13. Norway, on behalf of the Nordic countries, requested FAO to investigate the feasibility and practicability of developing non-discriminatory, globally applicable Technical Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fish Products which should take into account inter alia the specific characteristics of the fisheries of each State and region. The Nordic Council of Ministers (Fisheries) had offered to consider the hosting of a meeting to discuss these issues and the provision of extrabudgetary funds to FAO to cover expenses with regard to this initiative. It was agreed that FAO should organize a technical consultation on the subject with the participation of national experts appointed by the Member countries. It was stated that the authority to formulate the final recommendations rests with member governments only, while all groups concerned with eco-labelling matters (productive sector, scientific community, consumer groups and NGOs) should also be invited to contribute relevant experience. The text of the proposal is reproduced in Appendix G.

To request FAO to investigate the feasibility and the practicability of developing non-discriminatory global Technical Guidelines for the eco-labelling of Fish and Fish Products

1. The issue of certification of sustainable fisheries and eco-labelling of fish and fish-products is at focus of the debate on trade and in fish and fish products. To follow and discuss this issue, The Nordic Council of Ministers (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the self-governing islands of the Faeroes, Greenland and Aaland) has engaged in a number of activities � all including participation from the fishery industry as well as governments.
2. Also amongst a large number of other countries and industries a lot of questions have been raised towards the matter of eco-labelling.
3. When put on a commodity, an eco-label shall give reliable information to the consumers including the characteristics and virtues of the product. This requires that criteria used can be verified based on the best scientific evidence available in a documentation system transparent to all stakeholders.
4. The exploration of this issue has clarified its complexities, and the Nordic Council of Ministers has recognised that the criteria developed and the system for documentation presented by private initiatives for eco-labelling of fisheries, so far do not fulfil these requirements.
5. The Nordic Council of Ministers therefore has initiated and financed programmes in following areas:
1. certification bodies in the Nordic Countries (organising eco-labelling schemes on other commodities including food) are requested to investigate the feasibility of eco-labelling of fish and fish-products; and,


2. information programme with the aim to provide consumers, as well as the public in general, of reliable information on fisheries, to enhance knowledge and public awareness � including a report by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) on the north east Atlantic waters and fish stocks.
6. The EU-members of the Nordic Council has further raised these issues within the European Union.
7. The Nordic Council of Ministers has further recognised that an eco-labelling scheme not based on scientifically verifiable criteria may be a threat towards free-trade in fish and fish products, especially as it may cause discrimination towards the fish-export from developing and/or transition economies.
8. The Nordic Council of Ministers is of the opinion that this issue of global relevance should be dealt with by the FAO, to:
1. improve global knowledge of the requirements and implications including the costs of reliable eco-labelling of fish and fish products as well as to follow other processes in this field; and,
2. through an open process involving all stakeholders, i.a. the fishing industry, NGOs, consumer-groups, the scientific community and governments, to review the feasibility of developing eco-labelling schemes.
9. Thus, Norway, proposes that the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, requests the FAO secretariat to arrange for a Working Group, with participation from all stakeholders, which should examine the feasibility and practicability of developing non-discriminatory Technical Guidelines for the establishment of eco-labelling schemes covering Fish and Fish Products, that in a neutral and scientific way are applicable globally and take into account the special requirements of developing countries. The FAO-secretariat is further asked to present a report based on the results from the Working Group to the 1999 COFI-meeting.