Oceana demands more consumer information on seafood products in the EU
Press Release Date: September 19, 2024
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Contact:
Irene Campmany | email: icampmany@oceana.org | tel.: +34 682 622 245
Information requirements for fresh seafood are strong, whereas consumers are left in the dark when it comes to processed products such as canned tuna and fish fingers
In a new report, Oceana analysed seafood product labels in Belgian, French, and Spanish supermarkets
Oceana calls on the European Commission to require more consumer information on processed seafood. In a new analysis, the organisation highlights that labels on products, such as canned tuna, fish fingers or surimi, lack key information such as species name, origin, catching or production method. The report found that for almost 40% of analysed processed seafood products in Belgium, France and Spain, it is impossible to know the species, the origin and the fishing gear used. This situation contrasts with the compulsory consumer information requirements applied to fresh seafood entering the EU market.
“As consumer information is not compulsory for processed seafood products in the EU, citizens do not know what they are eating, where it comes from, or how was it caught. For example, a canned product might simply be labelled as including “tuna”, which could refer to any of the 14 tuna species, including overfished stocks. Enhanced information and transparency would not only empower consumers to make informed and sustainable choices, but also help authorities combat illegal fishing, food fraud, human rights violations, and illicit international trade”, said the director of Oceana’s illegal fishing and transparency campaign in Europe, Vanya Vulperhorst.
For processed seafood products, consumers do not have basic information, such as which species they are eating. Additionally, there is no requirement to include information on the origin of the product, which prevents consumers from being able to choose to avoid certain products on the basis of environmental, or human rights concerns. Similarly, information about the sustainability of seafood products could inform consumers about associated environmental impacts, such as the risk of seabed damage or bycatch of protected species like turtles or dolphins.
Seafood supply chains are complex and often span multiple continents before reaching EU consumers. Recent research revealed that more than 50 European companies based in Belgium, France, and Spain, as well as a company supplying the European Parliament, were importing seafood products from China, with possible links to forced labour at sea and in fish processing plants.1 Similarly, the majority of the fish species used to produce fish fingers, a widely consumed product in the EU, is caught by Russian vessels2, despite Russia being ranked as the second worst country globally in the fight against illegal fishing.3 Unlike other products of Russian origin, seafood has not been subject to EU sanctions since the invasion of Ukraine.
Oceana therefore urges the European Commission to revise the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation, the law that sets fishery and aquaculture product labelling requirements, to:
- Expand its scope to include processed seafood products. Basic information such as species, origin, fishing gear and production method should be required for all products.
- Require science-based sustainability information to be displayed on all seafood products. There is currently no EU-wide requirement to provide sustainability information on these products such as the status of the stock, which makes it difficult for consumers to identify sustainable products based on clear and objective criteria.
- Expand its scope to include the food service sector. Mass-caterers, hotels, and restaurants should be required to provide information on species, origin, fishing gear, and production method to customers. Under EU law, the food service sector only needs to provide information on allergens.
Currently, the legislation only requires consumer information to be included on fresh and frozen seafood products, and excludes most processed products. Understanding the origins and methods of production of the seafood we consume is crucial for making informed and sustainable choices.
References:
1 The Outlaw Ocean Project. (n.d.) Discussion/Stakeholders. https://www.theoutlawocean.com/investigations/china-the-superpower-of-seafood/discussion/stakeholders/.
2 Tjoeng, M., Eikelenboom, S., & Tokmetzis, D. (2024, February 16). Russian fish & ships: Europe helps Kremlin make billions off its maritime catches. Follow the Money. https://www.ftm.eu/articles/europe-transit-hub-for-russian-fish
3 IUU Fishing Risk Index. (2023). Russia. https://iuufishingindex.net/profile/russia.
