The Milli Majlis (Parliament) has adopted the Law “On Fisheries” in its final reading.
According to sea-news.az that the matter was discussed at today’s extraordinary session of the parliament. The draft law consists of eight chapters and 30 articles.
According to the draft, the digitalization of management in the fisheries sector will be established, alongside mechanisms for accounting and tracking data on fishery entities, utilized resources, and products entering circulation through information systems. Information regarding fishery entities and objects, as well as fishing infrastructure, fishing gear, fishing vessels, and other data necessary for the implementation of management and control in the fisheries sector—while taking into account the requirements of the Law “On Personal Data”—will be collected in an information system of the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority. Data regarding fishing water bodies, including commercial fishing areas, will be transferred from the information system of the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority to ensure the integrity of the state cadastre of real estate and the state registry of real estate to the information system of the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority.
The law provides for the scientific determination of quotas for the use of fish stocks, transparency in the issuance of fishing permits, real-time monitoring, electronic accounting systems, and the application of remote tracking technologies. At the same time, it mandates the establishment of technical requirements for fishing vessels, fishing gear, and fishery infrastructure, as well as the implementation of accounting and control systems, which will serve to prevent illegal fishing and ensure the efficient use of resources.
Furthermore, fishery products that meet the requirements of normative legal acts in the fields of fisheries, food safety, and breeding livestock may enter commercial circulation. Fish products are to be packaged and labeled in accordance with the Law “On Food Safety.” When entering commercial circulation, fish products must be accompanied by veterinary documents in accordance with the Law “On Veterinary Medicine.” To enter commercial circulation, data regarding the origin, sex, species, batch quantity, batch weight, and average dimensions of fish and other aquatic bioresources obtained by fishery entities through fishing or aquaculture activities must be entered into the information system of the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority.
Based on the data entered into the information system, the species and volume of fish and other aquatic bioresources are monitored by the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority, while compliance with technical normative legal acts in the field of food safety, concerning the minimum quality and safety of sold products, is controlled by the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority. The sale of fishery objects entering commercial circulation is carried out in accordance with the Law “On Food Safety” at agricultural product sales venues included in the Food Safety Registry, including markets, fairs, stores, and other specially designated places equipped with appropriate facilities. The allocation of land for the organization of specialized markets is carried out in accordance with the Law “On Land Leasing.” The layout of specialized markets is determined by the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority, in coordination with the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority.
According to the draft, the import and export of fish products are carried out in the manner provided for in the Law “On Food Safety” (with the opinion of the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority being taken into account regarding the export of frozen and chilled fish and other aquatic bioresources). The import and export of fish and other aquatic bioresources, fish fry, and incubated roe are carried out taking into account the opinion of the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority. The breeding characteristics of broodstock fish and other aquatic bioresources, fish fry, and incubated roe imported into and exported from the country are determined by the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority.
It was noted that in order to increase transparency and control in the process of bringing fish products into commercial circulation, a mechanism for registering and tracking information on the origin, species, volume, and other indicators of products in electronic systems is being defined, which serves both to ensure food safety and to regulate market relations.
