Changes to EU requirements for catch certificates

The main change is a requirement for increased disclosure on catch certificates, along with the obligation for importers within the European Union (EU) to use the EU's computer system, CATCH, which prepares the certificates. In addition, a processing certificate for products on a catch certificate must accompany all processed seafood products exported to the EU. 

The EU has already terminated the agreement between itself and the countries that had been granted an exemption from the current requirements for catch certificates and has announced that no exemptions from the new requirements will be granted. The EU then recommends that other countries adopt the CATCH computer system for issuing certificates, but there is also the option for states to send the certificates digitally to CATCH. 

The Directorate of Fisheries is finalizing the implementation of the new EU requirements, which will be fully implemented on the 10th of January 2026. Exporters will continue to register catch certificates in the Directorate of Fisheries' web system, which is connected to the agency's databases. The web system will then digitally send them to CATCH, the EU's catch certificate system. 

Useful information following new rules 

• The catch certificates will change considerably, both in terms of their appearance and the information they contain.  

• The user needs to link a product to a landing as well as fish species and enter the quantity that was used in the production.

• Information regarding catches, vessels, and captains will come from the Directorate of Fisheries' databases.  

• Select the fish processing plant where the seafood products were processed 

• The processing certificate is digitally prepared at the same time as the catch certificate. 

• The fish producer's electronic signature must be obtained. 

Please note 

Exporters are encouraged to start using the new catch certificate system as soon as possible, as the old system will be closed on the 1st of December.