Marine Harvest awaits ‘state aid’ ruling

MARINE Harvest is awaiting an important decision after taking the Norwegian government to the EFTA Court in an attempt to avoid the risk of being penalised when selling into European Union markets.

The company believes that the current export tax on fish constitutes a breach of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement.

Last year it lodged a formal complaint with the EFTA (European Free Trade Association) Surveillance Authority - or ESA - claiming that ‘unlawful’ subsidies in the form of funding for marketing was granted to the Norwegian fisheries sector even though it is largely funded by fish exporters in the form of a compulsory levy.

Some of the export tax is used to finance seafood marketing and Marine Harvest is arguing that this is equivalent to state aid and is therefore illegal under the current EEA agreement. The company then asked ESA to investigate its claim.

But after looking at the issue ESA said it had only partial competence to judge the complaint, so the case was moved up to the main EFTA Court, where the presentations have concluded.

Ola Brattvoll, CEO of sales and marketing at Marine Harvest, said: ‘We are pleased that this hearing has now been completed and look forward to the decision of the court.’

The EU says that a company which receives government support gains a distinct advantage over its competitors.

Brattvoll added: ‘We believe it is in the interests of the seafood industry that ESA should keep a systematic watch on the use of state aid.’