Key Facts
• June 26, EU proposed regulating international trade of all eel species.
• Proposal aims to prevent extinction; deadline for submission is June 27.
• If approved, it will be voted on at the November-December CITES meeting in Uzbekistan.
• Japan, the largest eel consumer, relies heavily on imports from China.
• Regulation would require export permits, increasing procedures and potentially raising prices.
• Approval requires two-thirds majority at the CITES meeting.
• Japan claims Japanese eel resources are sufficient and extinction is unlikely.
• Japan plans to collaborate with China and South Korea to oppose the proposal.
• Minister Shinjiro Koizumi called the EU’s move “regrettable” and emphasized resource sufficiency.
Summary
The European Union has proposed regulating the international trade of all eel species, citing extinction risks. The proposal, with a submission deadline of June 27, will be voted on at the CITES meeting in Uzbekistan later this year. Japan, the world’s largest eel consumer, opposes the move, arguing that Japanese eel resources are sufficient and extinction is not a concern. Minister Shinjiro Koizumi criticized the EU’s actions as “regrettable” and highlighted potential impacts on Japan’s eel supply and prices. Japan plans to collaborate with China and South Korea to block the proposal.
