Vol. 424 No. 8
34 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Marine the restrictions, if any, there are on the importation of shellfish seed from France; the reason therefor and the plans, if any, he has to lift these restrictions in the near future.
The importation, from all sources abroad including France, of shellfish and shellfish spat is prohibited save under licence from my Department. Such licences are only issued on foot of comprehensive health certification from the authorities in the country of origin and where my Department's Fish Health Unit is satisfied that there is no disease risk.
This longstanding policy is designed to safeguard the health of Ireland's fish and shellfish stocks, farmed and wild, by preventing the introduction and spread of serious diseases.
In the context of the new trade conditions arising from implementation from 1 January 1993 of EC Directive on Fish Health, i.e. completion of the internal market while minimising the spread of fish disease within the Community, existing import restrictions with the rest of the European Community will be lifted, in line with the Directive provisions, and the free movement of live fish and shellfish between areas of equivalent health status will be permitted.
