Importing or moving fish to the UK

Guide

Last updated 15 August 2024

This guidance explains how to import or move fish for human consumption to the UK.

It covers:

  • freight imports of fish and fishery products
  • direct landings of fish

Freight imports of fish and fishery products are imports that have been both:

  • landed into a foreign country and subsequently exported to the UK
  • packed in containers for transport

Direct landings are fish and fishery products that are imported directly into the UK from a non-UK registered fishing vessel.

This guidance also applies to goods imported for commercial purposes by post or courier. Contact your post or courier service to find out if they offer an import service for commercial imports and for more information about the process.

You should follow guidance on importing live fish and shellfish if you’re importing live fish, molluscs and crustaceans not for direct human consumption.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing documents

To import most fish to the UK from another country (excluding EU fish into Northern Ireland), you’ll need to get a validated catch certificate from the competent authority of the country where the fishing vessel is registered or licensed.

The format of catch certificates will vary depending on which exporting country produced them, but they will all ask for specific information such as:

If your fish has been processed or stored in a country other than where the fishing vessel is registered or licensed, you’ll also need one or both of the following types of documentation:

  • a processing statement that has been endorsed by the competent authority in the country where the fish was processed
  • proof of storage issued by the competent authority in the country where it was stored

These documents (including the catch certificate) help combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. They are usually referred to as the IUU documents.

You must submit the required IUU documents (catch certificate, processing statement or proof of storage) to the relevant port health authority at the following times:

  • 72 hours in advance for imports by sea
  • 4 hours in advance for imports by rail and air
  • 2 hours in advance for imports by road

Port health authorities will charge a fee for checking your IUU documents. These fees will vary as each authority sets their own rates depending on their costs.

Imports from recreational sea fishing

Fish and fishery products imported from sport or recreational fisheries also need relevant IUU documentation. Contact the relevant port health authority to find out what documents they require and how they wish to receive these documents.

BTOM risk categories

Imports of fish and fishery products to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) are categorised into high, medium and low risk categories under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). 

The BTOM risk category for your product determines which sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules you need to follow, and which SPS border checks your consignment will be subjected to.

These rules are explained in the next section.

IUU rules are separate from SPS requirements – they apply regardless of your product’s BTOM risk category.

Freight imports of fish and fishery products to the UK

Importers of most fish and fishery products (as products of animal origin - POAO) from EU and non-EU countries need to:

At entry, all goods will be subject to documentary checks. Some goods will be subject to appropriate physical and identity (ID) checks for both IUU and SPS purposes.

If the products you’re importing are in the low BTOM risk category:

  • you do not need a health certificate
  • your consignment must come with a commercial document

Find out what needs to be included in a commercial document for imports of POAO.

Health certificates need to be completed and signed by an authorised certifying officer. For fishery products, this can be a non-veterinary certifying officer qualified to do this task.

Point of entry

Freight imports of fish and fishery products must enter Great Britain through a point of entry that has a border control post (BCP) that is designated to check your commodity – unless they are from Ireland.

Goods moving directly from the Republic of Ireland must enter England or Scotland through a point of entry with a relevant BCP, or through Heysham. Goods from Ireland can enter Wales through any named point of entry.

There are separate rules for qualifying Northern Ireland goods.

Freight imports will be checked by:

  • port health authorities in England and Wales
  • local authorities in Scotland
  • fisheries authorities in Northern Ireland

Northern Irish fisheries authorities will also check any fishery products moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that are not eligible for the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.

Find out what happens at BCPs.

Imports from the EU to Great Britain: find out if your consignment needs SPS checks

If you’re importing fish or fishery products to Great Britain from the EU, you must present the consignment at the relevant BCP if it is called for SPS checks. 

If you’re importing the goods through an airport, the authorities will carry out any necessary checks before they release the consignment for collection by your transporter.

If you’re importing the goods through a port, the way to find out if your consignment needs SPS checks will depend on whether your transporter is using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) to clear customs. 

