FISH INFORMATION & SERVICES

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SPANISH canning industry have reaffirmed their concern over the increased use of Papua New Guinea canned tuna in Europe.

"It was a serious mistake to allow tuna having fewer requirements to enter the European Union,” said the Jealsa Escurís chief executive, Jesus Escurís. “We do not want to stop competition but we want to have the same rules as others."

Mr Escuris said some European entrepreneurs may consider manufacture products in PNG "not because they want to do so but for survival reasons."

The expansion of Pacific tuna follows the agreement signed between the EU and PNG, which considers the release of tariffs on their exports to the EU market and of the rules of origin of the raw material, La Opinión reported.

Meanwhile, the opening of the eighth canning plant in PNG is expected with capital from Thai and Filipino entrepreneurs.

This factory is expected to exceed Galician and Spanish production of canned tuna in a few months.

"The volume is such that it can be a really serious problem," the chief executive of one of the main canneries from Galicia said.

"If the true intention [of PNG] had been to ensure the supply of certified origin tuna from PNG, it could have favoured the access of the EU fleet to this area and not that of our competitors such as the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and China."