Assistance to the South Pacific Region to meet New Fish Import Regulations - Terminal Statement
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In response to a recommendation made by the 26th Regional Technical Meeting on Fisheries held in Noumea in August 1996, the South Pacific Commission (SPC) requested FAO to provide technical assistance to help the South Pacific Region meet the new fish import requirements of major importing markets, based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) theory of food safety production. This assistance was required as a matter of urgency to ensure that trade in seafood products between t he Pacific islands and the United States and Europe would continue without interruption. The USA, for instance, required seafood exporters to comply with new Mandatory HACCP Regulations for ensuring product safety by 18 December 1997. Similarly, the European Union (EU) enacted HACCP-based legislation that affected domestic and overseas seafood processors. The request from the SPC was formally endorsed by five Pacific island Governments (Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga), whic h sought assistance to undertake four sequential activities: needs assessment and data collection (legislative, technical, export data); drafting of appropriate food safety legislation; drafting of generic HACCP plans for products commonly exported from the region; and finally, a regional workshop on the implementation of HACCP, aimed at regulators and exporters.