Training on the upcoming requirements of the EU Catch Certification Scheme / by Francisco Blaha

As I wrote before, in 2023, Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 was amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 November 2025, introducing a series of updates, including the use of the CATCH EU-wide real-time IT system for managing all procedures linked to the EU catch certification scheme.

The new system introduces modifications to the catch certificate template content and processes, such as punctual changes to enhance traceability along supply chains and ensure the proper functioning of the IT environment.

Specifically, it introduces changes to Chapter III: the IUU CCS, including CATCH: Article 12, general functionalities, access to CATCH, and the timeframe for the current EU CCS paper-based system, which will be valid until 26 January 2026.

However, beyond 10 January 2026, EU importers will be required to use the CATCH system when submitting catch certificates and related documents to the authorities of EU Member States. 

Exporters and authorities in non-EU countries may choose to use the CATCH system voluntarily. However, all authorised exporters must adopt the new template and, importantly, the updated role of the processing statement from 10 January 2026.

There has been a complete shift in the use of the processing statement required by Annexe IV of the IUU Regulation. It was previously only necessary for fish processed in a third country with a foreign catch licence. Now, it will be mandatory even if the processing and flag state are the same.

Processing statements must now accompany ALL processed fish products entering the EU, regardless of where processing occurs (in the flag state or another non-EU country).

This means that processing statements should also be approved when the flag state of the fishing vessel that caught the fish matches that of the processing operation.

 Additionally, the processing statement will require you to use a unique number issued by the officials who endorse the statement. If you use CATCH directly, the system can generate this number for you.

Specifically, the processing statement should mention the catch certificates that show the volume of fish per species used as raw material for the processed goods sent to the EU.

From a practical and managerial perspective, the CA of the processing state that verifies this document must keep a record of signed processing statements that include details about the species, volumes, and their destinations.

Considering the significant upcoming changes to the current EU CCS, FFA members with access to the EU market have sought capacity-building and strategic guidance to prepare for these forthcoming changes. 

So, my FFA friends and colleagues asked me to prepare and deliver a capacity-building mission grounded in practicality and my experience with the first iteration of the CCS back in 2010, and again in much more depth when the yellow cards were introduced to the region between 2012 and 2015.

The activities included

i)      The development of training materials describing all the changes

ii)     A training schedule

iii)   The development of a new CC template

iv)   And an agreed timetable for changeover

The first 4-day event was held at the Lae International Hotel in PNG for industry and NFA staff; the second took place at the Peninsula Hotel in Suva for industry staff and officers from Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati.

The following training materials were provided to all participants

Seafood exports to the EU are a crucial economic lifeline for FFA members with market access. These exports underpin national revenue, employment, foreign exchange earnings, and the overall financial stability of their fishing and processing industries. 

Non-compliance carries significant financial risks: a country may face export bans, yellow or red cards, loss of preferential access, and costly corrective measures. Even a temporary withdrawal of EU approval can result in millions in lost revenue, factory closures, job losses, and long-term damage to reputation and investor confidence.

The training team motivated participants and supplied resources to assume leadership on this issue before deadlines.

Undoubtedly, the first weeks after the 10 January 2026 deadline set by the EU for importers in EU member states to adopt the CATCH system will be challenging, as they will need to enter the catch certificates received from non-EU countries manually. This will test their systems, and some changes in interpretation may occur, similar to what happened in early 2010 when the first version of the CCS came into force.

As such, the advice was to wait for a few months and consult with trading partners before moving into CATCH.

This activity was only made possible through the support, trust, and dedication of my FFA colleagues Yaniba Alfred and Jope Tamani.

The training introduced new ideas and approaches; the management of the fisheries authorities and industry consistently encouraged staff to participate willingly despite their busy schedules.

I am genuinely grateful to FFA and participants for the opportunity to lead these training sessions.