Importing Argentine hake and red shrimp into the EU and Spain: CATCH, establishments and labelling

Q: Does the Argentine plant have to be on an EU list?

Yes. The European Commission's Access2Markets service sets out three steps: the country must be approved to export fishery products to the EU, the processing plant or factory vessel must be on the list of approved establishments, and specific labelling rules apply. Check the current country list and the TRACES establishments list for the plant named on the offer.

EU importers of wild-caught Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) and Argentine red shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) have to line up country and plant listing, a catch certificate in CATCH, official controls at the border, and fishery-product labelling. This page points to the official rules. It is not legal advice.

Last reviewed 2026-11-12. First published 2026-11-12.

Request a quote

Not legal or commercial advice. This page summarises public documents for orientation only. Rules, seasons and certificates change. Confirm every requirement with the issuing authority, your customs broker and your supplier before you buy.

This page is for buyers in the European Union, including Spain, who import frozen Argentine hake or Argentine red shrimp. The legal obligations sit mainly with the EU importer and with the competent authorities of the Member State of entry. We are a sourcing desk, not a customs broker and not a processor.

Three checks before you buy

The Commission's Access2Markets service answers "How can I get approval to export fish to the EU?" in three steps (Access2Markets FAQ):

The country must be approved to export fishery products to the EU. The lists of authorised third countries are laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405, as amended. Confirm the current annex entry for the product you want (finfish, finfish products or crustaceans) on EUR-Lex, or with your customs broker, before you rely on it. We could not download the official annex text when this page was written, so this page does not restate Argentina's row.
The processing plant or factory vessel must be approved to export to the EU. Search the public list of non-EU establishments in TRACES for the establishment number on the supplier's offer (Access2Markets FAQ). Estrella Patagonica, for example, publishes EU establishment numbers on its product pages; those still have to be checked on the official list for the lot you are offered.
Specific labelling rules apply to fishery products (see below).

A plant on a supplier's brochure is not enough. Match the name and approval number to the current TRACES list, and confirm that the approval covers the product form you are buying.

CATCH: the digital catch certificate, since 10 January 2026

Wild-caught fishery products imported into the EU must be accompanied by a catch certificate, under the IUU regime in Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 amended that regime and made a digital system, CATCH, compulsory for EU operators and for Member State authorities from 10 January 2026, as stated in the EUR-Lex official summary and in a Commission news announcement of 12 January 2026.

CATCH is integrated into TRACES. It replaces the previous paper-based process for EU import controls (Commission, 12 Jan 2026).
The obligation to use CATCH applies to EU operators and Member State authorities (EUR-Lex summary). Non-EU operators and authorities may be able to create, validate and transfer documents in the system, but that is not the same as a legal duty on the Argentine exporter. Confirm with your supplier and your customs broker who lodges what in CATCH for your shipment.
Catch certificates and related documents validated, endorsed or signed before 10 January 2026 may be used by importers until 10 January 2028 (EUR-Lex summary).

Ask the supplier, in the quote request, which flag-state catch certificate will cover the lot, and whether it will be available in CATCH in time for entry.

Official controls at the border

Consignments of animals and goods of animal origin, including fishery products, are subject to official controls at a border control post when they enter the Union (European Commission, official controls on imported products). The importer (or their customs broker) arranges the prior notification and the documentary and identity checks required at the chosen post. Confirm the current document names and deadlines with the post and with your broker; this page does not reproduce the operational manuals.

Labelling points that often appear on Argentine lots

Consumer information: commercial designation and scientific name, production method (caught), catch area, fishing gear category, and whether the product was defrosted (Regulation (EU) 1379/2013, Article 35). For these two species, the scientific names are Merluccius hubbsi and Pleoticus muelleri. The catch area is the Southwest Atlantic (FAO Major Fishing Area 41).
Glaze: where a food has been glazed, the declared net weight must exclude the glaze (Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, Annex IX). Agree the glaze percentage and how net weight is checked. See also the HGT guide and the fillet guide.
Date of freezing: frozen unprocessed fishery products need the date of freezing, or of first freezing, shown as "Frozen on ..." (Regulation 1169/2011, Annex III point 6 and Annex X). Ask your importer whether your product falls in this category.
Sulphites on shrimp: the sea-frozen vs land-frozen guide sets out the EU sulphite limits and labelling threshold, with the official citations.
MSC claims: only lots that can be sold as MSC certified, with chain of custody, should carry that claim. See the MSC status page.

What to put in a quote request if the goods are for the EU

Species and scientific name, presentation and grade (see the hake and red shrimp pages, and the shrimp size guide)
The EU establishment number you need, or a request that the supplier name a listed plant or vessel
Whether you need a catch certificate available in CATCH, and the target arrival window
Labelling language, glaze and net-weight basis, packing
Volume, Incoterm (FOB, CFR or CIF) and the Member State of entry if you already know it

Frequently asked questions

Is CATCH mandatory for EU imports of Argentine hake and red shrimp?

Yes, for EU operators and Member State authorities. A digital system called CATCH, built on TRACES, became compulsory for imports of fishery products from 10 January 2026 (EUR-Lex summary; Commission, 12 Jan 2026). Catch certificates and related documents validated, endorsed or signed before that date may still be used by importers until 10 January 2028.

Does the Argentine plant have to be on an EU list?

Yes. The country must be approved to export fishery products to the EU, and the processing plant or factory vessel must be on the list of approved establishments (Access2Markets FAQ). Check the current country list and the TRACES establishments list for the plant named on the offer.

Does Spain have extra rules beyond the EU's?

Spain applies the EU rules on country listing, approved establishments, CATCH, official controls and consumer labelling. The import is lodged at an EU border control post, which may be in Spain or in another Member State if the goods enter the Union there. Confirm the entry point and documents with your customs broker.

What labelling is required on fishery products in the EU?

Fishery products offered to the final consumer or a mass caterer must show the commercial and scientific name, production method, catch area, fishing gear category and whether the product was defrosted (Regulation (EU) 1379/2013, Article 35). Where a food has been glazed, the declared net weight must exclude the glaze (Regulation (EU) 1169/2011).

Sources for this page

All links checked 2026-11-12. Supplier pages are examples published by sellers, not standards. Full site list on our sources page.

Tell us what you need. We find who can ship it.

Send species, presentation, grade, volume and Incoterm. We review the request and share it with Argentine processors that match your specification.

Request a quote