COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM(93) 242 final 
Brussels, 1 June 1993 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
introducing a system for the statistical monitoring of trade 
in bluefin tuna (Thuunus Thynnus) within the Community 
(presented by the Commission) 
I 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
The International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, 
hereinafter referred to as the 'ICCAT Convention', is the international 
forum for development of a policy on the management and conservation of 
tuna in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. At its eighth 
extraordinary meeting, held in Madrid from 8 to 13 November 1992, it 
adopted a Resolution designed to make compulsory from 1 September 1993 
the presentation of a statistical document, hereinafter referred to as 
the 'Document', when bluefin tuna are imported into the territory of a 
Contracting Party. 
By Council Decision 86/238/EEC of 9 June 1986, the Community approved 
its accession to the ICCAT Convention, as amended by the Protocol 
annexed to the Final Act of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the 
States Parties to the Convention signed at Paris on 10 July 1984. 
Currently, it participates in the work of the ICCAT only as an 
observer, pending completion of that body's ratification procedures. 
However, those Community Member States which are currently members of 
the Convention are required to respect and apply ICCAT Resolutions. 
For the sound operation of the internal market and in order to ensure 
the uniform application throughout the Community of this resolution, 
implementing rules must be adopted at Community level. 
The Resolution covers both the information to be provided in the 
Document, the use to be made of it in world trade in bluefin tuna and 
the collection of the statistical information obtained. 
Implementation at Community level should provide for: 
- in the case of catches by vessels flying the flag of a Member 
State and registered there: 
• the issue of a Document in conformity with the model, completed 
and signed by the master of the fishing vessel under his 
respons ib i1ity; 
• checking of the document when the product is landed for 
marketing on Community territory by the competent authorities of 
the Member States; 
- in the case of catches by vessels from non-member countries: 
• the requirement to produce a similar document and its checking 
by the customs authorities when the product is entered for free 
circulation on Community territory; 
- the collection of this information for transmission to the ICCAT. 
The Commission is therefore proposing adoption of the proposal for a 
Council Regulation introducing a system for the statistical monitoring 
of trade in bluefin tuna within the Community. 
3 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
introducing a system for the statistical monitoring of trade 
in bluefin tuna (Thuunus Thynnus) within the Community 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament1, 
Whereas there should be an appropriate policy for the management and 
conservation of tuna in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas; whereas 
the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, 
hereinafter referred to as the 'ICCAT Convention', which came into 
force on 21 March 1969, is the appropriate international forum for 
development of that policy; 
I 
Whereas by Council Decision 86/238/EEC of 9 June 1986 the Community 
approved its accession to the ICCAT Convention, as amended by the 
Protocol annexed to the Final Act of the Conference of 
Plenipotentiaries of the States Parties to the Convention signed at 
Paris on 10 July 1984; whereas it participates in the work of the ICCAT 
only as an observer, pending completion of ratification procedures; 
Whereas, in the context of measures to regulate stocks of bluefin tuna, 
at its eighth extraordinary meeting, held in Madrid from 8 to 13 
November 1992, the ICCAT adopted a Resolution designed to make 
compulsory from 1 September 1993 the presentation of a statistical 
document when bluefin tuna are imported into the territory of a 
1 
JZ, OJ No L 162, 18.6.1986, p. 33. 
H 
Contracting Party; whereas that Resolution states that the document is 
to be drawn up by the country whose flag the vessel making the catch is 
flying; 
Whereas those Community Member States which are currently members of 
the Convention are required to respect and apply ICCAT Resolutions; 
whereas for the sound operation of the internal market and in order to 
ensure the uniform application throughout the Community of this 
Resolution, rules must be adopted at Community level; 
Whereas those Community rules should provide for the issuing of a 
statistical document containing certain information; whereas that 
document should be completed by the master of the vessel catching the 
bluefin tuna; whereas it should be presented and checked when Community 
vessels land their catch in the Community and when bluefin tuna is 
entered for free circulation on the customs territory of the Community; 
Whereas the Member States should impose appropriate penalties on 
operators who do not respect the provisions laid down; 
Whereas the statistical information on trade in bluefin tuna obtained 
under this system should be sent to the Commission for forwarding to 
the ICCAT Commission, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Trade in bluefin tuna (Thunnus Thynnus) under code CN ... in the 
Community shall be subject to the statistical monitoring rules laid 
down by this Regulation. 
Article 2 
1. Any quantity of bluefin tuna as referred to in Article 1 caught by a 
vessel flying the flag of a Member State and registered there which 
is landed in the Community and/or exported to a non-member country 
shall be accompanied by a statistical document, hereinafter referred 
to as 'the statistical document', drawn up in accordance with the 
model in the Annex. 
2. The statistical document shall be completed and signed by the master 
of the vessel which caught the bluefin tuna in question. The master 
shall be responsible for the accuracy of the statements made. 
3. The responsible authorities of the Member State of landing shall 
check the accuracy of the details given in the statistical document 
concerning quantities landed for marketing in the Community. 
Article 3 
1. Any quantity of bluefin tuna as referred to in Article 1 entered for 
free circulation on the Community market shall be accompanied by a 
statistical document signed by the master of the vessel making the 
catch and giving at least the details on the model in the Annex. 
2. The customs authorities of the Member State where the product is 
entered for free circulation shall check the accuracy of the details 
given on the statistical document referred to in paragraph 1. 
Article 4 
The Member States shall notify the Commission of the measures taken to 
check the accuracy of the information given on the statistical 
document, as referred to in Articles 2(3) and 3(2). 
ç 
Article 5 
1. No later than the first day of the second month following the end of 
the half-year concerned, the Member States shall sent the Commission 
the following information, as appropriate: 
- the quantities of each commercial presentation of bluefin tuna for 
the half-year landed on its territory by vessels flying the flag of 
a Member State and registered there, broken down by place of catch 
and type of fishing gear used. The flag state and state of 
registration of vessel making the catch must be stated; 
the quantities of each commercial presentation of bluefin tuna for 
the half-year entered for free circulation on its territory, broken 
down by non-member country of origin, place of catch and type of 
fishing gear used. 
2. The Commission shall send the information referred to in paragraph 1 
to the Commission of the International Convention for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. 
Article 6 
1. The Member States shall take the necessary measures to penalize 
infringements of this Regulation. 
2. The Member States shall notify the Commission of the measures 
adopted pursuant to the first paragraph as soon as they are adopted, 
and in any case no later than 31 October 1993. 
Article 7 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1993. 
1 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly 
applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 1993 
The President For the Council 
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ANNEX 
"ICCAT" STATISTICAL DOCUMENT 
SPECIES : Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus) 
FLAG STATE AND MEMBER STATE OF REGISTRATION OF THE VESSEL: 
NAME OF VESSEL MAKING THE CATCH AND NAME OF MASTER: 
PLACE OF CATCH*1): - East Atlantic - Mediterranean Sea 
- West - Others ... 
TYPE OF FISHING GEAR USED: 
PORT OF LANDING: 
DATE OF LANDING: 
EXPORTING MEMBER STATE2: 
NAMES OF EXPORTER AND IMPORTER2: 
COUNTRY OF DESTINATION2: 
DATE OF DISPATCH2: 
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT QUANTITY (whole weight in 
tonnes) 
LANDED OR EXPORTED 
Date: 
(Signature of master)3 
(1) 
2 
3 Delete where appropriate 
To be completed in case of export to a non-member country. 
By his signature, the master of the vessel certifies that 
the information on the document is correct. 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(93) 242 flnai 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 17 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-93-272-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-56215-3 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
h-2985 Luxembourg