Swedish MEP Sofie Eriksson (S&D) has submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission demanding stricter origin labelling for fish and seafood products and stronger enforcement of sanctions to prevent Russian-linked seafood from entering the EU market. The question, filed on 13 May 2026, targets potential loopholes that allow products caught by Russian vessels to be marketed in the EU without clear indication of the fishing vessel's nationality, thereby enabling EU consumers to inadvertently finance Russia's war economy.
first, she requests an assessment of current EU origin labelling rules for fishery products and asks whether the Commission intends to propose legislation requiring mandatory national origin labelling for all imported fishery products. Second, she demands concrete measures to close existing loopholes in sanctions regimes, citing reports that the EU continues to import significant volumes of fish and seafood linked to Russia despite sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.
Eriksson advocates for stronger consumer transparency and tighter sanctions enforcement, pushing for EU-level mandatory origin labelling that would reveal the nationality of fishing vessels. This would increase regulatory burden on importers and distributors but would empower consumers to make informed choices and reduce the risk of financing Russia's war effort.
As a parliamentary question, the Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal the Commission's policy direction on whether it plans to tighten origin labelling rules and sanctions enforcement in the seafood sector, potentially impacting EU importers, distributors, and consumers, as well as third-country fishing operators.
← Atlas › News › Agri-food