TNAG-1656-FCO40-2304-Hong-Kong-legislation-on-trade-1987 — Page 65

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ACTIVITIES OF FAO AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL FISH TRADE

ORGANIZATIONS RELATING ΤΟ

15. In introducing document COFI:FT/1/86/4, the Secretariat referred to the framework given in Programme of Action No. IV on International Trade in Fish and Fishery Products approved by the 1984 FAO World Fisheries Conference. The activities undertaken by FAO and coordinated by the Fish Utilization and Marketing Service of the FAO Fisheries Department included the implementation of the three elements of this Programme of Action. The four Regional Fish Marketing Information and Technical Advisory Services and the international fish market indicators (GLOBEFISH) were now fully established and provided a world-wide network for fish marketing development support. The third element of the Programme of Action was the creation of a multilateral framework for consultations in the form of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade. The Secretariat pointed out that the work of the Fish Utilization and Marketing Service covered all post-harvest aspects of fishery industries that are relevant to international fish trade including fish technology, quality assurance, and fish inspection services. It was noted that FAO also undertook an extensive training programme in this field and had established regional cooperative research networks in fish technology which were supported respectively by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and by Australia.

16.

The Sub-Committee expressed its appreciation of the useful work done by the Regional Fish Marketing Information and Technical Advisory Services set up by FAO. The GLOBEFISH computerized database had also provided world-wide pertinent market indicators on medium and long-term developments to fishery industries and governments. As a result of these activities, they were better informed on the market situation and outlook.

It was also recommended that FAO undertake to provide data on import promotion activities of major importing countries.

17. Technical advice and training in fish technology and quality control had been beneficial to producers in developing countries. It was recommended that to provide support in promoting increased participation of developing countries in international fish trade, FAO should give high priority to its work in fish utilization technology and quality aspects, particularly for these countries. In this connection it was suggested that specific projects under Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) and Economic Cooperation between Developing Countries (ECDC) programmes may be taken up by FAO on post-harvest technology and low-value fish utilization which are vital for augmenting the production and export of fish as well as value-added products from the developing countries. FAO may assist actively in the establishment of suitable joint

suitable joint ventures in developing countries with the developed ones in fishing, processing and marketing with provision for technology transfer to the developing countries. The concept of hazard analysis at critical control point (HACCP) should be appropriately applied in FAO's programmes related to the post-harvest aspects of fisheries and industry personnel should benefit directly from training programmes on this concept.

18. Some delegations proposed to study the possibility of adjusting the services of INFOPESCA to the needs of the region giving more attention to problems related to the identification of new exportable products, improvement of quality control and development of packaging and presentation according to international demand.

These efforts should be coordinated with the appropriate regional institutions such as OLDEPESCA, the Latin American Fishery Development Organization, studying carefully the incorporation of the Service into OLDEPESCA for which it would be necessary to be sure of the required financial support.