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Members Update 39/09
Dear members,
In this Update:
- INVITATION TO AROWANA BREEDERS AND TRADERS
- HEALTH CERTIFICATES INTO THE EU, PLEASE BE CAREFUL
- NETHERLAND ANTILLES NOT AN OIE MEMBER
- SPONSORING THE OFI DINNER
- ADVERTS IN THE OFI JOURNAL
- FOUR MEMBER DECLARED THEIR QUALITY
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INVITATION TO AROWANA BREEDERS
On 7 October sent a letter to all 88 CITES registered dragon fish breeders. The letter tested the interest of these breeders for an OFI initiative to come to a de-listing of dragon fish (Asian Arowana) from the CITES list. This interest should be expressed by filling in a form in the OFI website. With enough interest before 15 November, OFI would organize a meeting with all breeders and other stakeholders in Singapore in January 2010. Until now we have receive only two responses, which is not enough to make a meeting worthwhile. If members want to have more information they can find all details (incl. reply form) on the OFI website.
HEALTH CERTIFICATES INTO THE EU, PLEASE BE CAREFUL
After a quite smooth transition period and an apparently unproblematic introduction of the new health certificates into Europe, we now receive signals that apparently that some people are not as concentrated while filling the certificate as before. At the Dutch border inspections we see an increase of errors like; not filling in the date or other boxes; use of English or trade names instead of scientific names; not using unique certificate numbers; no link between the certificate and accompanying document; mismatch between the number of boxes and the number of boxes mentioned in the certificate and other errors. Exporters, please be aware that such errors do not only cause serious delays in the handling of the shipments, it can even be reason enough to return a shipment to the shipper, on the shippers expense! So please concentrate while filling in export certificates.
NETHERLAND ANTILLES NOT AN OIE MEMBER
Imports of ornamental aquatic animals into the EU are restricted based on their origin. Species susceptible to one of the listed diseases may only be imported from countries in a countries list. Species not susceptible to these disease may only be imported from countries which are a member of the OIE or witch which the EU has a special arrangement. The Netherlands Antilles are not a member of the OIE and there is no special arrangement with the EU. As a consequence the Dutch veterinary authority has now decided that:
1) Import shipments of ornamental aquatic animals from the Netherlands Antilles destined to the Netherlands will be prohibited as of 01-01-2010.
2) Import shipments of ornamental aquatic animals from the Netherlands Antilles destined for other EU member states are prohibited with immediate effect.
The OFI secretariat has been in contact the Dutch ministry of agriculture and the European Commission on this topic but until now unsuccessfully.
SPONSORING THE OFI DINNER
During Interzoo 2010 OFI will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a dinner after the Annual General Meeting, on Friday the 14th of May. This dinner will take place in the Vasco da Gama restaurant in the Exhibition complex, CCN Ost 1st floor. For this event we seek sponsoring. If you are interested in sponsoring, please contact the secretariat.
ADVERTS IN THE OFI JOURNAL
The preparations for OFI Journal 62 (February 2010) have now started. If you are interested in having your advert in this issue and in this way support OFI, please contact the secretariat. For advertisement rates please check the page 31 of the last OFI Journal. We would need your material ultimately on 20 December, but the space should be reserved before this date.
FOUR MEMBERS HAVE DECLARED THEIR QUALITY
Four OFI members: Kerala Aqua Ventures (India), Qian Hu Fish Farm Trading (Singapore), Bassleer Biofish (Belgium) and Greeny Aquaculture (Malaysia) have now declared their expertise by filling in the OFI Code of Conduct. The OFI Code of conduct is a voluntary certification scheme in which the percentage is a scale indication of the demands in the scheme met by the company. Criteria deal with good husbandry practices, animal welfare, animal health, proper packing, bio-security, good service and transparency.
All OFI importers, exporters collectors and breeders are invited to follow the example of above four colleagues. OFI will also send out a press-release on this topic.
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With kind regards,
Alex Ploeg & Roberto Hensen
OFI Secretariat
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