11. Countries reported on their experience with regard to action taken with regard to responsible fish trade. Recent new actions taken by the EU for implementing responsible fish trade were reported.
12. The Sub-Committee agreed on the need for Technical Guidelines related to Articles 11.2 and 11.3 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The draft text provided under COFI:FT/VII/2000/3 Suppl. received many critical and substantive comments with regard to value judgements, length and coverage of technical details as well as to coordination with the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat. Concerning the coverage of the Technical Guidelines, the Sub-Committee noted a suggestion that the time was opportune to develop Technical Guidelines for the entire post-harvest sector.
13. Concluding the discussion of agenda item 5, the Sub-Committee agreed on the following schedule for the preparation of the Technical Guidelines to Articles 11.2 and 11.3 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. All comments received from delegates at the current Session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade and written comments received before 31 July 2000 on contents and structure of the Technical Guidelines, and the process to be followed in further preparation, will be taken into account in the preparation of a second draft to be distributed before the end of December 2000. The second draft will be submitted to the Twenty-fourth Session of COFI for information and/or recommendation on further process, which could include the convening of an expert consultation.
14. The Sub-Committee noted the downward trend in tariffs that had already occurred and many delegations called for further decreases. It was also noted that further decreases may encourage value-added fish exports from developing countries.
