Fishing vessel fishing off Mount Athos, Greece.
The European Commission has launched a public consultation seeking feedback on the sustainability of the EU’s autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs) for imported fisheries products.
The survey, open until 3 July 2025, invites input from a wide range of stakeholders both within and outside the EU.
At the moment, the EU allows certain fish products to be imported with reduced or zero tariffs through the Autonomous Tariff Quotas (ATQs) system. This enables fish processing companies in the EU to obtain raw material, such as unprocessed or semi-processed fish, that may not be available in large enough quantities or at affordable prices within the bloc itself. Tariff reductions are available in limited quantities and are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
However, the current system does not include any sustainability conditions for the imported products. That means fish can be imported under these reduced tariffs even if the way they were caught or farmed does not meet certain environmental or social standards. This has raised concerns about the potential impact on fish stocks, fair competition, and the future of the EU’s own fishing and aquaculture sectors.
To address these issues, the European Commission is now considering introducing sustainability requirements, which would mean only fish products meeting certain environmental, social, or economic criteria would benefit from tariff reductions.
At present, the ATQ system is based on a regulation that applies from 2024 to 2026, covering 31 quotas for different fish products and aimed at helping EU processing companies stay competitive and keep consumer prices low. For most products, the import tariff within these quotas is set at zero.
The European Commission says it now wants to hear from a wide range of people and organizations, including citizens, NGOs, fishing industry businesses, trade unions, consumer groups, researchers, and public authorities, both from within and outside of the EU.
The questionnaire is part of an ongoing review of the ATQ system, and follows a previous round of feedback that took place in late 2024. The results from both processes will help the EU decide whether and how to revise the current rules, the Commission said.
The survey can be accessed until 3 July at the European Commission website.