While Norway and the European Union have renewed the agreement that provides European market access for Norwegian seafood, with a number of duty-free quotas to be continued for key products, this doesn’t include mackerel.
While consensus was reached on most areas of exporting Norwegian seafood to the EU, agreement was not reached on continuing duty-free import quotas for Norwegian mackerel to the European market.
‘Norway wanted to maintain the market conditions for Norwegian mackerel to the EU, but the EU was not willing to do so,’ said Norway’s Minister for Fisheries Cecilie Myrseth.
‘This is due to the disagreement about the management of mackerel. From the Norwegian side, we have been keen to maintain the distinction between market access and management because they are two completely different issues.’
The Minister stated that Norway’s position is that it is not appropriate to link the negotiations on market access and resource management issues, as resource management is a dynamic process in which biological conditions and annual fluctuations must be taken into account.
However, duty-free quotas for important products will be continued, and the EU will open new quotas for processed salmon, smoked salmon and frozen shelled prawns.
‘The EU is the most important market for Norwegian seafood, and several duty-free quotas provide increased export opportunities for both the fisheries and aquaculture industries. Seafood is one of our most important export industries, and with this agreement we have improved the terms of trade for important seafood products that are processed in Norway,’ Cecilie Myrseth said.
Due to EU approval procedures, it will take a while for the duty-free quotas come into effect, which the Minister said presents challenges for those producing and exporting semi-finished herring, currently subject to a 20% duty.
‘We have been very clear with the EU. Norwegian industry must gain access to the duty-free quotas as quickly as possible into 2024. We have received promises that the European Commission will do its best for quick processing, but we are not in control of the timing,’ Cecilie Myrseth commented.
The agreement with the EU also means that the arrangement for transit for EU vessels’ catches through Norway will continue.
