Baltic Sea Fishing Measures
Two complementary regulations establish detailed technical requirements for fishing gear to reduce cod bycatch in the Baltic Sea. Three approved gear configurations are introduced: Roofless selection device with standard gear, modified T90 codend (125mm mesh), and square mesh codend. The measures aim to reduce cod bycatch by 55% and will apply from April 2025.
Sudan Sanctions
The EU added two Rapid Support Forces Major Generals to its sanctions list – Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla and Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed. They are sanctioned for human rights violations in West Darfur during 2023, including killings of civilians, attacks on populations, and creation of mass graves in El-Geneina and Ardamata.
DRC Sanctions Update
The regulation updates information on four sanctioned individuals: a FARDC Colonel involved in human rights violations, a Belgian businessman connected to illegal gold trade, and two FDLR/FOCA commanders responsible for serious abuses including rape and child soldier recruitment.
Bay of Biscay Dolphin Protection
New measures include a fishing ban between January 22-February 20, 2025 for vessels over 8 meters using specific gear, mandatory acoustic deterrent devices for certain trawls, and enhanced monitoring requirements including logbook recording of cetacean catches and minimum observer coverage.
Wine Production Rules
The regulation updates authorized oenological practices including modifications to heat treatments, cold treatments, filtration and stabilization processes. It also revises specifications for additives and processing aids in winemaking to align with international standards.
Poultry Import Restrictions
Due to avian influenza outbreaks, new import restrictions are imposed on specific zones in Canada (British Columbia and Alberta) and 18 zones in the United States (Arizona, California, Illinois, Utah). The measures establish 10-kilometer restriction zones around affected establishments.
Organic Certification
The regulation introduces transitional provisions allowing control authorities to continue verifying consignments against old rules until October 2025 for certifications pending by December 2024, ensuring continuity during the switch to the new compliance regime.
