Exporters Information IUU
IUU Export Certification
The European Community catch certification scheme is an essential part of the IUU Regulation which is intended to improve the traceability of all marine fishery products traded with the Community and facilitate the control of their compliance with conservation and management rules, in cooperation with third countries. The IUU Regulation provides that the trade with the Community of fishery products obtained from IUU fishing will be prohibited. To ensure the effectiveness of this prohibition, fishery products shall only be imported into the Community when accompanied by a catch certificate. Through this instrument, the competent authorities of the flag State of the catching vessel will certify that the catches concerned have been made in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and international conservation and management measures.
This certificate will be validated by the competent authority of the flag State, and if necessary, other documents envisaged by the certification scheme in the event of an indirect import after transhipment, transit or processing of the products in another third country.
The CATCH system is the first IT tool to streamline checks and verifications of catch certificates for fishery products entering the EU market. CATCH is also used for the issue of Irish Catch Certificates, Processing Statements and Non-Manipulation documents.
Products Concerned
The catch certification scheme applies to all marine fishery products obtained from catches done from 1 January 2010. In general, all fishery products listed under Chapter 3 or Tariff Headings 1604 and 1605 of the Combined Nomenclature will fall within the scope of the Catch Certificate Scheme. However, some products listed under Chapter 3 or Tariff Headings 1604 and 1605 are excluded from the scope of the IUU Regulation and its catch certification scheme, such as aquaculture products obtained from fry or larvae, freshwater fish, ornamental fish, mussels, oysters, scallops, snails and other products of minor importance.
A detailed list of excluded products can be found here.
Products containing or obtained from fishery products which are not classified in Chapter 03 or in headings 1604 and 1605 of the Combined Nomenclature are also excluded from the scope of the IUU Regulation and its catch certification scheme.
Third Countries requiring a Catch Certificate
Article 15 1005/2008
Third countries requesting catch certificates for imports (direct landings & imports through BCP’s) of EU produce are listed under Article 15 of IUU Regulation 1005/2008.
• Iceland
• Ivory Coast
• Kuwait
• Madagascar
• Norway
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Ukraine
IUU Regulation (EC) n° 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008
Third Country Catch Certification Schemes
Some third countries while not included under Article 15 have their own catch certification schemes under national law and also require a catch certificate for the import of EU produce.
• United Kingdom
• Japan
• USA (SIMP species only Seafood Import Monitoring Program | NOAA Fisheries)
If the final destination of the produce is a third country not listed above a catch certificate is not required for import. Third countries must formally notify the EU commission under Article 15 if they want to introduce the requirement that catch certificates be provided on import, this can’t be done informally.
The only exceptions to the above listed third countries:
1. Irish produce has been imported to a Third Country, processed and then re-imported back into the EU; an Irish Catch Certificate may be required if requested by the Member State competent authority.
2. Irish produce imported to another EU Member State where a catch certificate is not required and that produce is to be further exported to a third country that requires an Irish catch certificate may be required if requested by the competent authority of the country of destination if included in the third countries listed above.
It is always the Irish exporter that should apply for the Irish Catch Certificate through the ECS system.
CATCH System
The CATCH system via TRACES NT is used by the Irish exporter to apply for Irish catch certificates and Irish Processing statements/Annex IVs for exports to third countries, as required.
In order for an Irish exporter to apply for an Irish Catch Certificate or Processing Statement on the CATCH system they must have an Operator Profile on TRACES NT and then have the appropriate roles and activities in a valid status.
If you do not yet have an operator profile, please see SFPA Exporter Operators SOP for guidance on how to set up a TRACES NT Operator profile.
Guidance Document
Step by step guidance for IUU Export Certificates (Catch Certificates, Processing Statements, Non-Manipulation Document & Re-Export Certificates) is available in the CATCH System for IUU Export Certificates] guidance document.
EU Training Material
Further training material issued by DG MARE can be found here. Training webinars are also available and can be accessed here.
Further Information
CN Codes for Fish & Fishery Products (Chapter 3 & Headings 1604/1605)
IUU Handbook
Contact
Email: iuuoffice@sfpa.ie
Phone: +353 85 747 6298