Commission Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009Show full title

Article 31 U.K. Community criteria for verifications

Verifications intended to ensure that the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 are complied with, as referred to in Article 17 of that Regulation, shall be focused towards risks identified on the basis of the following Community criteria:

(a)

importation, exportation or trade in fishery products obtained from species of high commercial value;

(b)

introduction of new kinds of fishery products or discovery of new trade patterns;

(c)

inconsistencies between the trade patterns and the known fishing activities of a flag State in particular in respect of species, volumes or characteristics of its fishing fleet;

(d)

inconsistencies between the trade patterns and the known fishing-related activities of a third country in particular in respect of the characteristics of its processing industry or its trade in fishery products;

(e)

trade pattern not justified in terms of economic criteria;

(f)

involvement of a newly established operator;

(g)

significant and sudden increase in trade volume for a certain species;

(h)

submission of copies of catch certificates accompanying processing statements according to Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, for instance when the catch has been split during production;

(i)

prior notification, required under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, not transmitted at the proper time or information incomplete;

(j)

inconsistencies between catch data declared by the operator and other information available to the competent authority;

(k)

vessel or vessel owner suspected of being or having been involved in IUU fishing activities;

(l)

vessel having recently changed name, flag or registration number;

(m)

flag State not notified according to Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 or information available on possible irregularities in the validation of catch certificates by a given flag State (e.g. stamps or validation seal from a competent authority lost, stolen or forged);

(n)

presumed deficiencies in the control system of a flag State;

(o)

operators concerned who have already been involved in illegal activities constituting a potential risk in respect of IUU fishing.