The role of social, economic and environmental standards in safeguarding fair competition for all aquatic food products and improving food security

The European Parliament adopted by 467 votes to 92, with 44 abstentions, a resolution on the role of social, economic and environmental standards in safeguarding fair competition for all aquatic food products and improving food security.

Strategic importance of fisheries and aquaculture

Stressing that fisheries and aquaculture are vital for food supply, sovereignty and security in the EU, Members regretted the Commission’s lack of prominence and ambition in relation to the contribution and potential of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in previous strategies, namely in the Farm to Fork Strategy and ‘vision for agriculture and food’. The Commission is urged to redress this situation in its future ‘vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture’.

Parliament highlighted the critical role of the EU’s fishing and aquaculture sectors, including the processing sector, as central elements of a sustainable, resilient, and prosperous European food system, providing nutritious, healthy, high-quality and sustainable aquatic food, produced in line with stringent standards on traceability, to meet EU food security needs, contribute to healthier diets and competitiveness vis-à-vis non-EU country producers.

Regulatory framework, coherence and level playing field

Members stressed the need to use the evaluation and possible future revision of the CFP, including the common market organisation (CMO), to identify potential improvements to the regulatory framework, and to promote simplification and the reduction in administrative burden. The EU’s high environmental, social and economic standards, coupled with a reduction in administrative burden, and legislative simplification, where possible and needed, are vital for bolstering the resilience and efficiency of European fisheries and aquaculture, as well as for supporting vital employment opportunities in coastal communities that depend on fisheries, notably small-scale fishers.

Allocation of fishing opportunities and sustainable resource management

Parliament considered it important that Member States take into account their different fleet segments, including the small-scale fishing segment, when setting their criteria. The resolution further highlighted the need to adopt multiannual total allowable catches (TACs) and allocation of quotas as a principle, both for EU-only and shared stocks, ensuring fair distribution that provides stability and predictability for the sector.

Members stressed the need to better support the diversification of the fishing fleet and the economic resilience of coastal communities, particularly in island and outermost regions.

Transparency, labelling and consumer information

Parliament called on the Commission and Member States, as part of the evaluation of the CMO Regulation, to improve, simplify and propose enhanced consumer information and new mandatory labelling requirements for all fishery and aquaculture products, whether fresh or processed, covering the entire value chain, including the HORECA (hotel, restaurant and catering) sector, retail and wholesale.

Members are convinced that labelling requirements should apply equally to imported products in order to combat fraudulent labelling and IUU fishing while providing clearer, more accurate, more reliable and accessible information to consumers, particularly with regard to sustainability, fishing grounds of origin and fishing gear used, so as to enable consumers to unambiguously distinguish Union products from those of non-EU countries.

Information, such as the designation of the species and its scientific name, the catch or farming location and production method, as well as all other mandatory information should always be clearly visible to consumers. This could be supplement with nutritional information and Omega3 content, clear distinctions between wild-caught and farmed seafood and between seafood and plant-based products.

Parliament urged the Commission to draw up a European blue food action plan by the end of 2026 to promote the production, processing, marketing and consumption of aquatic food products.

The resolution also recommended, inter alia:

- reinforcing and harmonising Member States’ import controls and actions to ensure the legality of fishery and aquaculture products placed on the EU market;

- further restricting imports of all aquatic food, in particular cod and Alaska pollock originating from Russia, including when they are reprocessed or repackaged in non-EU countries before entering the EU;

- introducing mirror measures in trade agreements concluded by the EU, in order to guarantee fair competitive conditions in the fisheries and aquatic food products sector, particularly in the outermost, island and coastal regions;

- ensuring that non-EU countries exporting fishery and aquaculture products to the EU adhere to international standards, in particular those promoting decent working conditions;

- continuing to lead by example by applying its zero-tolerance approach to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing;

- prioritising research and innovation within the framework of the blue economy by supporting the development and expansion of blue technologies;

- taking into account the crucial role of workers' rights, decent working conditions, fair wages and a safe working environment, including on fishing vessels, to ensure fair and ethical practices, combat social dumping and make the profession more attractive to women and younger generations;

- streamlining administrative procedures for accessing EU funds in the new multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2028-2034.