Special low or zero duty import quotas for fish products have been proposed by the European Commission to ensure sufficient supplies into the European Union, which is unable to satisfy its own demand.

The move follows an assessment by Brussels; the quotas would remain open until the end of this year and are open to exporters from any country.

Zero per cent duty quotas for fresh or frozen cod (up to 50,000 tonnes), frozen hake for processing (up to 20,000 tonnes) and frozen blue grenadier fillets (up to 15,000 tonnes) should be opened, along with low duty quotas for lobster (frozen for processing), squid and shrimps.