRUCTIONS. 
 
---------------------- 
ECOLABELING DISCUSSION 
---------------------- 
 
¶7.   IN THE FACE OF A PROLIFERATION OF RESPONSES TO CALLS 
FROM CONSUMERS FOR RELIABLE LABELS THAT AFFIRM THAT FISH 
AND FISH PRODUCTS ARE SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED, FAO HAS 
UNDERTAKEN CONSIDERABLE WORK TO PRODUCE INTERNATIONAL 
GUIDELINES FOR THE ECOLABELING OF FISH AND FISH 
    PRODUCTS.  THE MOST RECENT EFFORT WAS AN EXPERT 
CONSULTATION, HELD 14-17 OCTOBER 2003.  THE REPORT OF THE 
CONSULTATION WAS PRESENTED BY ITS CHAIR, DR. KRISTJAN 
THORARINSSON.  HE DESCRIBED THE SCOPE, PRINCIPLES, 
MINIMUM SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURAL AND 
INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS SET OUT IN THE DRAFT GUIDELINES. 
THE CONSULTATION RECOMMENDED THAT "THIRD PARTY" ECOLABEL 
CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES BE ESTABLISHED. 
 
¶8.   THE U.S. POSITION ON ECOLABELING IS STILL EVOLVING. 
AT THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, THE U.S. DELEGATION SOUGHT 
TO KEEP OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES 
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL MIGHT CERTIFY THAT FISHERIES WERE 
CONDUCTED IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER.  ONE WAY OF DESCRIBING 
THIS APPROACH WOULD BE TO REFER TO IT AS "SELF- 
CERTIFICATION." 
 
¶9.   DURING DISCUSSION OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, NEW ZEALAND 
POINTED OUT THAT THE "THIRD PARTY" APPROACH MIGHT LEAD TO 
INTRACTABLE LEGAL CHALLENGES AMONG NATIONAL AUTHORITIES, 
FISHERS, CONSUMERS AND THE CERTIFIERS.  RATHER THAN HAVE 
THE FAO INVOLVED IN ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION, NZ SUGGESTED 
NATIONAL BODIES ALREADY EMPOWERED TO ENFORCE TRUTH-IN- 
 
ROME 00000801  003.1 OF 005 
 
RNS OVER THE LEGAL 
MORASS DESCRIBED BY NEW ZEALAND AND THE EVOLVING SELF- 
CERTIFICATION CONCEPT BY REFERRING TO THE NEED TO FIND A 
WAY TO BOTH ESTABLISH ECOLABELS AND RESPECT THE 
"...SOVEREIGN RESPONSIBILITIES OF NATIONAL FISHERY 
MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES."  JAPAN EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A 
PRIVATE, THIRD PARTY SCHEME MIGHT BE "ARBITRARY." 
 
¶10.   THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT FAO ORGANIZE A 
TECHNICAL CONSULTATION TO FURTHER ELABORATE THE WORK OF 
THE EXPERT CONSULTATION AND TO FINALIZE DRAFT GUIDELINES 
FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE 26TH MEETING OF COFI.  THE 
CHAIRMAN NOTED THAT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) 
    HAD NOT BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE EXPERT CONSULTATION.  HE 
SUGGESTED THAT THE FAO TRANSMIT THE DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR 
ECOLABELING TO THE WTO TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE 
COMMITTEE FOR POSSIBLE COMMENT IN ADVANCE OF THE 
PREPARATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR THE TECHNICAL CONSULTATION. 
 
