Maine Congressional Delegation Urges European Commission to Reject Swedish Proposal to Ban Lobsters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the European Union (EU) moves forward with its consideration of Sweden’s request to ban all live imports of American lobster, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin today sent a letter to the European Commission once again speaking out against the proposal and urging them to take into consideration the peer-reviewed science and potential economic repercussions of such a ban.

“As the Congressional representatives of Maine, the state where an overwhelming majority of all American lobster—including that which is destined for European markets—is landed, we are deeply concerned about the negative impacts of Sweden’s proposed import ban. With more than $200 million worth of live American lobster exported from North America to the EU annually, a ban would have serious effects on both Maine’s economy and thousands of our constituents’ livelihoods—not to mention commensurate losses for distribution, retail, and restaurant businesses in EU member nations,” Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin wrote.

“As the Scientific Committee weighs Sweden’s petition, we request that the RA continue to be measured against the best available peer-reviewed science and that alternative targeted mitigation solutions be considered to address this perceived risk,” they continued. “We also urge you to consider the economic repercussions that the proposed ban would have. We believe ecological risks have been well-studied and are minimal and that it is in the best interest of all parties involved to continue this sector of trans Atlantic trade.”

Last month, the EU’s Scientific Forum on Invasive Alien Species decided to advance Sweden’s request for further consideration by EU officials. In June, Senators Collins and King and Representative Pingree joined with members of the New England Congressional delegation in sending a letter to the European Union speaking out against the proposal by Sweden to ban the import of live lobsters. In March, the Maine Congressional delegation also wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan asking that the Obama Administration also resist Sweden’s efforts.

The complete text of the letter sent today is below.  Click HERE to read the signed letter.

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September 16, 2016

Mr. Daniel Calleja Crespo

Director General DG Environment

European Commission

Brussels, Belgium

Dear Mr. Crespo:

As the Congressional representatives of Maine, the state where an overwhelming majority of all American lobster—including that which is destined for European markets—is landed, we are deeply concerned about the negative impacts of Sweden’s proposed import ban. With more than $200 million worth of live American lobster exported from North America to the EU annually, a ban would have serious effects on both Maine’s economy and thousands of our constituents’ livelihoods—not to mention commensurate losses for distribution, retail, and restaurant businesses in EU member nations. We again write to you with our serious concern for the lack of compelling science in Sweden’s petition to prohibit the importation of live Homarus americanus (American lobster) to the European Union and the socioeconomic effects it could have in the EU and North America.

While we remain disappointed the issue was not laid to rest at the Scientific Forum’s meeting in late-June, we are glad the Forum requested that Sweden update its risk assessment (RA) regarding stated concerns about the science. Sweden’s RA should be held to the high scientific scrutiny that is provided for in EU Regulation. As we noted in our June letter to you, the U.S. Department of Commerce and its Canadian counterpart provided ample scientific evidence with respect to the very low risk that American lobster poses as an invasive alien species.

As the Scientific Committee weighs Sweden’s petition, we request that the RA continue to be measured against the best available peer-reviewed science and that alternative targeted mitigation solutions be considered to address this perceived risk. We also urge you to consider the economic repercussions that the proposed ban would have. We believe ecological risks have been well-studied and are minimal and that it is in the best interest of all parties involved to continue this sector of trans?Atlantic trade.

Thank you for your consideration of our great interest in the outcome of the issue.