Are the EU being Shellfish?

[icowden]

The EU ban on many UK shellfish exports is "indefensible" and "unnecessary", the environment secretary has said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56529351

Yes, apparently the EU have said that the UK has to abide by the same rules as all countries who are not part of the EU and as our waters are not grade A, our Shellfish must be pre-purified. Who'da thunk?

Apparently this is "indefensible", and the defence of "you aren't in the club so you have to abide by the rules for people who aren't in the club" isn't a valid defence. In the meantime George Useless Eustace is still failing to pick up the toys he threw out of his pram.

Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, said: "With a bit of co-operation and willingness the EU could solve this problem pragmatically.
"If they do not the consequences for businesses are very severe."

Of course what he mean is "please change your mind and do a deal or the consequences for British businesses are very severe".

I'm starting to think that this is a massive reality TV setup with Armando Iannucci scripting the government....

 

[Eric Olthwaite]

apparently the EU have said that the UK has to abide by the same rules as all countries who are not part of the EU and as our waters are not grade A, our Shellfish must be pre-purified.

The EU is also arguing for its own vessels to have access to those same waters. Will the shellfish they catch have to be pre-purified?

 

[Joffey]

File under "Brexit - the stuff that was branded Project Fear but is actual reality"

 

[Beebo]

On one hand it is silly because our shellfish are the same now as they were before we left, so what’s the problem.

The trouble is we are no longer a member of the club so their reaction is completely understandable. Membership brings benefits.

 

[si_c]

The EU is also arguing for its own vessels to have access to those same waters. Will the shellfish they catch have to be pre-purified?

They don't need to be, EU vessels are by definition part of the EU and don't have to abide by rules for non-EU vessels.

 

[fossyant]

We're a huge exporter of shellfish, so where else will it coming from ?

 

[Eric Olthwaite]

They don't need to be, EU vessels are by definition part of the EU and don't have to abide by rules for non-EU vessels.

I'm not questioning the EU's ability to set its own rules. I'm questioning the motivation behind those rules.

 

[PK99]

They don't need to be, EU vessels are by definition part of the EU and don't have to abide by rules for non-EU vessels.

But they will be fishing in the same non grade A waters. Same fish different food safety rules depending on who owns the boat that catches them.

Most unlike the EU to be so crabby.

 

[Rocky]

I'm not questioning the EU's ability to set its own rules. I'm questioning the motivation behind those rules.

We are a third party. The EU obviously looks after its own members. So no one should be expecting any favours. That's not how it works.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

The EU is also arguing for its own vessels to have access to those same waters. Will the shellfish they catch have to be pre-purified?

Yeah, if they're landed within the EU then processed within the EU according to EU regulations as adjudicated by the ECJ then it's all good.

Unsurprisingly, the EU will apply their import regulations to third countries as they see fit, having control of their own borders and all that.

Equally unsurprisingly, the UK declined to follow those regs and that juristiction, so is subject to the whims of the EU.

Further lack of surprise follows our government blaming the EU for their own voluntarily signing up to a trade deal which stipulates exactly this, and which they were specifically told in advance would be the outcome.

This is what "hard Brexit" means: we're a third country to the EU. Why are we whining about it? It's what we said we wanted.

 

[Rocky]

People knew what they were voting for on 23 June 2016. This is simply the will of the people.

 

[MontyVeda]

But they will be fishing in the same non grade A waters. Same fish different food safety rules depending on who owns the boat that catches them.
...

...
Membership brings benefits.

 

[Beebo]

It just clarification of the fact that no one knew what they were voting for.
The UK population had no idea how the EU operated before the vote.

 

[Mr Celine]

The EU is also arguing for its own vessels to have access to those same waters. Will the shellfish they catch have to be pre-purified?

Did they previously catch shellfish in UK waters?

 

[Cycleops]

Not a headline writer for the DM in your spare time are you @icowden ?