¶11.   FAO MEMBERS (INCLUDING THE USG) WILL NEED 
TO SHARPEN THEIR FOCUS ON THIS TOPIC IN PREPARING FOR THE 
TECHNICAL CONSULTATION AND THE COFI MEETING. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
HARMONIZING CATCH DOCUMENTATION SCHEMES 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶12.   THIS AGENDA ITEM AROSE FROM A REQUEST FROM THE 
INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF FISHERIES ASSOCIATIONS, WHOSE 
MEMBERS SOUGHT TO HARMONIZE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY 
REGIONAL FISHERIES BODIES AND OTHERS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE 
THE PAPERWORK BURDENS OF FISHERMEN AND OTHERS IN THE 
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION CHAIN.  NEVERTHELESS, THE 
DISCUSSION IN BREMEN INCLUDED A NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS 
SUGGESTING THAT CATCH DOCUMENTATION ITSELF WAS 
BURDENSOME!  THE SUBCOMMITTEE DID NOT SUPPORT ADDITIONAL 
EXPERT OR TECHNICAL CONSULTATIONS ON CATCH DOCUMENTATION 
HARMONIZATION, NOR DID IT SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THE 
DRAFT DOCUMENT PRESENTED BY THE SECRETARIAT.  GIVEN THAT 
SOME ELEMENTS IN A HARMONIZED DOCUMENT WERE COMMON AND 
OTHERS UNIQUE, THE QUESTION WAS POSED AS TO WHETHER ANY 
THOUGHT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO A HALF-WAY HARMONIZATION. THERE 
WAS CONSENSUS FOR CONTINUED WORK ON THIS TOPIC BY THE 
SECRETARIAT, AND SOME, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, 
 
SIPDIS 
    CALLED ON THE SECRETARIAT TO CONSIDER ELECTRONIC CATCH 
DOCUMENTATION AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
TRACEABILITY AND LABELING IN FISH TRADE 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶13. DISCUSSION UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM DREW A NUMBER OF 
COMMENTS THAT ALSO APPLIED TO THE ECOLABELING AND CATCH 
DOCUMENTATION AGENDA ITEMS.  THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS 
REVEALED THAT TRACEABILITY IS A VAGUE CONCEPT THAT MAY BE 
USED TO TRACK IUU FISHING, PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUSTAINABLE 
FISHERIES ISSUES, AMONG OTHERS.  MANY SPEAKERS NOTED THE 
NEED FOR TRACING AND LABELING DOCUMENTS TO TAKE INTO 
ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES IN COMPLYING WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS.  OTHERS 
POINTED TO THE FACT THAT, LIKE IT OR NOT, TRACEABILITY 
REQUIREMENTS WERE BEING IMPOSED ON SHORT DEADLINES BY 
MAJOR MARKETS, SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES (CURRENT 
LEGISLATION CALLS FOR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING BY END 
SEPTEMBER 2004) AND THE EU (LABELING REQUIREMENTS WILL 
TAKE EFFECT IN 2005).  PARTICIPANTS SUGGESTED THAT THERE 
WAS A REAL NEED FOR CODEX ALIMENTARIUS TO DEVELOP A 
 
ROME 00000801  003.2 OF 005 
 
RNS OVER THE LEGAL 
MORASS DESCRIBED BY NEW ZEALAND AND THE EVOLVING SELF- 
CERTIFICATION CONCEPT BY REFERRING TO THE NEED TO FIND A 
WAY TO BOTH ESTABLISH ECOLABELS AND RESPECT THE 
"...SOVEREIGN RESPONSIBILITIES OF NATIONAL FISHERY 
MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES."  JAPAN EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A 
PRIVATE, THIRD PARTY SCHEME MIGHT BE "ARBITRARY." 
 
¶10.   THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT FAO ORGANIZE A 
TECHNICAL CONSULTATION TO FURTHER ELABORATE THE WORK OF 
THE EXPERT CONSULTATION AND TO FINALIZE DRAFT GUIDELINES 
FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE 26TH MEETING OF COFI.  THE 
CHAIRMAN NOTED THAT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) 
    HAD NOT BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE EXPERT CONSULTATION.  HE 
SUGGESTED THAT THE FAO TRANSMIT THE DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR 
ECOLABELING TO THE WTO TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE 
COMMITTEE FOR POSSIBLE COMMENT IN ADVANCE OF THE 
PREPARATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR THE TECHNICAL CONSULTATION. 
 
