Gov't submits conch files to EU

ST. THOMAS:

FOREIGN TRADE Minister Anthony Hylton has disclosed that the Government of Jamaica, on Saturday, submitted requested details of the conch industry in Jamaica to the European Union (EU), following another temporary suspension of conch meat from Jamaica.

In an interview, Mr. Hylton told The Gleaner that the information submitted included details on conch habitats in Jamaica, how they are grown and harvested, survey details, management of the industry, and all legal framework surrounding the industry in Jamaica.

"The submission has been sent as we need to restore the market immediately and for a reversal of the ban," Mr. Hylton said. The trade Minister said he had serious concerns about the approach of the European Union in imposing the ban. While he did not elaborate, he said the European Union is a member of the Convention on endangered species, just like Jamaica.

The European Union again suspended the importation of conch meat from Jamaica recently, creating another setback to the US$15 million to $20 million export industry which has been in limbo for the past two years.

The EU's the decision to suspend, temporarily, Jamaican conch import is in keeping with their regulations, which provide that if a scientific authority of one member state believes that the import of certain species would be detrimental to its conservation status, that member state could disagree with the issue of the import permit to the offending state.

Jamaica was put back on the permanent list of the third world countries authorised to export conch to the EU only last November.

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