Promoting market stability and fair income

The common organisation of the markets (COM) in fishery and aquaculture products was the first element of the common fisheries policy to be put in place by the Council of Ministers in 1970. Its original aims were to provide market stability and guarantee a fair income for fish producers. The current market organisation originates from the early COM, although it no longer bears but a distant resemblance to it.

Originally drawn up for a European Economic Community of just six countries, the market organisation measures now cover an area that extends from the Baltic to Andalusia and from Cyprus to Scotland and in which there are significant disparities in distribution chains, consumer habits and prices. In addition, fisheries resources have become increasingly scarce and the COM has had to react accordingly by introducing measures to avoid waste and ensure an optimal match between supply and demand.

Since 1970, every revision of the COM has been made with these objectives in mind. Producers' organisations (POs) are the favoured medium through which the changes have been applied. On each occasion the rules were amended, their role was strengthened and they were provided with a variety of tools to stabilise and regulate the market.

Price stability, an appropriate balance between supply and demand and preference for EU production without damaging the growing demands of the processing industry have been the key goals of the COM over the past few decades.

The market organisation contributes towards the CFP’s general objective of seeking to guarantee sustainable fisheries and secure the future of the fisheries sector.

The products covered by the market organisation are "fishery products", which embraces catches taken at sea and in inland waters and aquaculture products. These include live, fresh or chilled, frozen, dried, salted and smoked fish and fish in brine together with crustaceans, molluscs, meal, powders, etc.

The market organisation has five parts:

• common marketing standards;
• consumer information;
• producer organisations;
• a price support system based on intervention;
• arrangements for trade with third countries.