¶11.   FAO MEMBERS (INCLUDING THE USG) WILL NEED 
TO SHARPEN THEIR FOCUS ON THIS TOPIC IN PREPARING FOR THE 
TECHNICAL CONSULTATION AND THE COFI MEETING. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
HARMONIZING CATCH DOCUMENTATION SCHEMES 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶12.   THIS AGENDA ITEM AROSE FROM A REQUEST FROM THE 
INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF FISHERIES ASSOCIATIONS, WHOSE 
MEMBERS SOUGHT TO HARMONIZE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY 
REGIONAL FISHERIES BODIES AND OTHERS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE 
THE PAPERWORK BURDENS OF FISHERMEN AND OTHERS IN THE 
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION CHAIN.  NEVERTHELESS, THE 
DISCUSSION IN BREMEN INCLUDED A NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS 
SUGGESTING THAT CATCH DOCUMENTATION ITSELF WAS 
BURDENSOME!  THE SUBCOMMITTEE DID NOT SUPPORT ADDITIONAL 
EXPERT OR TECHNICAL CONSULTATIONS ON CATCH DOCUMENTATION 
HARMONIZATION, NOR DID IT SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THE 
DRAFT DOCUMENT PRESENTED BY THE SECRETARIAT.  GIVEN THAT 
SOME ELEMENTS IN A HARMONIZED DOCUMENT WERE COMMON AND 
OTHERS UNIQUE, THE QUESTION WAS POSED AS TO WHETHER ANY 
THOUGHT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO A HALF-WAY HARMONIZATION. THERE 
WAS CONSENSUS FOR CONTINUED WORK ON THIS TOPIC BY THE 
SECRETARIAT, AND SOME, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, 
 
SIPDIS 
    CALLED ON THE SECRETARIAT TO CONSIDER ELECTRONIC CATCH 
DOCUMENTATION AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
TRACEABILITY AND LABELING IN FISH TRADE 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶13. DISCUSSION UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM DREW A NUMBER OF 
COMMENTS THAT ALSO APPLIED TO THE ECOLABELING AND CATCH 
DOCUMENTATION AGENDA ITEMS.  THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS 
REVEALED THAT TRACEABILITY IS A VAGUE CONCEPT THAT MAY BE 
USED TO TRACK IUU FISHING, PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUSTAINABLE 
FISHERIES ISSUES, AMONG OTHERS.  MANY SPEAKERS NOTED THE 
NEED FOR TRACING AND LABELING DOCUMENTS TO TAKE INTO 
ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES IN COMPLYING WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS.  OTHERS 
POINTED TO THE FACT THAT, LIKE IT OR NOT, TRACEABILITY 
REQUIREMENTS WERE BEING IMPOSED ON SHORT DEADLINES BY 
MAJOR MARKETS, SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES (CURRENT 
LEGISLATION CALLS FOR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING BY END 
SEPTEMBER 2004) AND THE EU (LABELING REQUIREMENTS WILL 
TAKE EFFECT IN 2005).  PARTICIPANTS SUGGESTED THAT THERE 
WAS A REAL NEED FOR CODEX ALIMENTARIUS TO DEVELOP A 
 