If your transporter is using GVMS, they should use the check if you need to report for an inspection service to find out what they need to do.

If your transporter is not using GVMS, IPAFFS will provide an initial risk assessment telling you if your consignment needs SPS checks when you submit your import notification. If your consignment does need checks, you’ll also receive a text and email message 2 hours before your transporter’s estimated time of arrival in Great Britain. The message will confirm what you need to do.

If IPAFFS tells you your consignment has not been selected for SPS checks, you should still check for messages until your consignment has cleared the port, because the authorities may still call you for checks based on their final risk assessment.

Read separate guidance if you’re transiting animal products through Great Britain under the Common Transit Convention.

Fishery products from species that can get histamine formation

Imports of fishery products (excluding fish oil) from species that can get histamine formation are medium risk. This includes species of Scombridae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Corfenidae, Pomatomidae or Scombresosidae.

Moving fish and fishery products from the EU to Northern Ireland

Movements of fishery products from the EU to Northern Ireland are subject to different requirements. These movements are not subject to any new checks or requirements.

Read more guidance from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA) about moving fish and fishery products into and out of Northern Ireland.

Tariff-free imports from the EU

To import goods from the EU without paying tariffs, all goods need to comply with the preferential rules of origin. You need to be able to prove the origin of goods, according to the product-specific rules in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Read HMRC guidance to understand the steps you need to take.

Get help

If you need technical help with IPAFFS, call the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) helpline on 03300 416 999 or email APHAServiceDesk@apha.gov.uk.

If you need help completing import notifications, contact the port health authority at the relevant BCP.

Moving fish from Northern Ireland to Great Britain

Qualifying Northern Ireland goods have unfettered access to the rest of the UK market. These goods can move into Great Britain directly from Northern Ireland, or indirectly through the Republic of Ireland.

To meet the criteria for ‘qualifying Northern Ireland goods’, food and animal feed must be dispatched from a registered or approved food or feed establishment in Northern Ireland.

Read more about moving food and animal feed from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

Moving fish from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) allows traders to move eligible goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under UK internal market customs arrangements.

Other fish and fishery products being moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, which are not eligible for the NIRMS, will need to:

  • be pre-notified by the importer on TRACES in advance of arrival
  • enter at an appropriately designated Northern Ireland point of entry
  • have an export health certificate (EHC)
  • where relevant, have appropriate IUU documents, including a validated catch certificate, processing statement or proof of storage

Traders can create IUU documents through the online Fish Export Service.

Approved food establishments

Establishments that handle, prepare or produce POAO need to be approved in line with food hygiene regulations. Approval can be granted either by the relevant local authority, or by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) (or Food Standards Scotland), depending on the nature of the production.

These establishments include those that work with fishery products, such as:

  • factory, freezing and reefer vessels
  • processing plants
  • auction halls
  • wholesale markets
  • cold stores

See the list of UK approved establishments, and find out how to apply to become one, at the FSA’s approved food establishments page.

To export to the EU, or move products to Northern Ireland, you must use an approved establishment.

Direct landings by foreign fishing vessels into the UK

All foreign fishing vessels landing catch directly into the UK must land into a North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) designated port, even if landing fish caught outside of the NEAFC convention area.

Foreign vessels catching fish outside of this area will be subject to IUU checks at the same ports, for purposes of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA).

Foreign vessels that catch fish inside the NEAFC convention area and directly land into the UK must submit a NEAFC Port State Control form (PSC1) before landing.

Foreign vessels (except for EU vessels landing into Northern Ireland) will also need to complete a:

  • prior notification form
  • pre-landing declaration
  • catch certificate

You must wait for permission to land by UK fisheries authorities. Your vessel may be inspected when it lands.

Fisheries administrations are responsible for checking catch certificates for direct landings of fish into the UK. The fisheries administrations are:

Prior notification form

Foreign vessels landing into the UK (except for EU vessels landing into Northern Ireland) will need to complete a prior notification form and email it to the UK fisheries management centre (FMC) (UKFMC@gov.scot) before landing.

