Uganda secures EU green light for farmed fish and animal product exports

UGANDA – Uganda has received formal authorisation from the European Commission to export farmed finfish and other animal products to the EU, marking a significant expansion of its agricultural export portfolio. 

Authorities in Kampala are targeting approximately US$730 million in fish export earnings for the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year following the clearance.

The approval follows years of regulatory reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and veterinary system improvements aimed at aligning aquaculture and livestock sectors with stringent EU sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries welcomed the approval, describing it as a turning point for the sector. 

In a statement, the ministry said the clearance “demonstrates international confidence in Uganda’s animal health systems, food safety controls, and traceability mechanisms, and opens new income opportunities for farmers and processors.” 

Other officials credited sustained investment in compliance and collaboration between regulators and private industry.

Uganda meets EU benchmarks for growth

Fish production is a vital part of Uganda’s economy, underpinning food security and generating foreign exchange.

Wild capture fisheries have earned between US$125 million and US$170 million annually in recent years, making fish one of Uganda’s top non‑traditional exports after gold and coffee.

While exports to Europe have long been dominated by wild‑caught Nile perch, the new EU clearance now opens the door for tilapia, catfish, and processed aquaculture products to reach one of the world’s most lucrative consumer markets.

Although aquaculture has grown domestically, it has contributed little to formal export earnings. Access to Europe is expected to redirect volumes from regional buyers to higher‑margin EU customers, positioning aquaculture as a central growth driver.

Production is projected to expand sharply by the end of the decade, supported by hatcheries, feed mills, cold‑chain logistics, and processing facilities. The approval is also likely to attract foreign investment, as firms seek compliant African sourcing hubs under stricter EU sustainability rules.

Beyond fish, the authorisation could pave the way for poultry and beef exports if producers meet EU benchmarks, reinforcing Uganda’s ambition to double national exports within the decade under its export‑led growth strategy.

Positioning among selective peers

Uganda’s clearance comes as the EU enforces stricter sustainability and import compliance rules, giving compliant exporters a competitive edge. 

The country now joins a select group of African and Eurasian nations recently added to EU public health lists: Kyrgyzstan for honey, North Macedonia for casings, and Tunisia for composite dairy and poultry products. 

By entering this circle of trusted suppliers, Uganda elevates its aquaculture and livestock industries from largely domestic markets to premium global value chains

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