1. This supplement has been prepared to inform the Committee about the outcome of the review process (see COFI/99/6, para. 2) relating to the CITES listing criteria as they apply to large-scale commercially harvested fish species. Furthermore, the supplement provides information with regard to the request made to FAO to investigate the feasibility and practicability of developing non-discriminatory, globally applicable technical guidelines for the eco-labelling of products from marine capture fisheries (see ibid., para. 3).

2. An ad hoc Expert Group met on 20 November 1998 in Cape Town, South Africa, to review definitions and guidelines on listing criteria for marine fish species under CITES, and discussed the scope of possible revised guidelines. It made suggestions regarding a process for revising the criteria, including its timing, which would have to take into account the schedules of both COFI and CITES meetings. The report of the meeting of the ad hoc Expert Group is available as COFI/99/Inf. 16 Part II.

3. A Technical Consultation was held in Rome, Italy, from 21 to 23 October 1998 to discuss the feasibility of developing non-discriminatory, technical guidelines for the eco-labelling of products from marine capture fisheries. The Consultation did not reach an agreement regarding the practicability and feasibility of FAO drafting technical guidelines for the eco-labelling of products from marine capture fisheries. There was no consensus for a recommendation to COFI with respect to this matter. It however agreed that the report adopted by the Technical Consultation be presented to the Committee.The report of the Technical Consultation is available as COFI/99/Inf.16 Part I.

4. See paragraph 8 of document COFI/99/6.