(1)

Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 lays down specific rules relating to, inter alia, the entry into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom of consignments of certain retail goods for placing on the market in Northern Ireland for the final consumer.

(2)

In particular, Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 lays down specific rules for consignments of rest-of-the-world retail goods. Article 9(2), point (b), of that Regulation provides that fishery products caught by a fishing vessel flying the flag of a third country other than the United Kingdom (‘the flag State’), and imported into parts of the United Kingdom other than Northern Ireland, may enter into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom as retail goods, and be placed on the market in Northern Ireland in accordance with Article 4 of that Regulation, only if the flag State of the fishing vessel concerned is listed in an implementing act adopted in accordance with Article 9(4) of that Regulation.

(3)

In addition, Article 9(2), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 provides that fishery products caught by a vessel of the flag State, and imported into parts of the United Kingdom other than Northern Ireland, may enter into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom as retail goods, and be placed on the market in Northern Ireland in accordance with Article 4 of that Regulation, only if the United Kingdom provides written evidence that import conditions, official controls and verification requirements apply under its national law, thereby ensuring that fishery products obtained from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (‘IUU fishing’) as defined in Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 (2) and in the Union acts adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 are not imported into the United Kingdom, and that those import conditions, official controls and verification requirements are effectively implemented by the United Kingdom (‘the written evidence’).

(4)

Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishes a Union system to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing, and Article 12(1) thereof prohibits the importation into the Union of fishery products obtained from IUU fishing. In addition, Article 20 of that Regulation lays down rules for the notification to the Commission from third country flag States for the purpose of the acceptance of catch certificates validated by such flag States to ensure, inter alia, that consignments of fishery products entering the Union from third countries comply with that prohibition.

(5)

Council Implementing Decision 2014/170/EU (3) establishes a list of non-cooperating third countries in fighting IUU fishing pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008.

(6)

Article 9(4), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 provides that where the Commission has received the written evidence, it may adopt an implementing act listing the flag States of the fishing vessel catching fishery products that may enter into Northern Ireland as retail goods from other parts of the United Kingdom, and be placed on the market in Northern Ireland.

(7)

By letter dated 4 September 2023, the United Kingdom provides the written evidence that import conditions, official controls and verification requirements apply under the national law of the United Kingdom and import conditions, official controls and verification requirements are effectively implemented by the United Kingdom.

(8)

As the United Kingdom has provided the necessary written evidence required by Article 9(2), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231, it is appropriate to establish the list of flag States of fishing vessels catching fishery products that may enter into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom and be placed on the market in Northern Ireland as retail goods, after having been imported into other parts of the United Kingdom. That list should take into account the notification requirement laid down in Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, and the list of non-cooperating third countries established by Implementing Decision 2014/170/EU.

(9)

In the interest of legal certainty and to avoid unnecessary trade disruptions, this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(10)

The obligation to mark retail goods in accordance with Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 applies from 1 October 2023. This Regulation should therefore apply from 1 October 2023 to ensure consistency and legal certainty and avoid unnecessary trade disruptions.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,