MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU fisheries inspection demand organoleptic controls.

Although no immediate risks were detected, members of the European Union (EU) sanitary inspection mission that recently visited Argentina questioned the absence of proper organoleptic controls in fishing landings, first sale outlets and pre-processing stages. They also emphasised the need for homogeneous procedures and a greater participation of the country's Agro Food and Health National System (SENASA).

The EU team visited Argentina from March 1 to 11 March verifying landings, transport, and production conditions of seafood produce currently exported to EU markets. They also visited SENASA headquarters and laboratories as well as processing plants and vessels in Puerto Madryn, San Antonio Oeste and Mar del Plata.

The preliminary findings, compounded in a technical report, were presented by EU expert José Carballes (from Spain) together with Enrique Mizrahi from SENASA Fishing Industry Management Council. Some of the main observations made by the European technicians were:

? Low hierarchy of fishery within the SENASA structure, as well as organizational problems for seafood certification and deficiencies in the systems of information between headquarters and delegations. ? Different degrees of knowledge of the EU norms: it is good at the central level but it is scarce or not understood at local level. ? Conflict of interest between veterinarians belonging to seafood companies and those who are also hired by SENASA. The EU team proposed that the authority's technical staff should oversee and sign certification of products destined for Europe. ? Lack of uniformity and deficiencies in the enforcement, control, and assessment of the HACCP rules in establishments visited, and a lack of legal basis to audit EU requirements. ? They objected to the absence of organoleptic controls in landing sites, in first sale outlets and in pre-processing, as well as in the sampling of raw material and product by non-official staff.

However the experts praised the use of the Restricted Transit Certificate for the transport of produce between authorised plants.

EU experts indicated they could not arrive to a conclusion that "all establishments are adequately authorised since no evidence exists that non-visited facilities comply with all EU requirements". Lastly, they indicated the need to unify procedures and improve SENASA presence and support, although admitting no immediate risks were found. The final report will be prepared at EU headquarters and sent to SENASA for comments. (FIS/MP).