The EU is tightening the regulations. Thousands of jobs are at stake. Poland is particularly at risk

New EU regulations introduce stringent requirements for freezing fish before cutting into slices. In the process of the so-called stiffening method used in Poland, the fish are frozen to a temperature of -4 to -7. degrees Celsius. The EU will require this to happen for a maximum of 96 hours before slicing. On Thursday, the European Parliament passed these provisions by a vote of 400 to 170, with 28 abstentions.

New EU regulations will hit Poland. The industry claims that several thousand jobs are at risk

Representatives of the fishing industry believe that the regulations will have a significant impact on the fish processing sector in the EU, and especially in Poland. In their opinion, the regulations favor processing countries from France, Spain and Italy, where fish are stiffened at temperatures down to -3 degrees Celsius.

– This vote will actually determine the future and importance of the Polish fish processing sector in the EU. It will depend on whether we will maintain our position in the industry that we have been systematically and consistently building for 30 years, or whether our importance on this market will be much weaker – says Emilia Schomburg, spokeswoman for the world’s largest salmon producer MOWI CE,

However, limiting stiffening to 96 hours consequently introduces a ban on the use of proven and safe procedures that are used and approved in several EU countries. Paradoxically, the PSPR believes that the regulations will lead to less safe practices in the fish processing sector, which increases the risk of listeria bacteria and food waste. The result will also be – as PSPR writes – a restriction of the smoked salmon market on EU markets and an increase in production prices, which would threaten several thousand jobs.

The association also emphasized that the European Commission did not ask the EU Food Safety Agency for an opinion. She used only the opinion of a small agency, the European Salmon Smokers Association (ESSA), associated with Spain, which also cools fish, but at a lower temperature – writes PSPR. MEP Elżbieta Łukacijewska from KO, who opposed the regulations, announced that representatives of political groups will now turn to the EU Food Safety Agency.

PSPR wrote in Euroactiv that the Agency’s opinion is crucial because it would provide evidence that 96-hour stiffening is crucial for food safety in industrial fish production. However, PSPR emphasized that it is not against limiting cooling and intends to adapt to the new regulations that will result from the opinion of the EU Food Safety Agency.

European regulations will hit Poland. Appeal possible to the CJEU

EU regulations are intended to limit the possibility of using technology adopted by Polish producers. – If you don’t know what it’s about, it’s about competition. We, as Poland, are a leader in the industry and at the same time a big competitor, especially to the sector from France, with which we compete on the German market. It is unacceptable to me that they are trying to introduce a delegated act that does not simplify or solve anything, and only affects the Polish sector, which I cannot agree to. It is also impossible for a small industry organization, which brings together only 12 fish processing companies, including those from Thailand and Egypt, to try to influence the decisions of the entire European Union – emphasized the MEP quoted by PAP.

Elżbieta Łukacijewska announced that the Polish fish and salmon processing sector will be able to appeal to the European Court of Justice. – But the ball is still in play – MEP Elżbieta Łukacijewska told Polish Radio.