Regulation (EU) 2023/2833 establishing a catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 640/2010

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2023/2833 - adopted by the co-legislators on 13 December 2023 - establishing a catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). It also repeals Regulation (EU) No 640/2010.

Further information:

This Regulation establishes a bluefin tuna catch documentation programme in the European Union (EU), in order to implement the bluefin tuna catch documentation scheme adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and the mandatory use of the electronic BCD (eBCD) system, with a view to identifying the origin of all bluefin tuna caught, in order to support the implementation of ICCAT conservation and management measures.

Pursuant of Council Decision 86/238/EEC, the European Union has been a Contracting Party of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas since 1997. This Convention provides a framework for regional cooperation on the conservation and management of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and the adjoining seas through the setting up of an International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The ICCAT adopts decisions on the conservation and management of the fisheries under its purview, which are binding for the Contracting Parties. ICCAT Recommendations enter into force 6 months following their adoption and, with respect to the EU, must be implemented in EU law as soon as possible.

The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 27 October 2020. The Council of the European Union adopted a mandate for negotiations on 30 June 2021. The plenary of the European Parliament endorsed a negotiating position on 16 February 2022. Following an initial blockage due to disagreements as regards another legislative initiative, an informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for this file was reached on 17 July 2023. This was formally endorsed by Parliament on 21 November and by the Council on 8 December. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 13 December 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 20 December 2023.

• Primary Source

Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2020)670: Proposal for a Regulation establishing a catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 640/2010 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2020:670:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Conservation of fishery resources: catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (2020/0302(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2020/0302(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-fisheries-pech/file-catch-documentation-programme-for-bluefin-tuna

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