ROME 00000801  004.1 OF 005 
 
-------- 
 
¶14.   THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED THE RESULTS OF ITS 
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO). 
DESPITE THE HOPES OF MANY DELEGATES THAT A WAY COULD BE 
FOUND TO USE THE HARMONIZED SCHEDULE (HS) OF TARIFF CODES 
IN TRACING THE FLOW OF FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS THROUGH THE 
STREAM OF COMMERCE, THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED THAT THERE 
WERE ONLY TWO WAYS TO REVISE THE HS CODES: SLOW AND 
SLOWER!  FAO MEMBERS WERE ENCOURAGED TO PASS IDEAS FOR 
    COLLABORATION WITH THE WCO TO THE SECRETARIAT.  IN 
DISCUSSING THE TOPIC, MEMBERS ALSO REFERRED TO THE NEED 
TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CAPTURE FISHERY PRODUCTS AND 
AQUACULTURE FISHERY PRODUCTS, AND HOW THE HS CODE SYSTEM 
SEEMED TO PROVIDE A LOGICAL MECHANISM BY WHICH TO 
ACCOMPLISH THAT. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
SAFETY AND QUALITY, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON FISHMEAL 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶15.   THIS ITEM WAS PLACED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE AGENDA 
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IN THE WAKE OF THE "MAD COW" BOVINE 
SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) DISEASE OUTBREAK IN 
EUROPE.  DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE USE OF MEAL MADE FROM 
PARTS OF BSE-INFECTED ANIMALS, EU RULES (AND IMPRECISE 
DETECTION METHODOLOGIES) DRAMATICALLY RESTRICTED SALES OF 
FISHMEAL FROM PERU INTO THE EU MARKET.  PERU AND THE 
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR FISHMEAL AND OIL PRODUCERS 
ARGUED FORCIBLY FOR THE EU TO LIFT ITS RESTRICTIONS.  THE 
EU COULD ONLY REPLY THAT NEW ANALYTICAL TESTS MIGHT MAKE 
EASING THE RULES A POSSIBILITY DURING 2004.  IT WAS 
AGREED THAT HACCP-BASED SYSTEMS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AN 
IMPROVEMENT IN FISH SAFETY AND QUALITY AND THAT THEIR 
APPLICATION SHOULD BE EXPANDED.  FAO CAPACITY BUILDING 
EFFORTS IN THIS AREA ARE WIDELY AGREED TO BE AN ESSENTIAL 
COMPONENT OF THIS STRATEGY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
SUBCOMMITTEE FOR FISH TRADE AND COMMON FUND FOR 
COMMODITIES 
    --------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶16.   TOPICS DISCUSSED UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM DEALT WITH 
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FAO AND THE COMMON FUND FOR 
COMMODITIES (CFC).  A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL REGIONAL 
COLLABORATIONS WERE DESCRIBED, OFTEN IN MORE DEPTH THAN 
SOME PARTICIPANTS MAY HAVE WISHED.  NEVERTHELESS, THE 
COLLABORATION IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW FAO EXPERTISE AND 
LIMITED FUNDS CAN BE PARTNERED WITH FUNDING FROM OTHER 
SOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES 
OBJECTIVES OF THE FAO. 
 
---------------------------- 
FISH TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY 
---------------------------- 
 
¶17.   THIS AGENDA ITEM EVOKED A SERIES OF INTERVENTIONS 
ABOUT THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN HARVESTING OR PRODUCING FISH 
FOR FOOD WITHIN FAO MEMBER COUNTRIES AND HARVESTING OR 
PRODUCING FISH FOR TRADE.  NORWAY HAD FUNDED A STUDY ON 
THE TOPIC.  THE STUDY HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 
SECTOR FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE 
FISHERIES (AND AQUACULTURE) IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE 
 
