Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1522 of 28 July 2025 amending Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 laying down rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2025/1522 29.7.2025 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION(EU) 2025/1522 of 28 July 2025 amending Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 laying down rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1936/2001 and (EC) No 601/2004 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1093/94 and (EC) No 1447/1999(1), and in particular Articles 6(1), 12c, 17(3), and 20(4), thereof, Whereas: (1) Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 established a Union system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. (2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009(2)laid down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. (3) Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 was subsequently amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 of the European Parliament and of the Council(3). (4) A number of amendments introduced by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 relate to provisions that were established under Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009. (5) It is therefore appropriate to amend Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 to adapt it to the changes introduced in Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842. (6) Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 sets out a form for the prior notification referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. This form is to be simplified to avoid duplications on the information to be reported. Therefore, Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 and its corresponding Annex are to be updated. (7) Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 provides that Member States are to carry out port inspections of at least 5 % of landing and transhipment operations by third country fishing vessels in accordance with benchmarks determined on the basis of risk management. These benchmarks are established in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009. Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 provides that these benchmarks are to be updated by the Commission, based on the result of the reporting to be done by Member States on their application. Changes to the benchmarks were also introduced by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 to Articles 3, 10 and 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 therefore needs to be updated accordingly. (1) OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1005/oj. (2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 of 22 October 2009 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (OJ L 280, 27.10.2009, p. 5, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1010/oj). (3) Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 November 2023 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, and amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006 and (EC) No 1005/2008 and Regulations (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2017/2403 and (EU) 2019/473 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards fisheries control (OJ L, 2023/2842, 20.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2842/oj). ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj 1/18EN OJ L, 29.7.2025 (8) Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 introduced a simplified form of catch certificate for some fishery products obtained by small fishing vessels, in view of the possible capacity constraints faced by such vessels for the proper implementation of the certification scheme. In the absence of a general definition of small-scale fisheries, Article 6 of the same Regulation laid down certain specific criteria on the basis of which the validation of a simplified catch certificate may be requested by the exporter. These criteria should take account of the limited capacity of the fishing vessels concerned, which would in turn make the obligation to apply the standard catch certification scheme a disproportionate burden. Those conditions for the eligibility for the use of the simplified form should be amended in order to render them easier to implement and to verify by the competent authorities in the Union. In addition, the simplified form of the catch certificate should be adapted to the use of CATCH and to the modification introduced by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 in the form of the catch certificate laid down in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. In order to provide adequate time to economic operators and third countries authorities to adapt to the modifications to the form of the simplified catch certificate, transitional provisions should be laid down. (9) Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council(4) establishes, inter alia, rules for the Member States’ performance of official controls and other official activities on animals and goods entering the Union in order to ensure the correct application of the Union agri-food chain legislation. It requires the Commission, in collaboration with Member States, to set up and manage a computerised information management system for official controls (IMSOC) to manage, handle and automatically exchange data, information and documents in relation to official controls. (10) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715(5) lays down rules for the functioning of the information management system for official controls and its system components (‘the IMSOC Regulation’). The IMSOC integrates and upgrades as necessary certain information systems managed by the Commission and acts as an interoperability scheme connecting them and, in certain cases, also existing national systems of the Member States and information systems of third countries and international organisations. One of the IMSOC components is the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES system) referred to in Article 133(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and currently used for the management of data and information on animals and some other products and official controls thereon. (11) Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 amended Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 by establishing the compulsory use for EU importers and competent authorities in the Member States of a database for the management of catch certificates and related documents named CATCH. This database has been developed by the Commission as part of the TRACES system. CATCH allows for risk-based control, reducing the risk of fraudulent imports and easing the administrative burden for the competent authorities of Member States. (12) CATCH, as part of the TRACES system, complies with the provisions laid down in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 where relevant for the use and the functioning of CATCH. (13) Specific rules and instructions for the functioning of CATCH, including the production, handling and submission of catch certificates and related documents and the information contained therein in CATCH are to be established. (4) Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) (OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/625/oj). (5) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 of 30 September 2019 laying down rules for the functioning of the information management system for official controls and its system components (the IMSOC Regulation) (OJ L 261, 14.10.2019, p. 37, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/1715/oj). 2/18 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/ojEN OJ L, 29.7.2025 (14) Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 provides for the recognition of catch documentation schemes adopted by regional fisheries management organisations (hereinafter referred to as RFMOs) which are considered as complying with the requirements of the said Regulation. Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 recognised the catch documentation schemes of certain RFMOs as complying with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 and listed them in Annex V, Part I and Part II. This list is to be updated considering the developments of these schemes and the use of CATCH. (15) Economic operators who fulfil the conditions for obtaining the status of approved economic operator can benefit from a simplified procedure when importing fishery products into the territory of the Union. One of the benefits of obtaining the status of approved economic operator, on the basis of criteria established in Article 16(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, is to have the possibility to advise the competent authorities of the Member State of the arrival of the products and to keep the validated catch certificate and related documents, as referred to in Article 14, available to the authorities for the purposes of checks in accordance with Article 16(1) or verifications in accordance with Article 17 of the same Regulation. However, Article 12a(2) of that Regulation, establishes that all exchange of information, data and documents in relation to the importation of fishery products and related checks, risk management, verifications and control, as well as in relation to the documents referred to in Chapter III of the mentioned Regulation concerning the catch certification scheme for importation and exportation of fishery products including applications or decisions between the importer and the competent authorities of Member States, are to be made using CATCH. Therefore, the rules related to the status of approved economic operators are to be updated to comply with the mandatory use of CATCH. As a result, Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 should be amended accordingly. (16) Article 17(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishes that verifications under the catch certification scheme are to be focused on risks identified on the basis of common Union criteria for verifications, which were subsequently established in Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009. (17) These common criteria for verifications under the catch certification scheme are to allow for the systematic identification of risks and the implementation of measures necessary for limiting exposure to such risks. The common Union criteria aim at ensuring a harmonised approach to verifications in all Member States and to establish a level playing field for all operators. (18) Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 allows the Commission to update the Union criteria for verification on the basis of its own observations and the reports to be submitted every two years by the Member States on the application of those criteria. Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 should therefore be updated based on the result of the reporting done by Member States on their application under Article 32 of the Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 and the use of CATCH. (19) The reporting obligations and evaluation established in Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 are also to be updated in order to harmonise the information to be contained in the reports submitted by Member States in accordance with Article 55(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 and allow the Commission to carry out possible adjustments of the Union criteria. (20) Article 12(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 provides for administrative cooperation between the Commission and third countries in areas pertaining to the implementation of the catch certification provisions. Within the framework of Article 20(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, the catch certificate may be established, validated or submitted by electronic means or may be replaced by electronic traceability systems ensuring the same level of control by authorities, in agreement with flag States through administrative arrangements. (21) Administrative arrangements established within the framework of the administrative cooperation set out in Article 20(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, are listed in Annex IX to Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009. (22) The amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, through Regulation (EU) 2023/2842, introduced the mandatory use of CATCH, as well as changes to the template of the catch certificate, with the purpose of reducing the fraudulent use of catch certificates and to assist the competent authorities in the Member States with their controls. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj 3/18EN OJ L, 29.7.2025 (23) CATCH will carry out cross-checks based on the data contained in the new catch certificates. These cross-checks can only be executed if all the data required in the catch certificate are provided. Missing data or data deviating from the standard template will affect cross-checks and will therefore negatively impact the controls performed by the authorities in the Member States. The absence of such data in the catch certificates could also affect the new traceability requirements established in CATCH. (24) Consequently, the administrative arrangements established between the Commission and seven third countries, set out in Annex IX to Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009, will no longer be compatible with CATCH and the requirements in the catch certification scheme. Article 33 of that Regulation that set out these arrangements should therefore be deleted accordingly. The Commission has informed all the third countries concerned, that the administrative arrangements will be terminated as of 10 January 2026. (25) The protection of natural persons regarding the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data is governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council(6). The protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Commission is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council(7), in particular in relation to the requirements of confidentiality and security of processing, the transfer of personal data from the national systems of Member States to the Commission, the lawfulness of processing, and the rights of data subjects to information, access to, rectification and erasure of their personal data. (26) In line with the Commission Decision (EU) 2019/1862(8), the Commission may process personal data in order to implement Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. Internal rules have been laid down in relation to the provision of information to data subjects and the restrictions of certain of their rights in the context of the processing of personal data by the Commission in the Union system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. (27) Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly. (28) The Commission is empowered to adopt implementing acts in accordance with Article 52 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, assisted by the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture. (29) The Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture has not delivered an opinion within the time limit laid down by its chair. (30) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 and delivered an opinion on 13 June 2025, (6) Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj). (7) Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39, ELI: http://data. europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1725/oj). (8) Commission Decision (EU) 2019/1862 of 6 November 2019 laying down internal rules in relation to the provision of information to data subjects and the restrictions of certain of their rights in the context of the processing of personal data by the Commission in the Union system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. C/2019/7894 (OJ L 286, 7.11.2019, p. 17, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2019/1862/oj). 4/18 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/ojEN OJ L, 29.7.2025 HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 is amended as follows: (1) Article 2 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 2 Prior notification form The form for prior notification referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 is set out in Annex II to this Regulation.’; (2) Article 4 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 4 Benchmarks for port inspection 1. The benchmarks for port inspections as referred to in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 shall consist of the following criteria: (a) the species concerned are subject to an inspection scheme or quotas established by regional fisheries management organisations; (b) the fishing vessel has not been inspected at an EU port in the last 6 months; (c) inconsistencies between the catches and the known fishing activities of a flag State in particular in respect of species, volumes or characteristics of its fishing fleet; (d) failure to comply with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 on prior notice; inconsistencies between catch data declared by the operator and other information available to the competent authority; (e) vessel owner or operator suspected of being or having been involved in IUU fishing activities; (f) vessel having recently changed its name, flag or registration number; (g) vessel currently flagged or flagged in the last 5 years to a State notified by the European Commission of the possibility of being identified as non-cooperating third country in accordance with Article 31 of the Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (h) vessel flagged to a State not notified in accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (i) information available on possible irregularities in the validation of catch certificates by a given flag State; (j) presumed deficiencies in the control system of a flag State; (k) operators concerned have been involved in illegal activities constituting a potential risk in respect of IUU fishing; (l) the fishing vessel has been denied entry or use of port in accordance with relevant international, regional and/ or national legislation including fishing vessels eventually allowed entry or access to port due to force majeureor distress according to Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. 2. In order to ensure the implementation of point (b) of the first paragraph, Member States shall, after every inspection, report without delay to the Commission and to the European Fisheries Control Agency the name and the flag of the third country vessel inspected and the date of inspection. The Commission or the European Fisheries Control Agency shall make this information available to other Member States.’; ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj 5/18EN OJ L, 29.7.2025 (3) Article 6 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 6 Simplified catch certificate 1. This Article shall apply to third country fishing vessels: (a) with an overall length of less than 12 metres without towed gear; or (b) with an overall length of less than 8 metres with towed gear; 2. Catches from third country fishing vessels referred to in paragraph 1 which are only landed in the flag State of those vessels, and which together constitute one consignment may be accompanied by a simplified catch certificate instead of the catch certificate referred to in Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. The simplified catch certificate shall contain all the information specified in the specimen shown in Annex IV to this Regulation and shall be validated by the public authority of the flag State that has the necessary powers to attest the accuracy of the information. 3. The validation of the simplified catch certificate shall be requested by the exporter of the consignment upon submission to the public authority of all the information specified in the specimen shown in Annex IV.’. (4) The following Article 6a is inserted: ‘Article 6a Catch 1. In accordance with Article 12a(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, the importer, the re-exporter and, where relevant, the exporter, shall submit through CATCH the following documents, as applicable, and the information contained therein to the competent authority of the Member State in which the fishery products are intended to be released into free circulation, or in case of re-exports to the competent authority of the Member State from which they are to take place, or in case of exports to the competent authority of the flag Member State: (a) catch certificate in conformity with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 and the template established on Annex II to that Regulation; (b) simplified catch certificate in conformity with Article 6 and the template established in Annex IV to this Regulation; (c) re-export certificate as established in Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 and included in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 or in Annex IV to this Regulation; (d) transport details included in the Appendix to Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (e) statement referred to in Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 established by the processing plant in a third country and endorsed by the competent authority of that third country in accordance with the form set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (f) single transport document referred to in Article 14(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 or non-manipulation document according to the template established in the Delegated Regulation (EC) 2025/453; (g) any supporting documents or information relevant under the catch certification scheme related to the fishery products. 2. The documents and information referred to in paragraph 1 shall be drawn up in at least one of the official EU languages of the Member State where the submission takes place. 3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the Member State where the submission takes place may consent to receiving documents written in another official EU language upon request to that effect from the operator concerned. 6/18 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/ojEN OJ L, 29.7.2025 4. Each Member State shall designate one or more contact points for CATCH and communicate that designation and their contact details to the Commission. Member States shall update the contact points for CATCH and inform the Commission immediately of any changes in this respect. The Commission shall maintain and keep up to date a list of contact points and make it available to all Member States. 5. The Commission shall have access to all data, information and documents in CATCH in order to monitor the exchange of data, information and documents inserted or produced therein for identifying activities that are, or appear to be, not in compliance with the rules established in Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. The European Fisheries Control Agency shall have the same access rights as the Commission, in order to assist the Commission and the Member States in the uniform and effective application of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, as foreseen in Regulation (EU) 2019/473 of the European Parliament and of the Council(*), including as regards the fight against IUU fishing. 6. As regards access for users other than the Commission and the European Fisheries Control Agency to data, information and documents in CATCH, the general rules for TRACES as established in Article 36 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 apply. 7. On receipt of an application, the Commission may grant the competent authority and operators of a third country partial access to the functionalities of CATCH and to specific data relevant to that third country for producing and validating the catch certificates and related documents in CATCH, provided the applicant demonstrates that it meets the following requirements: (a) it has the legal and operational capacity to provide, without undue delay, the assistance necessary to allow the good functioning of CATCH; and (b) it has designated a contact point for that purpose. The partial access referred to in this paragraph shall not include access to personal data processed in CATCH, except where the conditions for lawful transfers of personal data established by Regulations (EU) 2016/679 and (EU) 2018/1725 are fulfilled by the applicant third country. 8. Data exchanges between CATCH and other electronic systems, including the Member States’ national systems, shall be synchronous, reciprocal and based on UN/CEFACT standards. Data exchanges between CATCH and the Member States’ national systems shall make use of reference data provided in CATCH. 9. In the event of unavailability of CATCH, users may use fillable printed or electronic templates to record and exchange information. These templates shall be publicly available on a Commission’s official website. Once the system is available again, the importer shall introduce in CATCH the information recorded in the fillable printed or electronic templates and attach them in CATCH as supporting documents. These documents shall bear the text produced during contingency. The Commission shall inform users through CATCH two weeks in advance of any planned unavailability, how long it will last and the reason for it. 10. For the purpose of compliance with Article 22(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, catch certificates and related documents generated by third countries’ operators and validated by third countries’ authorities electronically in CATCH shall be stored by CATCH for at least 3 years. Personal data from the catch certificates and related documents shall be stored by CATCH for no more than 10 years. 11. With regard to processing of personal data in CATCH, the general rules for IMSOC as established in Articles 10 and 11 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 apply. _____________ (*) Regulation (EU) 2019/473 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 on the European Fisheries Control Agency (OJ L 83, 25.3.2019, p. 18, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/473/oj).’; ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj 7/18EN OJ L, 29.7.2025 (5) Article 7 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 7 Recognised catch documentation schemes in RFMOs The catch documentation schemes adopted by regional fisheries management organisations listed in Annex V to this Regulation shall be recognised for the purposes of Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 as complying with the requirements of that Regulation without additional conditions.’; (6) Article 12 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 12 Management of records The system of managing catch certificates and, where appropriate, processing records, as referred to in Article 16(3)(d) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, shall be considered satisfactory if the information contained in the catch certificates and related documents as referred to in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 is registered in CATCH.’; (7) the title of Chapter III and Article 31 are replaced by the following: ‘CHAPTER III Checks and verifications Article 31 Union criteria for verifications In accordance with Article 17(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, Member States shall focus verifications towards risks identified on the basis of the following Union criteria: (a) alerts triggered in CATCH; (b) information shared by Mutual Assistance messages in accordance with Article 51 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 and Title IV of this Regulation; (c) products obtained from species subject to quota under a regional fisheries management organisation; (d) country notified of the possibility of being identified as non-cooperating third country in accordance with Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (e) vessel, vessel owner or operator suspected of being or having been involved in IUU fishing activities; (f) vessel, vessel owner or operator having been involved in illegal activities other than IUU fishing but constituting a potential risk in respect of IUU fishing; (g) vessel having recently changed its name, flag or registration number; (h) fishery products obtained from species of high commercial value; (i) introduction of new kinds of fishery products, new product presentations, or new trade patterns; (j) inconsistencies between the trade patterns and the known fishing activities of a flag State in particular in respect of species, volumes or characteristics of its fishing fleet; (k) inconsistencies between the trade patterns and the known fishing-related activities of a third country in particular in respect of the characteristics of its processing industry or its trade in fishery products; (l) trade patterns not justified in terms of economic rationality or logic; (m) significant and sudden increase in trade volume for a certain species; (n) catch certificate submitted in relation to several consignments; 8/18 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/ojEN OJ L, 29.7.2025 (o) generation, validation and submission of paper-based catch certificates or endorsement of paper-based processing statements; (p) inconsistencies between data submitted in CATCH by the operator and data contained in the paper-based catch certificates, or any other related paper-based documents, or any other relevant information available to the competent authority; (q) use of box 6 of the catch certificate as laid down in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (r) use of box 7 of the catch certificate as laid down in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 in case of transhipments; (s) submission of catch certificates accompanied by multiple transport details as foreseen in the Appendix to Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 and/or documents foreseen under Article 14(1) of the same Regulation; (t) product from a new flag State or from a new exporting State; (u) newly established operator.’; (8) Article 32 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 32 Reporting obligations and evaluation 1. Member States shall include information on the application of the criteria referred to in Article 31 in their report to be transmitted to the Commission every two years according to Article 55(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. 2. In their reports, Member States shall include the following information: (a) checks carried out in accordance with Article 16(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (b) number and nature of additional risk indicators introduced by Member States in CATCH at national level; (c) number of alerts triggered in CATCH per risk indicator; (d) risks identified based on the application of the Union criteria referred to in Article 31 of this Regulation and of additional national criteria if notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 17(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (e) outcomes of the verification activities carried out to address identified risks in accordance with Article 17(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (f) verifications carried out in accordance with Article 17(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (g) verifications carried out at random in accordance with Article 17(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. 3. On the basis of those reports and its own observations, the Commission shall undertake an evaluation and possible adjustment of the Union criteria.’; (9) Article 33 is deleted; (10) Article 36 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 36 Protection and processing of personal data 1. Regulations (EU) 2016/679 and (EU) 2018/1725 as well as the national provisions transposing Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council(*), apply to the processing of personal data carried out pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 and this Regulation by Member States, the Commission or the body designated by it. 2. The rights of persons with regard to their personal data processed in national systems shall be exercised in accordance with the law of the Member State which stored their personal data, and in particular the provisions implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/679, and, with regard to their personal data processed in Union systems, shall be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj 9/18EN OJ L, 29.7.2025 3. The Commission or the body designated by it and Member States may process the personal data of natural persons, in order to fulfil their duties under the rules of the common fisheries policy, in particular for carrying out verifications and enquiries pursuant to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, or under the rules of agreements with third countries or international organisations. 4. The Commission may restrict certain of the rights of data subjects in the context of the processing of personal data by the Commission in the Union system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, in line with the Commission Decision (EU) 2019/1862 of 6 November 2019. _____________ (*) Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 89, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/680/oj).’; (11) Article 37 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 37 Use of information and protection of professional and commercial secrecy 1. Member States and the Commission shall take all necessary steps to ensure that data covered by professional and commercial secrecy that are collected, received and transmitted within the framework of this Regulation are treated in accordance with applicable rules on professional and commercial secrecy. 2. Data referred to in paragraph 1 exchanged between Member States and the Commission may be transmitted to persons other than those in Member States or the Commission or the body designated by it, provided their functions require them to have access to such data and with the consent of the Member State or the Commission or the body designated by it which has provided those data. In the case of a refusal, the Member State, the Commission or the body designated by it shall provide the reasons for refusal to transmit the data. The absence of a reply to a request for consent within a period of one month shall be regarded as consent. 3. The data referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be used for any purpose other than that provided for in this Regulation, except with the consent of the Member State, the Commission or the body designated by it which has provided those data and on condition that the provisions in force in the Member State of the authority receiving the data do not prohibit such use. In the case of a refusal, the Member State, the Commission or the body designated by it shall provide the reasons for refusal.’; (12) Reference to Article 42(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 throughout Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 shall be replaced by reference to Article 42 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008; (13) Annex IIA and Annex IIB are replaced by the text in Annex I to this Regulation; (14) Annex IV is replaced by the text in Annex II to this Regulation; (15) Annex V is replaced by the text in Annex III to this Regulation; (16) Annex IX is deleted. Article 2 Transitional provisions Article 6 and Annex II of this Regulation will be applicable as of 10 January 2027. Until 10 January 2028 the importer may use simplified catch certificates that have been validated before 10 January 2027 in accordance with Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 as applicable at the time of their validation. 10/18 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/ojEN OJ L, 29.7.2025 Article 3 Entry into force This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 10 January 2026. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaties. Done at Brussels, 28 July 2025. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj 11/18EN OJ L, 29.7.2025 ANNEX I ‘ANNEX II Form for prior notification for third country fishing vessels referred to in Article 2 The fields marked with an asterisk (*) do not have to be completed in cases where a catch certificate has been validated for the full catch to be landed or transhipped in the EU. Vessel identification 1. Vessel name: 2. Type of vessel (catching, carrier or support): 3. Flag (country of registration): 4. National registration number (external marking): 5. International radio call sign: 6. Vessel contact information: 7. IMO number, if applicable: 8. Other unique vessel identifier (if IMO number is not provided): 9. VMS (no / yes (national) no /yes (RFMO); if yes, type: ) 10. Vessel dimensions – length: beam: draft: Intended port of call 11. Name of the port (ISO alpha-2 country code + 3 letter port code(1): 12. Purpose of the call (landing, transhipment, or access to services): 13. Port and date of the last port call (ISO alpha-2 country code + name of port/3 – letter port code): Fishing authorisation 14. Fishing authorisation number, period of validity and expiration date (also specify fishing area, species and gear)(*): 15. Authorisation to support fishing operations/transship fishery products number and expiration date: 16. Issuing authority: 17. RFMO ID, if applicable: Dates 18. Dates of the fishing trip (*): 19. Date and estimated time of arrival at port: 12/18 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/ojEN OJ L, 29.7.2025 Quantities of species retained on board (or zero report if no catches) 20. Catch certificate 21. Date of 22. Area or port of 23. Tranship­ 24. Name of the number(s) for this/these transhipment (if transhipment ment species (FAO (if available) transhipment (FAO (ICES) area, authorisation alpha-3 has taken place FAO (ICES) date (*) code) (*) elsewhere than subdivision and the port of fishing effort landing) (*) zone) (*) 25. Catch area (FAO (ICES) 26. Estimated total 27. Estimated total live 28. Net weight in 29. Presentation of area, FAO (ICES) live weight on weight of fish to be kg of fish to fish and state of subdivision and fishing board (in kg) or/ landed/ be landed/ preservation effort zone) (*) and number of transhipped (in kg) transshipped (use fish if required or/and number of (*) codes(1)) (*) fish if required (*) (1) Codes for ports, fish preservation states and fish presentation are available on: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/fisheries/ rules/enforcing-rules_en. 30. Name and address of vessel owner: 31. Name of master of vessel/representative: 32. Signature: 33. Date:’ ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj 13/18EN OJ L, 29.7.2025 ANNEX II ‘ANNEX IV EUROPEAN UNION CATCH CERTIFICATE Simplified form for fishery products fulfilling the requirements in Article 6 and 6a of this Regulation (I)EUROPEAN UNION CATCH CERTIFICATE Simplified form for fishery products fulfilling the requirements in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 14/18 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/ojEN OJ L, 29.7.2025 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj 15/18EN OJ L, 29.7.2025 (II)EUROPEAN UNION RE-EXPORT CERTIFICATE Certificate number Date Member State 1. Description of the product Weight (kg) Species Product code Balance from the total quantity declared in the catch certificate 2. Name of re-exporter Address Signature Date 3. Authority Name/title Signature Date Seal/Stamp 4. Re-export control Place Re-export authorised(*) Verification requested(*) Re-export declaration number and date (*) Tick as appropriate 16/18 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/ojEN OJ L, 29.7.2025 Appendix Transport details(1) 1. Country of exportation 2. Exporter signature 3. Point of destination Port/airport/other point of departure Vessel name and flag Container Name Address Signature number(s) Flight number/ airway bill number list attached Truck nationality and registration number Railway bill number Freight bill number Other transport documents (e.g. bill of lading, CMR(2), air waybill) (1) In case of use of multiple modes of transport or multiple shipments, the information related to the transport has to be provided for each mode of transport used for each shipment. (2) Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road.’. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj 17/18EN OJ L, 29.7.2025 ANNEX III ‘ANNEX V Catch documentation schemes adopted by regional fisheries management organisations recognised as complying with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 Catch documentation schemes recognised as complying with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008: Dissostichusspp. catch documentation scheme as set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 1035/2001(1) ICCAT bluefin tuna catch documentation programme as set out in Regulation (EU) 2023/2833 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2). _____________ (1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1035/2001 of 22 May 2001 establishing a catch documentation scheme for Dissostichus spp. (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2001/1035/oj). (2) Regulation (EU) 2023/2833 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2023 establishing a catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 640/2010 (OJ L, 2023/2833, 20.12.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2833/oj).’ 18/18 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1522/oj