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Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 3687/91 provides for the possibility of adopting common marketing standards for fishery products in the Community, particularly in order to keep products of unsatisfactory commercial quality off the market and to facilitate trade relations based on fair competition; Whereas the adoption of such standards for preserved tuna and bonito is likely to improve the profitability of tuna production in the Community, and the market outlets therefor, and to facilitate disposal of the products; Whereas it must be specified in this context, particularly in order to ensure market transparency, that the products concerned must be prepared exclusively from well defined species and must contain a minimum quantity of fish; Whereas the purpose of this Regulation is to define a trade designation for the products concerned; whereas it is completely without prejudice to their classification and tariff treatment when imported into the Community, in particular for the granting of preferential arrangements;

Whereas, in order to ensure clarity in the trade description of the products concerned, the presentation in which they are marketed should be defined and the method of designation of the covering media laid down; whereas these criteria must not, however, be such as to preclude the introduction of new products into the market;

Whereas Council Directives 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumer, and 76/21 I/EEC of 20 January 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to making-up by weight or by volume of certain prepackaged products, specify the particulars required for correct information and protection of the consumer as regards the contents of packages; whereas, for preserved tuna and bonito, the trade description should also be determined with regard to the proposed commercial presentation or culinary preparation and, where appropriate, the covering medium used; whereas the labelling of the products concerned should be required to state the fish content in the container; whereas the meaning of the trade description ‘natural’ should be defined;

Whereas the purpose of Council Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products is to harmonize the health requirements to be respected when marketing Community fishery products and to protect public health; whereas the requirements laid down in this marketing standard are applied without prejudice to the health regulations in force; Whereas the Commission should have responsibility for the adoption of any technical implementing measures, in compliance with the Community's international obligations, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: