09/11/2018 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission decided on Thursday 8 November to send a reasoned opinion to the United Kingdom for failing to carry out checks and ensure that the conditions for recognition of producer organisations (POs) for fishery products are met. The PO system as it has developed in the United Kingdom no longer serves the purpose of bringing producers together to achieve the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the common organisation of the markets (Regulation 1379/2013), the Commission considers. The system would undermine the principle of democratic functioning of POs in the EU and compromise their ability to apply the rules to their members. London has two months to respond to the Commission's arguments; after this deadline, the European Commission may decide to refer the matter to the EU Court of Justice. (LC)