Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000225/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR), Galato Alexandraki (ECR)
Dangerous microplastics have now been detected in six popular species of fish – the main one being pink shrimp, as reported by scientists from the College of Agricultural Sciences in Oregon. Microplastics – pieces of plastic with a diameter of less than 5 mm and invisible to the naked eye – have been linked to severe health issues, such as cancer. Microplastics were found in 99 % of the samples taken by the Oregon scientists, who carried out a laboratory analysis of more than 1 800 individual marine creatures. The study was carried out in Pacific waters, but similar data has been collected in other seas that have been polluted with plastics. The researchers took 182 samples from six species, two of which are likely being imported into the EU, namely pink shrimp and chinook salmon.
In view of the above, can the Commission say:
- 1.Does it plan to ban – or at least step up checks on – imports of these two fish species into the EU?
- 2.Does it have a list of the main fish imports to be checked for microplastics as a matter of priority, with references to the country of origin?
- 3.Which European countries have the best practices for dealing with plastic contamination/pollution?
Submitted: 20.1.2025