ROME 00000801  004.2 OF 005 
 
-------- 
 
¶14.   THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED THE RESULTS OF ITS 
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO). 
DESPITE THE HOPES OF MANY DELEGATES THAT A WAY COULD BE 
FOUND TO USE THE HARMONIZED SCHEDULE (HS) OF TARIFF CODES 
IN TRACING THE FLOW OF FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS THROUGH THE 
STREAM OF COMMERCE, THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED THAT THERE 
WERE ONLY TWO WAYS TO REVISE THE HS CODES: SLOW AND 
SLOWER!  FAO MEMBERS WERE ENCOURAGED TO PASS IDEAS FOR 
    COLLABORATION WITH THE WCO TO THE SECRETARIAT.  IN 
DISCUSSING THE TOPIC, MEMBERS ALSO REFERRED TO THE NEED 
TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CAPTURE FISHERY PRODUCTS AND 
AQUACULTURE FISHERY PRODUCTS, AND HOW THE HS CODE SYSTEM 
SEEMED TO PROVIDE A LOGICAL MECHANISM BY WHICH TO 
ACCOMPLISH THAT. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
SAFETY AND QUALITY, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON FISHMEAL 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶15.   THIS ITEM WAS PLACED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE AGENDA 
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IN THE WAKE OF THE "MAD COW" BOVINE 
SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) DISEASE OUTBREAK IN 
EUROPE.  DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE USE OF MEAL MADE FROM 
PARTS OF BSE-INFECTED ANIMALS, EU RULES (AND IMPRECISE 
DETECTION METHODOLOGIES) DRAMATICALLY RESTRICTED SALES OF 
FISHMEAL FROM PERU INTO THE EU MARKET.  PERU AND THE 
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR FISHMEAL AND OIL PRODUCERS 
ARGUED FORCIBLY FOR THE EU TO LIFT ITS RESTRICTIONS.  THE 
EU COULD ONLY REPLY THAT NEW ANALYTICAL TESTS MIGHT MAKE 
EASING THE RULES A POSSIBILITY DURING 2004.  IT WAS 
AGREED THAT HACCP-BASED SYSTEMS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AN 
IMPROVEMENT IN FISH SAFETY AND QUALITY AND THAT THEIR 
APPLICATION SHOULD BE EXPANDED.  FAO CAPACITY BUILDING 
EFFORTS IN THIS AREA ARE WIDELY AGREED TO BE AN ESSENTIAL 
COMPONENT OF THIS STRATEGY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
SUBCOMMITTEE FOR FISH TRADE AND COMMON FUND FOR 
COMMODITIES 
    --------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶16.   TOPICS DISCUSSED UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM DEALT WITH 
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FAO AND THE COMMON FUND FOR 
COMMODITIES (CFC).  A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL REGIONAL 
COLLABORATIONS WERE DESCRIBED, OFTEN IN MORE DEPTH THAN 
SOME PARTICIPANTS MAY HAVE WISHED.  NEVERTHELESS, THE 
COLLABORATION IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW FAO EXPERTISE AND 
LIMITED FUNDS CAN BE PARTNERED WITH FUNDING FROM OTHER 
SOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES 
OBJECTIVES OF THE FAO. 
 
---------------------------- 
FISH TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY 
---------------------------- 
 
¶17.   THIS AGENDA ITEM EVOKED A SERIES OF INTERVENTIONS 
ABOUT THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN HARVESTING OR PRODUCING FISH 
FOR FOOD WITHIN FAO MEMBER COUNTRIES AND HARVESTING OR 
PRODUCING FISH FOR TRADE.  NORWAY HAD FUNDED A STUDY ON 
THE TOPIC.  THE STUDY HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 
SECTOR FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE 
FISHERIES (AND AQUACULTURE) IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE 
 
ROME 00000801  005.1 OF 005 
 
EMPLOYMENT IN SMALL AND 
MEDIUM ENTERPRISES AND FOR WOMEN, AND THE ROLE OF 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS TO SMALL 
ENTERPRISES AND WOMEN. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCH -- ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL 
TRADE 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶18.   THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED ON ITS PAPER THAT EXPLORED 
FACTORS THAT PREVENT SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCHES FROM 
ENTERING INTERNATIONAL TRADE.  PARTICIPANTS COMMENTED 
    FAVORABLY ON THE BALANCED VIEWS PRESENTED IN THE REPORT. 
PARTICIPANTS ALSO ENDORSED CONTINUING WORK BY FAO ON THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES ON INCREASING THE CONTRIBUTION 
OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES IN FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY 
ALLEVIATION, WHICH WOULD BE THE TOPIC OF A FUTURE EXPERT 
CONSULTATION.  THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT FAO GIVE 
A HIGHER PRIORITY TO THE SMALL-SCALE SECTOR. 
 
