Newsletters

The mandatory implementation of the EU Catch Certification IT system (CATCH) as of 10 January 2026 represents a major shift in how imports of fishery products are controlled at the EU border. The objective is to strengthen traceability and preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing from entering the Single Market. However, early experience shows that the transition has been far from smooth.

A recent Financial Times article reported significant disruption at several European ports, with consignments of frozen and processed fish held back due to technical failures and the heavy administrative burden linked to the new system. Importers described repeated error messages, missing data fields (such as species or country codes), and difficulties uploading certificates. In Rotterdam alone, dozens of containers were reportedly stranded, with only around half of shipments being cleared.

For the logistics industry, which was not consulted on the new system, despite being largely responsible for handling the data entry requirements at the border, the combination of manual data entry, limited system stability and unclear control responsibilities between port authorities and customs creates immediate risks for logistics flows. Delays in validating certificates can lead to container immobilisation, port congestion, demurrage costs and deterioration of perishable goods – with knock-on effects for traders and consumers.

As Seafood Europe has warned in December, without corrective measures the system could disrupt seafood supply chains across the EU.  In a letter to the European Commission CLECAT has also stressed the urgent need for a realistic transitional approach, proper delegation possibilities for customs intermediaries, and technical improvements to reduce manual burdens.

CLECAT highlights that CATCH is a clear example of why stronger intra-DG coordination is essential. Systems enforced at import cannot be developed in isolation from customs realities. CLECAT therefore calls for the Commission, and in particular DG TAXUD, to play a stronger horizontal role in ensuring that sectoral control tools are aligned with border customs procedures and supply chain operations.