Starting next year, European Union (EU) regulators want to track online every detail of fish imports, from the point of being netted to delivery at retail outlets, to improve the traceability, security, and quality of the products marketed in the EU.
Locally, the new regulations can mean higher compliance costs notably in installing or upgrading IT systems throughout the supply chain, which may hurt Uganda’s competitiveness.
However the EU market matters considerably, being the largest global importer of seafood products by value, accounting for 35% of the total world fish imports. China, another good customer for Ugandan fish, comes second at 20%.
Although not compulsory for non-EU fish exporters, such as Uganda, the regulators strongly recommend the use of the updated system. Uganda’s total fish exports, mostly made up of Nile Perch, currently generate between $100 million and $150 million annually with about 70% going to the Europeans.
Uganda cannot afford to take these coming changes lightly considering the estimated one million people who rely on the fishing industry for their incomes. As of now, there are nine established processors under the umbrella of the Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters Association which was first founded in 1993 before becoming a limited company in 1999.
The main difference between the incoming system and the current one is the scrapping of all physical documentation. Instead, the digital information management system for catch certification (CATCH) will be fully digitalized and integrated into the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES).Â
TRACES is the online platform for animal and plant health certification required for the importation of animals, animal products, and food into the EU. CATCH is the real-time IT system that also streamlines the process of importing fishery products and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
CATCH will become compulsory from January 10, 2026. The European Commission, (the EU executive) based in Brussels, says it will facilitate the exchange of data, information, and documents between all involved trading parties and control authorities and therefore simplify and speed up administrative procedures. Â
If catch certificates are not submitted through CATCH, imports of the fishery products concerned may be refused. The good thing is that for more than two decades now, the regulation of Uganda’s fisheries sector has been steadily moving away from paper to e-certification and e-licensing. Incorporating the changes may not be as daunting as it seems.
According to Brussels, once non-EU countries choose to use the system, it will also make the whole process easier as all the workflows will be electronic, and papers will no longer be required.
No one wants a repeat of the situation in the late 1990s when local fish products encountered a year-long ban imposed by the EU due to failure to comply with the prevailing regulatory regime. Such was the excitement over the demand for Ugandan fish abroad that fishers and processors frequently side-stepped or ignored relevant health, safety, and hygiene protocols.
During that chaotic period, it was estimated that the country lost nearly $40 million in sales. Out of the 11 fish factories operating then, three were closed and the remaining ones were working at 20% capacity which caused the lay-off of between 60% and 70% of the industry labor force at the time.
Since then and with the assistance of several development partners, the government has been investing in sustainable ways to increase production, expand aquaculture production, and intensify aquatic weed control, monitoring, control, and surveillance. Other projects have covered licensing and marketing.
According to the national budget projections for the financial year 2025/26, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has been allocated nearly UGX800 billion; UGX 611.5 billion for development while UGX188 billion is for recurrent expenditure. However, in February, Parliament agreed to add another UGX23 billion directly to the fisheries sector among other things, to accelerate value-addition.
In terms of agricultural produce, the fish industry remains the second largest foreign exchange earner after coffee. However, like coffee and the adoption of the EU’s deforestation or forest degradation regulations (EUDR), adjusting to meet the incoming rules for fish exports will also require some investment.
Under EUDR all coffee exported to the EU must be traceable back to the farm and sourced from land not deforested after December 31, 2020. This has meant spending on mapping, registration, and developing a certification system. To date, the government put aside UGX35 billion to beat the deadline.
From 30 December 2025, anyone or company bringing in coffee for the EU market will need to first upload a due diligence statement to their competent national authority, through a dedicated information system being established by the European Commission. By issuing such a statement, the importer assumes all responsibility for the product’s compliance with the EUDR.