--------------- 
GENERAL COMMENT 
--------------- 
 
¶19.   THE AGENDA OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING WAS 
GENERALLY WELL ORGANIZED AND THE SECRETARIAT WAS WIDELY 
PRAISED FOR THE ELEVATED QUALITY OF THE PAPERS PREPARED 
FOR THIS MEETING.  THOSE CASES WHERE OVERLAP AND LACK OF 
FOCUS OCCURRED WERE MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF THE 
COMPLEXITIES AND THE INTER-CONNECTIVITY OF THE SUBJECT 
MATTER, RATHER THAN THE ABILITY OF THE SECRETARIAT TO 
ORGANIZE ITS WORKLOAD.  THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IS AN EFFECTIVE 
BODY FOR THE ELABORATION OF SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES 
RELATED TO TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS.  SIMILARITIES 
IN THE SPECIES TYPES AND IN THE PRODUCT FORMS FROM WILD 
CAPTURE FISHERIES AND FROM AQUACULTURE, AS WELL AS THE 
ALREADY HUGE AND STILL GROWING CONTRIBUTION OF 
AQUACULTURE TO TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS MEAN THAT 
THE COMMITTEE WILL NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE 
TRADE ASPECTS OF AQUACULTURE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE.  FAO 
WILL NEED TO COORDINATE THE WORK OF THE SECRETARIAT WITH 
RESPECT TO THOSE TASKS UNDERTAKEN BY THIS SUBCOMMITTEE 
AND BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE. 

HALL 
 
ROME 00000801  005.2 OF 005 
 
EMPLOYMENT IN SMALL AND 
MEDIUM ENTERPRISES AND FOR WOMEN, AND THE ROLE OF 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS TO SMALL 
ENTERPRISES AND WOMEN. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCH -- ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL 
TRADE 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶18.   THE SECRETARIAT REPORTED ON ITS PAPER THAT EXPLORED 
FACTORS THAT PREVENT SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCHES FROM 
ENTERING INTERNATIONAL TRADE.  PARTICIPANTS COMMENTED 
    FAVORABLY ON THE BALANCED VIEWS PRESENTED IN THE REPORT. 
PARTICIPANTS ALSO ENDORSED CONTINUING WORK BY FAO ON THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES ON INCREASING THE CONTRIBUTION 
OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES IN FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY 
ALLEVIATION, WHICH WOULD BE THE TOPIC OF A FUTURE EXPERT 
CONSULTATION.  THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT FAO GIVE 
A HIGHER PRIORITY TO THE SMALL-SCALE SECTOR. 
 
--------------- 
GENERAL COMMENT 
--------------- 
 
¶19.   THE AGENDA OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING WAS 
GENERALLY WELL ORGANIZED AND THE SECRETARIAT WAS WIDELY 
PRAISED FOR THE ELEVATED QUALITY OF THE PAPERS PREPARED 
FOR THIS MEETING.  THOSE CASES WHERE OVERLAP AND LACK OF 
FOCUS OCCURRED WERE MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF THE 
COMPLEXITIES AND THE INTER-CONNECTIVITY OF THE SUBJECT 
MATTER, RATHER THAN THE ABILITY OF THE SECRETARIAT TO 
ORGANIZE ITS WORKLOAD.  THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IS AN EFFECTIVE 
BODY FOR THE ELABORATION OF SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES 
RELATED TO TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS.  SIMILARITIES 
IN THE SPECIES TYPES AND IN THE PRODUCT FORMS FROM WILD 
CAPTURE FISHERIES AND FROM AQUACULTURE, AS WELL AS THE 
ALREADY HUGE AND STILL GROWING CONTRIBUTION OF 
AQUACULTURE TO TRADE IN FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS MEAN THAT 
THE COMMITTEE WILL NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE 
TRADE ASPECTS OF AQUACULTURE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE.  FAO 
WILL NEED TO COORDINATE THE WORK OF THE SECRETARIAT WITH 
RESPECT TO THOSE TASKS UNDERTAKEN BY THIS SUBCOMMITTEE 
AND BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE. 

HALL 
 
NNNN 
 2004ROME00801 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED