Europêche Calls for Sustainability Conditions in EU Seafood Imports Tariff Regime

Commission Admits Duty-Free Seafood Imports Undermine EU Standards

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on reforming the EU’s Autonomous Tariff Quota (ATQ) regime, raising the possibility of linking tariff-free seafood imports to environmental and labour standards — a move welcomed, and strongly demanded, by Europêche.

The ATQ system currently allows more than 900,000 tonnes of seafood to enter the EU each year at reduced or zero tariffs. For most products, tariffs are completely waived, despite the fact that import duties on some fishery products can reach up to 25%. The stated purpose of the scheme is to support the EU’s fish processing industry — but there are growing concerns it does so at the expense of sustainability, fairness, and EU production.

According to the Commission, tariff-free access currently applies on a first-come, first-served basis, with no conditions linked to sustainability. In its consultation paper, the Commission concedes this raises serious questions:“This raises questions related to the possible impacts on the conservation and management of the concerned fish stocks from non-EU fisheries, social and trade matters, as well as the competitiveness of the EU fishing sector.”

Europêche, representing Europe’s fishing vessel owners, has seized on the consultation as a long-overdue chance to overhaul a regime that has favoured cheap imports over fair competition. “The EU cannot preach sustainability at home while turning a blind eye to imported products that do not meet the same standards—especially when those products benefit from tariff exemptions,” said Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche. “It’s time to close this loophole and make sustainability a prerequisite for tariff advantages.”

The group argues that the current system directly undermines Europe’s food sovereignty, allowing the EU market to be flooded by cheap seafood from countries with poor environmental records and documented labour abuses. Nowhere is the problem more glaring than in the tuna sector, says Xavier Leduc, Chair of Europêche’s Tuna Group.“The case of tuna is especially shocking: the EU grants each year 35,000 tonnes of duty-free tuna loins, used essentially from Asian countries where there are well-documented cases of labour abuses and illegal fishing. These imports flood the market in a matter of days, distort prices, and directly harm the competitiveness of our fleet.”

Five Demands for a Reformed and Fairer ATQ Regime

Europêche has outlined five priorities it says must be non-negotiable in any ATQ reform:

• Mandatory sustainability criteria: Duty-free access should require compliance with international standards on fisheries governance, environmental protection and labour rights.

• Exclusion of IUU-linked countries: Imports linked to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing or serious labour violations should be barred from tariff benefits.

• Support for EU production: Tariff derogations must not displace EU catches or weaken EU-based jobs.

• Reciprocity and fairness: Countries like Norway, which benefit from EU market access but offer little in return, should face stricter conditions.

• Alignment with EU values: The ATQ regime must reflect broader EU priorities, such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and trade sanctions.

Javier Garat, President of Europêche, called on the Commission to act decisively:“ATQs should strengthen, not erode, Europe’s strategic autonomy in fisheries. The Commission now has a real chance—and responsibility—to create a regime that promotes sustainable fisheries, fair trade and long-term food sovereignty. Right now, the EU is granting tariff exemptions to products from countries with questionable practices such as China, with no merit or justification other than to lower the price for EU importers. This has to stop.”