Imports of marine caught fishery products are controlled through a system of checks aimed at making sure that any fish being imported was caught legally, by fishing vessels that are properly managed by the country to which they are registered. In order to prove that an imported consignment is compliant with these rules, it must be accompanied by a catch certificate issued by the government who manages the fishing vessel.
The The Sea Fishing (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing) Order 2009 (No. 3391) makes the checking of catch certificates at River Tyne the responsibility of Tyne Port Health Authority. Sea Fisheries officers of the Marine and Management Organisation (MMO) also have powers under the Order and Port Health work closely with them and Defra (the overall policy holder) to ensure that controls are properly applied.
you can now pre-notify us using IPAFFS from the 25h April 2024
Documents Required
All imports of fish and fish products from the EU will need to submit the following
Catch certificates
Processing statement – where fish is processed in a country that is not the same as the flag country of the catching vessel.
Storage document – where fish has been stored in a country that is not the flag state of the catching vessel or processing state, then evidence of storage is required. This should consist of documented evidence or a specific form, to show that the product was stored and remained under the surveillance of the competent authority in that third country.
Importers declaration section must be completed on the Catch Certificate by the importer or their representative. As an alternative a Multiple Catch Certificate Summary Document can be downloaded, completed, signed and submitted with the catch certificate documentation.
Submission of documents should be made via IPAFFs, at least 3 days prior to arrival of the goods to enable endorsement of certificates and timely release of your container/trailer
Further information is available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/importing-or-moving-fish-to-the-uk
Exemptions
Annex 1 of the regulations lists the exemptions from the above controls, which includes aquaculture and fresh water fish. If your import is exempt from controls, please provide a statement detailing the consignment and confirming the reason for the exemption.
Low risk imports are defined as;
EEA/EFTA country (Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands).
Country with a bilateral agreement with the EU for IUU purposes (USA, Canada, New Zealand), e.g. fish caught by a US fishing vessel and processed in a US approved establishment.
High risk imports are defined as;
- fish caught by other third country fishing vessel.
- fish from EU/bilateral/EEA/EFTA countries that have been processed in a third country (indirectly imported), e.g. fish caught by a US fishing vessel and processed in a Vietnamese approved establishment.
- Fish caught by a vessel registered to an EU/EFTA/bilateral country and subsequently processed in another third country loses its low risk status and is charged at the higher rate.
Information regarding charges can be found in the inspection fees section