The EU IUU Regulations (Council Regulations (EC) No 1005/2008 and No 1010/2009) to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal unregulated and unreported fishing entered into force on January 1, 2010. Eighteen months since they entered into force, IEEP has published a study providing an independent review of the implementation of the Regulations by the European Commission and the Member States, providing an early insight into their current and potential impact.

Based on published and new information collected through a short survey conducted by IEEP, the study found that both the Commission and Member States faced some challenges in implementing specific components of the Regulations. The Commission has yet to establish the Community Alert System and the Non-Cooperating Party List, two essential tools to prevent imports of IUU-caught fish. Member States are currently implementing the Regulations and in some cases, this has resulted in an increase in the administrative burden. A preliminary analysis of trade flows highlighted that there has been little or no impact on levels of fish imports from third countries, implying that illegal fisheries products are likely continuing to enter the EU market.

The report makes a series of recommendations for consideration by the Commission.