Azorean Government regulates operation of fish auctions, cold storage units, fish collection stations and vehicles
After hearing the partners of the sector, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology has established a single regulation on the operation of fish auctions, cold storage units, fish collection stations and vehicles in the Azores.
An ordinance published today in the Official Journal establishes the procedures and means involved in the first sale of fresh fish unloaded and the respective collection and transport. The legislation also regulates fish freezing and conservation services in the archipelago's cold storage units.
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology pointed out that this new regulation aims to "adapt existing legislation on fish auctions, congregating in a single legal document all legal provisions regarding the operation of facilities where fish is sold in the Region."
Gui Menezes stated that this single regulation "will bring added value to the operation of fish auctions and cold storage units." In this regard, he added that the ordinance "congregates and updates scattered legislation," namely already existing rules, and "regulates new practices such as the rules for online fish auctions and supply contracts."
The Regional Secretary stated that this new regulation contains a chapter on rates and prices, which had been scattered in various legal documents. According to him, this chapter also "updates and defines the Lotaçor's own revenue."
Moreover, the legal document also regulates the fish collection stations and vehicles with the aim of rendering all procedures "more transparent," said Gui Menezes.
According to the ordinance, the operating hours of fish auctions, cold storage units, fish collection stations and vehicles in the Region is regulated by Lotaçor. It takes into consideration "the local habits of producers, the usual volume of traded fish and the interest of commercial activities depending on the operation" of infrastructures and equipment. Furthermore, the document stipulates that the "operating hours must be published on the Internet site of Lotaçor and displayed in the respective services in a clearly visible location."
The legislation published today in the Official Journal enters into force Tuesday, March 20.