Cabo Verde: new fish quotas for 2026–2027
- Tariffs & quotas
Summary
The European Union (EU) has prolonged the temporary derogation (exception) from the EU’s preferential origin rules for certain processed fish products granted to Cabo Verde. This allows tuna, mackerel, and frigate tuna or frigate mackerel products processed in Cabo Verde from fish caught elsewhere to continue benefiting from preferential access to the EU market. Compared with the previous arrangement, the quota for tuna products has increased, while the quotas for mackerel and frigate tuna products remain unchanged.
EU grants new quotas for processed fish from Cabo Verde
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/507 of 6 March 2025 granting Cabo Verde a temporary derogation from the rules on preferential origin laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446, in respect of prepared or preserved fillets of tuna and tuna loins (raw, cooked and frozen), prepared or preserved mackerel fillets and prepared or preserved frigate tuna or frigate mackerel fillets
Update
The European Union (EU) has prolonged the temporary derogation (exception) from the EU’s preferential origin rules for certain processed fish products granted to Cabo Verde. This allows tuna, mackerel, and frigate tuna or frigate mackerel products processed in Cabo Verde from fish caught elsewhere to continue benefiting from preferential access to the EU market. Compared with the previous arrangement, the quota for tuna products has increased, while the quotas for mackerel and frigate tuna products remain unchanged.
Impacted Products
Prepared or preserved: fillets of tuna and tuna loins (raw, cooked, and frozen); mackerel fillets; frigate tuna or frigate mackerel fillets.
What is changing?
The EU has granted Cabo Verde new quotas for prepared or preserved tuna fillets and loins for 2026 and 2027. These annual quotas are set at:
- 5,000 tonnes for prepared or preserved tuna fillets and tuna loins
- 3,000 tonnes for prepared or preserved mackerel fillets
- 1,000 tonnes for prepared frigate tuna or frigate mackerel fillets.
Why?
The EU has adopted the new quotas following a request from Cabo Verde to extend the existing derogation granted by Regulation 2024/1288. The measure aims to support Cabo Verde’s fish processing industry, which depends on imported fish for processing. Under the derogation, those products are considered as originating in Cabo Verde even if they are produced from fish that has not been caught in Cabo Verdean waters.
Cabo Verde has limited domestic catches due to short fishing seasons and restricted fishing opportunities, and its processing sector has greater capacity than can be supplied by local catches. Earlier quotas for processed fish products were used up quickly.
Timeline
The revised quantities apply only to the quota period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027.
Background
Exports from Cabo Verde to the EU benefit from reduced or zero import tariffs under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+). Through the GSP(+), the EU aims to assist lower-income countries to integrate into the global economy, reduce poverty, and protect core human rights and the environment (Regulation 978/2012). Under Regulation 2015/2446, GSP(+) countries can benefit from lower import tariffs only for products that “originate in the beneficiary country”.
In 2024, the EU granted Cabo Verde a temporary derogation allowing certain quantities of tuna, mackerel, and frigate tuna products processed in Cabo Verde from fish of other origins (Regulation 2024/1288). However, the EU granted a lower quantity than initially requested by Cabo Verde.
In 2025, the EU reallocated unused quotas within this arrangement, increasing the quotas for mackerel and frigate tuna products (Regulation 2025/1243).
Resources
Regulation 2025/1243 as regards the reallocation of unused quotas for prepared or preserved fillets of tuna and tuna loins (raw, cooked and frozen), prepared or preserved mackerel fillets and prepared or preserved frigate tuna or frigate mackerel fillets
Regulation 2024/1288 granting Cabo Verde a temporary derogation from the rules on preferential origin laid down in Regulation 2015/2446, in respect of prepared or preserved fillets of tuna and tuna loins (raw, cooked and frozen), prepared or preserved mackerel fillets and prepared or preserved frigate tuna or frigate mackerel fillets
Regulation 978/2012 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences and repealing Regulation 732/2008
Regulation 2015/2446 supplementing Regulation 952/2013 as regards detailed rules concerning certain provisions of the Union Customs Code
Sources
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/507 granting Cabo Verde a temporary derogation from the rules on preferential origin laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446, in respect of prepared or preserved fillets of tuna and tuna loins (raw, cooked and frozen), prepared or preserved mackerel fillets and prepared or preserved frigate tuna or frigate mackerel fillets
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.
EU grants new quotas for processed fish from Cabo Verde
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/507 granting Cabo Verde a temporary derogation from the rules on preferential origin laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446, in respect of prepared or preserved fillets of tuna and tuna loins (raw, cooked and frozen), prepared or preserved mackerel fillets and prepared or preserved frigate tuna or frigate mackerel fillets
What is changing and why?
The European Union (EU) has prolonged the temporary derogation (exception) from the EU’s preferential origin rules for certain processed fish products granted to Cabo Verde. This allows tuna, mackerel, and frigate tuna or frigate mackerel products processed in Cabo Verde from fish caught elsewhere to continue benefiting from preferential access to the EU market. Compared with the previous arrangement, the quota for tuna products has increased, while quotas for mackerel and frigate tuna products remain unchanged. The new quotas for 2026 and 2027 are set at:
- 5,000 tonnes for prepared or preserved tuna fillets and tuna loins
- 3,000 tonnes for prepared or preserved mackerel fillets
- 1,000 tonnes for prepared frigate tuna or frigate mackerel fillets.
Cabo Verde requested to extend the derogation to support its fish processing industry, which depends on imported fish. Cabo Verde has limited domestic catches due to short fishing seasons and restricted fishing opportunities, and its processing sector has greater capacity than can be supplied by local catches.
Timeline
The revised quantities apply only to the quota period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.