Sweden to request EU and WTO to impose ban on unregulated import and sale of live lobster from US and Canada

The American lobster

Sweden will apply to the European Commission and the World Trade Organization to impose a ban on the unregulated import and sales of live American lobster from the United States and Canada.

The Swedish government hopes to enact the ban by next summer, with Norway and other neighboring countries to follow Sweden’s lead. An exemption for importers who have a closed system for boiling lobsters is being included.

The proposal lists three major reasons for the ban: American lobster (Homarus americanus) carries several contagious diseases that could spread to native populations of European lobster; American lobster is a hardy species that can travel long distances and can compete for food and shelter with the native European lobster; and there is a risk of hybridization with native European lobster, which may result in negative genetic effects with consequences for Swedish and other European stocks.

The EU Commission is currently developing a proposal for an EU Invasive Species Strategy. It is unclear whether the proposal will include new import restrictions. It is also uncertain whether the American lobster will be included in any list of invasive species.

Individual member states may not restrict trade and the spreading of invasive alien species based on current regulations for Plant Protection, Animal Health and Welfare and Use of Species in Aquaculture.

However, in 2003 Sweden succeeded in implementing a ban on live freshwater crayfish based on the Species Protection Ordinance that regulates entry of live freshwater crayfish in Swedish legislation and was approved by the EU Commission.

EU-Digest