John Browne, the Irish Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has called on the European Commission to maintain its existing trade measures on imports of farmed salmon from Norway. It is fact that the trade measures, which create a minimum import price for farmed salmon entering the EU market, are currently under threat.
Browne told that the discussion has been done with David O’Sullivan, the Director General of DG Trade the anti-dumping measures which have been in place since 2006 and emphasised the need to retain the measures because of their importance for the Irish aquaculture industry. He added that the ministry has emphasized to the Commission and showed the analysis which speaks about a high risk that the withdrawal of the current minimum price for farmed salmon would lead to recurrence of fumping by Norwegian producers.
According to Browne the stability in the salmon market has led to renewed investor confidence in Irish companies and he emphasised the importance of retaining these measures for a further period to ensure protection against dumping and support further growth.
Browne informed that he was satisfied the way a strong case had been made in Brussels in the interest of the Irish salmon farming industry which is vital to Donegal, Connemara and the South West.
