Fish oil produced from by-products that may have been contaminated with fuel has been exported to the EU, according to a report by the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) published on 4 September.
EU experts assessed the Colombian control systems applied to tuna fishery products.
The FVO considers that the implementation of controls is incomplete, which is a critical point, as the introduction of a 'split system' for EU eligible and non-eligible products requires "additional and very reliable controls throughout the production chain" (fishery products obtained from 'dual-use' fish holds are not permitted in the EU), say EU experts.
"Colombia is not yet in a position to provide full guarantees that fishery products intended for export to the EU meet all required standards, in particular in respect of the absence of contamination with fuel", the report states.
According to Eurostat data, in 2017 and 2018, the EU imported 33,650 tonnes of fishery products (73% of tuna caught) from Colombia. During this period, the EU imported 61,4 tonnes of fish oil from Colombia as animal by-products for animal feed purposes. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)