Exports of fish and related products from the UAE and other Gulf states to the European Union will resume before the end of this year, reports Gulf News. In July 1998, the EU halted such exports, claiming that they did not meet the community’s new requirements and standards.
Oman became the first Gulf state to fulfill EU standards and last year resumed exports of seafood. Yemen has also since restarted fish exports to Europe. The UAE has made steady progress in meeting EU standards, and consequently will be able to get its exports underway.
Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are the other three GCC countries that are working towards resuming exports of seafood to the EU.
There is strong coordination in this regard among the UAE's seven emirates, and the federal body, comprising representatives from all emirates, will soon be heading to Europe for negotiations with EU officials. Earlier, a delegation of EU specialists had visited the GCC states to offer advice on their product requirements.
The UAE does maintain high hygienic standards and implements the required hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) system. However, each emirate has its own procedure, and according to EU regulations one authority must be responsible for supervising the hygiene standards for an entire country. – (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
