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Fishmeal producers in Europe hope to end ban on use in animal feed
SEAFOOD.COM NEWS
by John Sackton
24th January 2003
The EU parliament has agreed to hold a hearing about fishmeal and fish oil in April, to consider evidence presented by industry in support of lifting the ban on use of fishmeal in animal feeds. The EU is scheduled to review the current ban by June 30, 2003.
'We are delighted by this news' said Dr. Stuart Barlow, Director General of IFFO, the International Fishmeal and Oil Organization.
Helge Korsager, who is President of both the EU and UK producers' organisations said 'We will show that fishmeal and fish oil are part of the safe and sustainable food chain. We will tell them that a proper risk assessment reveals the supposed risk of adulteration of fishmeal with MMBM to be utterly minuscule.'
'Expert speakers will address the ethical issues and explain the huge benefits of fishmeal to animal welfare and to human and animal health. All across the world the health benefits of the omega-3, uniquely concentrated in natural fish oil, are being recognised, ' said Mr Korsager.
'Finally we will put to rest the misconception that our well managed and controlled feed fisheries damage stocks of fish for human consumption', he said.
New figures from The UK Association of Fishmeal Manufacturers show that, since the ban was introduced, use of fishmeal for land animals has fallen 30% in the UK (from the average use from 1996 to 2000, to use in 2002). The picture is the same across the EU. For the hearing the fishmeal trade organisation are assembling evidence that demonstrates the detrimental effect of the exclusion of fishmeal. This includes damage to animal performance and welfare, as well as to business viability and jobs in the supply chain.
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