Enda Kenny
Question:125 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on the continued dumping of Norwegian salmon on the European market.
Written Answers. - Norwegian Salmon Dumping.
The threat to the Community salmon market from low priced imports remains serious and persistent in view of the disorder that continues to affect the Norwegian salmon farming sector.
It was against this background that I pressed the Commission last February to renew the minimum import price measures for salmon entering the Community market which were first introduced in November 1991. These measures have given Irish salmon producers some protection against the threat of market collapse posed by Norwegian imports at below cost prices. I am glad to report that the Commission has renewed the safeguard measures for a further three month period, up to the end of May. I have stressed to the Commission that the minimum import price system must be stringently monitored and enforced if it is to be effective in its aim of safeguarding Community producers. In the meantime we are continuing, together with the Irish industry, to be at the forefront of efforts to ensure that all necessary action is taken to ensure that the market is restored to balance and that a sustained recovery from the rock bottom prices of recent times is achieved.