©Sebastian Pena Lambarri via Unsplash
From 2026, the traceability of fishery and aquaculture products in the European Union will become entirely digital. This is provided for in Regulation (EU) 2023/2842, which radically reforms the European fisheries control system by amending the former Regulation (EC) 1224/2009.
In reality, the new rules officially came into force on January 2024, but the main provisions apply from January 10, 2026, which marks the operational start of the new digital system.
The new European regulation
At the heart of the reform is the obligation to record and transmit exclusively in electronic format all information relating to fishery products throughout the supply chain. This is not a simple switch from paper to digital, but a structured system that enables the product to be tracked from capture or farming to retail sale.
Each stage - from landing to transport, from distribution to marketing - must be accompanied by standardized, interoperable data that can be verified by the relevant authorities. The aim is to make controls faster and more efficient, and to reduce the risk of documents being falsified.
From January 10, 2026, the obligation will cover fresh fish, frozen fish and unprocessed aquaculture products. In this first phase, the reform targets products in their original form, with no industrial processing altering their nature.
In concrete terms, this means that the entire supply chain for fish sold fresh or frozen will have to be digitally traceable for every commercial transaction.
From January 10, 2029, the system will be extended to processed products. This second phase will cover canned seafood products, processed fish, shellfish and seaweed preparations.
This is an important step, as a significant proportion of European consumption involves processed products such as canned tuna and fish-based ready-made meals.
Why digital traceability?
The reform is a response to the need to step up the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The digitization of data means that information can be cross-referenced much more quickly between member states, making it more difficult for products derived from illegal activities to enter the European market.
The system also aims to reduce commercial fraud, such as cash-for-clunkers or false indications of geographical origin. Structured, digital traceability makes it easier to reconstruct a product's actual journey and verify its consistency.
Changes for consumers
For fish buyers, the change will not be immediately visible on the label, as the mandatory information on species, catch area and production method was already provided for in European regulations.
The key difference, however, lies in the reliability of the system. Data will no longer be based solely on paper documents or declarations that are difficult to check, but on digital records that can be verified throughout the supply chain. This should reduce the risk of fraud and boost confidence in official controls.
Impact on business
For industry players, the impact is more significant. Companies have to adapt their IT systems, guarantee electronic data recording and ensure that information is transmitted according to common standards.
It's a structural change that involves technological and organizational investment, but aims to harmonize rules across the European Union, overcoming national differences that in the past could create grey areas during controls.
According to the European legislator's intentions, this development should enhance legality, sustainability and consumer protection in a sector which, in recent years, has been at the center of many environmental and commercial concerns.
Source : Regulation (EU) 2023/2842
(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction/Picture: Sebastian Pena Lambarri via Unsplash)