Food and beverage
How to register as an operator in TRACES
Without the right role, the buttons you need do not appear. And the role is approved by somebody other than you.
TRACES does not show everyone the same thing. What you can do depends on the role and activity approved for you, and that is behind the most repeated problem among newcomers: logging in, looking for the button the guide mentions, and not finding it. The button is not missing — the permission is, and the permission is granted by somebody outside.
Why registration is not instant
| Step | Who does it | How much depends on you |
|---|---|---|
| Creating the account | You | Everything |
| Requesting the operator role | You | Everything |
| Declaring the activity | You | Everything |
| Approving the role | The authority | Nothing |
Important
That last row is what derails planning. Everything else can be done in an afternoon and then you wait for approval. Which is why registration is not done when you need to process something: it is done beforehand, in the dead window, just as certificates are renewed before the season.
The sequence, and which activity to request
- 1
Create the system access account
This is the person's identity, not yet the company's.
- 2
Request the operator role for your company
This links the person to the organisation that will do the processing.
- 3
Declare the relevant activity
To originate CATCH certificates and documents, the official help requires the «fishing exporter» activity.
- 4
Wait for approval before counting on it
Until it arrives, the creation options are not available.
Watch out
A practical warning that saves a support call: if the guide mentions a button you cannot see, it is almost never a system fault. That button belongs to an activity your organisation has not had approved. Before reporting anything, check which role and activity you hold.
Worth knowing
Procedure verified in 2026-08 against the European Commission's official help (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/IMSOC/tracesnt-help), operator registration and roles. TRACES is operated by the Commission and may change without notice. Whether this applies to you is for the competent authority and your adviser to determine.
›How long does role approval take?
It does not depend on you. Which is why you request it before you need it.
›I cannot see the create certificate button.
Check your approved activity: creating in CATCH requires «fishing exporter».
›Does every person need their own account?
The account identifies the person; the role links to the organisation.
A real case
The situation
You must process on Friday and the role is not approved.
What you do
- Records registration as a pre-season task
What you get
The permission is there before it is needed.
The situation
The button the manual mentions does not appear.
What you do
- Records which role and activity you hold
What you get
It is checked without raising a ticket.
The situation
The person holding the account leaves.
What you do
- Keeps a record of who is registered and with what role
What you get
Access does not leave with them.
The situation
Nobody remembers which activity the role was requested for.
What you do
- Keeps the request and its response
What you get
The question is settled with the document.
This article answers
- register in traces nt
- traces operator role fisheries
- create certificate button not showing
- fishing exporter activity traces
- traces nt manual for fish importers