Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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353. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if subsequent to the implementation of rules prohibiting the landing of live bivalve molluscs including wild caught scallops in UK ports he will address the serious financial cost to scallop fishers fishing off the coast of the UK now required to land their catch in EU ports; the reason these fishers are not included in other support schemes; if his attention has been drawn to the impact of this requirement on all involved in fishing, processing and transporting these products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45773/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to note that food safety standards and the protection of consumers continues to be of paramount importance.

The rules for landings of Live Bivalve Molluscs (LBMs) into the United Kingdom are set down by the United Kingdom authorities. The Sanitary and Phytosanitary allowance to directly-land fishery products which is not yet required but will, I understand, be required from 1 July 2022, does not include LBMs such as wild-caught scallops.

The United Kingdom Government announced on 14 September 2021 that it would further postpone the introduction of upcoming new UK import controls (including Sanitary and Phytosanitary requirements) which had been scheduled for 1 October 2021 to 1 July 2022. I understand that import requirements for direct landings of LBMs are also being delayed until 1 July 2022. The United Kingdom position from 1 July 2022 will replicate the EU position regarding LBM landings by a Third Country vessel into the EU.

LBMs or mollusc-derived products can be imported to the EU if dispatched as food fit for human consumption from an approved establishment and having undergone any treatment or processing necessary to ensure they meet EU food safety standards, including purification or shucking where necessary.

Some Irish vessels had previously landed to United Kingdom ports for freight transport of the live scallop directly from the landing to Irish processors, where they were shucked and sold generally to the EU continental market. Since January 2021 these operators can continue to land to United Kingdom ports, subject to NEAFC requirements, until 1 July 2022. However, since January 2021 freight consignments of LBMs from the United Kingdom to Ireland require dispatch from a UK-approved establishment and compliance, for the protection of EU consumers, with EU food safety importation requirements.

In relation to financial supports, I established a Seafood Sector Task Force in March 2021 so that stakeholders could be centrally involved in assessing such impacts. I received an Interim Report on 9 June 2021 and the Task Force is currently giving full consideration to possible actions before making final recommendations.

I expect to receive the Final Report in the next month or so and further measures will be examined to assist our seafood sector and coastal communities to adjust to the post Brexit world and to continue to prosper. You will appreciate that I cannot pre-judge the recommendations of the Task Force and how they might relate to any particular fishery.