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It is still unclear how the EU will deal with voluntary labelling information, especially concerning ecological, socio-economic, ethical and related issues. The proposal made by the EP rapporteur, to develop an EU eco-label that would allow the consumer to choose between ‘environmentally sustainable EU products’ and imported products, would discriminate against all imports including ACP imports, and not comply with international trade rules. However, other options exist that could be considered, including developing labels of origin and developing criteria for environmental and social sustainability. In this context, ACP countries should assess how any type of mandatory information, such as catch date, could affect their products. If the catch date and the mention of whether a product has been defrosted become compulsory labelling information, this may in fact provide an advantage to those who make short fishing trips and do not need to freeze their products before marketing.
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