(2004/C 78 E/0233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3155/03

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(23 October 2003)

Subject:   Competition-distorting customs duties on fish imported from Norway to Denmark

The competitiveness of Danish firms in the fish processing industry is being hit by the EU's customs policy. The EU reference prices for raw herring are higher than the Norwegian prices. Danish firms are consequently unable to buy Norwegian herring as cheaply as Norwegian firms can. In addition there is a difference in the rates of customs duty: the duty is 15 % on raw fish but only 6 % on processed fish.

Despite the fact that the current rules were intended to protect firms in the EU, they are having a disastrous effect on the competitiveness of Danish businesses.

Firms in Skagen and other towns in Jutland, which normally purchase considerable quantities of Norwegian fish, are currently dismissing most of their employees. They are unable to purchase the necessary quantities of herring within the EU.

Will the Commission please investigate ways of counteracting the harmful effect of these customs duties?

What opportunities does the Commission have to change this competition-distorting state of affairs, whereby unprocessed herring imported to Denmark from Norway is subject to a 15 % customs duty, while the duty on processed fish imported to Denmark from Norway is only 6 %?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 2003)

The Commission is well aware of the concerns which the Honourable Member expresses about the situation of supplies of herring as raw material for the Danish processing industry. However, there are a number of factors other than tariff rates which may have an impact on the competitiveness of the processing industry. In this regard, it appears that the supply situation in certain Member States is related more to the practice of Community fishing vessels landing their catches of herring in Norwegian ports than to the present tariff situation. This practice is due to the geographical particularities of the fisheries on Atlanto-Scandian herring in the Northeast Atlantic.

The Honourable Member will recall that the import duties for fishery products originating in Norway were set as a result of an international agreement between the Community and that country. Therefore, the Community cannot change these tariffs on an unilateral basis.

As for possible short-term measures, the Commission is currently preparing a proposal for a new multi-annual tariff quota system for the period 2004 to 2006 in consultation with Member States. This proposal will need to take into account not only the interests of the fish processing sector in the Community but also those of other sectors having a direct interest in the harvest of pelagic fish stocks.

In addition to the above, the attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the improved stock situation for North Sea herring. The emergency measures, to which this stock has been subject over the past years, are now starting to pay off. Thus, the availability of herring in the Community can be expected to substantially increase in the years to come, with a positive impact on the supplies of the Community's processing industry.