Commission Report 2002 (Hungary)

• Progress since the last Regular Report
• Overall assessment
• Conclusion

Chapter 8: Fisheries

Progress since the last Regular Report

Limited further progress has been made over the last year with regard to the alignment with the acquis.

With respect to resource management, the service in charge of fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development has been extended. In December 2001, training for county veterinarians on fish-size measurement was carried out.

As regards inspection and controls, limited progress consisting of some fish farms having introduced a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) system can be reported. In Hungary the County Animal Health and Food Control Stations are responsible for the implementation of controls.

Concerning market policy, in 2002 Hungary started the establishment of a fish marking system. Furthermore, in May 2002 a decree of the Ministry of Agriculture transposed the acquis on marketing standards and on the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products. However, progress on the establishment of producers` organisations has been limited.

As regards state aid to the fisheries sector and international fisheries agreements, there are no new developments to report.

Overall assessment

Since Hungary is a landlocked country, only a small part of the acquis relating to fisheries is applicable to this country.

Although the basic framework legislation is mostly in line with the Common Fisheries Policy, further amendments to the Hungarian legislation are required, in particular to establish the conditions for the control of live and fresh imported fish.

Efforts must also be pursued for full alignment with EC hygiene standards.

Particular attention should be paid to the need to establish the framework for the management of structural projects under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG).

Conclusion

In its 1997 Opinion, the Commission concluded that Hungary would not encounter any major difficulties in integrating its fisheries sector into the Common Fisheries Policy, and that it would be necessary for Hungary to ensure compliance with the EC health, hygiene and environmental standards.

Since the opinion, Hungary has progressed in the indicated direction. Alignment of the Hungarian legislation with the acquis in the fisheries sector is now well advanced. Overall, Hungary`s administrative capacity in this sector can be considered as adequate to cope with the Common Fisheries Policy.

Negotiations on this chapter have been provisionally closed. Hungary has not requested any transitional arrangements in this area. Hungary is meeting the majority of the commitments it has made in the accession negotiations in this field. However, a delay has occurred as regards the amendment of legislation and the completion of the establishment of the system for size control on imports, which was scheduled to enter into force in January 2001. This needs to be addressed.

In order to complete preparations for membership, Hungary`s efforts will now need to focus on finalising its legislative alignment with the applicable acquis and on preparing for the management of the structural measures in this field.

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