It will need to be sent for:

  • frozen fish, at least 72 hours before landing
  • fresh fish, at least 4 hours before landing
  • a mix of fresh and frozen fish, at least 4 hours before landing

Foreign vessels landing into the UK (except for EU vessels landing into Northern Ireland) with fishery products that are exempt from IUU fishing regulations, will need to complete an exempt fisheries products prior notification form.

Pre-landing declaration

Foreign vessels landing into the UK (except for EU vessels landing into Northern Ireland) will need to fill in a pre-landing declaration and email it to the UK FMC (UKFMC@gov.scot) at least 4 hours before landing. This form should be available from your competent authority.

Vessels will need to give details of the consignment, including the:

  • area fished
  • quantity of fish by species on board the vessel

Direct landings from freezer or factory vessels

There is a separate process for freezer, factory or reefer vessels landing fish that has undergone secondary processing (for example, freezing or wrapping). These vessels will need to:

  • enter via a designated point of entry in line with SPS regulations
  • provide a captain’s certificate signed by the captain who is authorised by the APHA

Direct landings by Great Britain-flagged fishing vessels into Northern Ireland

UK-flagged vessels with their port of registration in England, Wales or Scotland landing fresh fishery products (or fish that has undergone primary production, such as de-heading) directly into ports in Northern Ireland will need to:

  • land into a port designated in line with IUU fishing regulations
  • submit a prior notification form and a pre-landing declaration 4 hours in advance of landing taking place
  • send a complete and validated catch certificate to the competent authority in Northern Ireland (if applicable to the species of fish being landed)

Direct landings (either the vessel or the catch) may be given risk-based checks at the designated port where they land.

There is a separate process for freezer, factory or reefer vessels landing fish that has undergone secondary processing (for example, freezing or wrapping). These vessels will need to:

  • enter via a designated point of entry in line with SPS regulations
  • provide a captain’s certificate signed by the captain who is authorised by the APHA

The vessels will need to be approved in line with food hygiene regulations by the relevant local authority and listed by the EU.

Direct landings by Northern Ireland-registered fishing vessels into Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland-registered vessels are only required to meet pre-existing obligations, such as those contained within the Fisheries Control Regulation, when landing into ports in Northern Ireland until further notice.

Read more about direct landing requirements for Northern Ireland-registered vessels landing into Northern Ireland.

Re-exporting fish imported from a third country

If you import fish with a catch certificate and then re-export to the EU, you will need to complete the re-export section of the catch certificate. This does not apply to Northern Ireland to Great Britain or Northern Ireland to EU trade.

Countries you cannot import from

You cannot import fish caught by vessels with flags from Comoros, Cambodia or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This is because these countries have not been cooperative in taking action against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. You cannot import from unapproved countries.

Fish imports may be temporarily or permanently prohibited for public health and biosecurity reasons. Before you import, check with the FSA website and the BCP where you plan to bring in your consignment.

Endangered fish and shellfish

If you want to import endangered species of fish, follow guidance about getting a permit to import endangered species.

Eels

Contact the APHA Centre for International Trade: Bristol for advice if you plan to import European eels.

Bluefin tuna and Antarctic and Patagonian toothfish

Direct landings, imports and exports of Bluefin tuna or Antarctic and Patagonian toothfish into and from the UK (except for movements between Northern Ireland and the EU) will require validated catch documents. These must be submitted to the importing competent authority or relevant fisheries administration, to allow checks to take place.

The movement of these species between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in both directions, will also require the submission of these catch documents.

Ornamental fish and shellfish and aquaculture

Read guidance on rules you must follow to import live fish or shellfish for ornamental or aquaculture purposes.

Customs requirements

You must comply with HMRC guidance on customs requirements for importing fishery products into the UK, including direct landings.

If you need help with your customs declaration you can contact HMRC about imports and exports.

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