On 22 October the European Commission adopted a Regulation establishing the implementing rules for the 2008 Regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The IUU Regulation will control all landings and transhipments of third-country fishing vessels in Community ports and all trade of marine fishery products to and from the Union.
The IUU Regulation and its implementing rules have the ambitious goal to combat illegal fishing by making sure that none of its products end up on the Community market. To do so, the Regulation sets up a catch certification scheme ensuring the full traceability of all marine fishery products traded from and into the Community. An essential element of the IUU Regulation, the certification scheme will help countries comply with their own conservation and management rules and will also make co-operation among countries easier for control and enforcement purposes. The Regulation also seeks to ensure that no European Union citizens are engaged in IUU activities, no matter where they take place.
In addition to the certification scheme, the Regulation also addresses the issues of port state control and of mutual assistance. Moreover it introduces a Community alert system to detect the most suspect cases of illegal practices, the vessels involved and any non-cooperating third countries. Proper enforcement will be ensured thanks to a harmonised system of proportionate and deterring sanctions for serious infringements.
The new implementing rules provide the legal and technical framework for the implementation of the IUU Regulation. They cover the access to designated Community ports by third-country fishing vessels and inspection. They also address catches by small fishing vessels and deal with the recognition of some catch documentation schemes adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. Imports of marine fishery products arriving to the Community by plane, rail or road and approved economic operators are dealt with, as are verifications of catch certificates, cooperation with third countries, sightings, mutual assistance and amendments to Annex I of the IUU Regulation.
The Commission is aware of the constraints that some third countries, particularly developing countries, may encounter in complying with the new requirements. This is it says it is firmly committed to assisting them in the implementation of the IUU Regulation, and this ever since its adoption in 2008.
The Regulation will enter into force on 1 January 2010.
