The Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Svein Ludvigsen's speech at the Seafood Safety Seminar hosted by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in cooperation with AQSIQ in Beijing, China on the 24 July 2005.

Distinguished guests, Dear friends of seafood, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to be here today at this seafood safety seminar hosted by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in cooperation with AQSIQ. As well as addressing a topic of utmost importance for the co-operation between Norway and China, the seminar is an important meeting place.

The past, present and future of Norway are intimately linked to the sea. This fact is recognized in vision of the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affair: The riches of the sea - Norway’s future. The presence of so many people active in the selling, buying and distribution of Norwegian seafood is a clear sign of the increasing interest related to seafood safety.

China is today the world’s biggest aquaculture nation. Although the Norwegian aquaculture production is only 30 years old, we have had success in developing a healthy and sustainable fish farming industry – that continues to grow. Being two of the leading exporters of seafood in the world, we have a common responsibility and interest in responding to the needs and demands of importers and consumers.

It is especially with regard to the safety and quality of our seafood and also balanced information on the health benefits form eating fish and seafood. And when dealing with challenges of knowledge and information in the future it is important with scientific based facts.

In addition to documenting that the food is safe and of good quality, there is an increasing demand to document that the food comes from

• a sustainable management of resources,
• fulfils modern demands with respect to animal welfare
• and is produced with no negative impact on the environment.
• In the future the consumer will ask specific questions about his food.

We must provide the answers and present the necessary documentation. To do this we have to focus on:

• Internal food safety systems
• Public information and involvement
• International activities

The challenges are global and as a small country Norway depends on international co-operation to exercise influence on development of international food safety standards that will ensure predictable conditions for international trade with seafood. Important arenas in this respect are FAO and Codex Alimentarius, where Norway is chairing the committee on fish, and it is a special pleasure for me that the next meeting will take place in China late 2006.

Other important international arenas are WHO and WTO, where the implementation of the agreements on sanitary and phytosanitary and technical barriers to trade is of primary importance, as custom barriers are reduced and might be replaced by food safety arguments.

Through our membership in the European Economic Ares (EEA) norwegian laws on food safety are harmonised with the relevant laws of the European union.

Having said that, we all know that seafood safety is not first and foremost about government rules and regulations. It is both facts and emotions. And both very important when we talk and deal with seafood safety. Consumer confidence is not to be taken for granted, but has to be earned.

China and Norway have for many decades had good and close relations in the seafood industry, and it started in 1983 with the Bei Dou project – Bei Dou is a research vessel given by Norway to the Chinese people for monitoring marine resources in the Yellow Sea.

The agreement in the field of fisheries between the Ministry of Agriculture of The Peoples Republic of China and The Ministry of Fisheries of Norway was signed in Beijing in July 2001, and later today we will hear more about one of the projects under this agreement on Omega 3.

Last October a seminar was held here in Beijing about cooperation in the aquaculture technologies, and I am happy to learn that several production facilities in China are based on the use of technology developed by Norwegian companies.

For the last years we have also developed a strong cooperation in matters related to food safety. Last week a group of experts from our two countries held a week long seminar here in Beijing. Mutual exchange of scientific information and joint scientific advice on administrative measures related to seafood trade were discussed. Later this year a follow up seminar will be held in Norway.

I strongly support this kind of co-exchange of views and experts. And I am confident that it will create a solid platform for dialogue and business for our seafood industries. I wish you all a successful seminar, and all the best in your strive and efforts to develop our industry.