This guidance applies only to England and Wales for imports and exports of live fish, molluscs and crustaceans for farming, ornamental, depuration, or any other purpose except direct human consumption. It also covers movements between Great Britain (England and Wales only) and the rest of the British Islands.

It does not apply to dead fish and shellfish, or fish and shellfish products, including live shellfish for direct human consumption.

Find out how to export and import wild-caught marine fish and fishery product for human consumption from 1 January 2021.

For information on live aquatic animal imports and exports to and from other UK territories and Crown Dependencies, contact:

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Jersey

Guernsey

Isle of Man

Preparing for changes to trade at the UK-EU border

To minimise disruption to your business at the border points there are actions you will now need to take to prepare for the end of the transition period.

Importing live aquatic animals from an EU country

From 1 January there are new processes that importers must follow, which will be introduced in stages. There are two stages applicable to live fish and shellfish (including their eggs and gametes) that are not moving as product for direct human consumption.

Rules from 1 January 2021 :

The UK will operate a full, external border with the EU. Imports must be:

• accompanied by an animal health certificate using the correct template for movements from the EU into GB. The certificate must confirm that the goods meet the animal health requirements for entry into England and Wales. Contact the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) in advance of making any import arrangements to confirm the health certification requirements and the correct model to use.
• pre-notified using the UK’s new Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) at least one working day before the consignment is due to arrive. You can submit your notification up to 30 days in advance. You will need to give the EU exporter or their official veterinarian/ fish health inspector the unique notification number (UNN) that is produced on IPAFFS so it can be added to the health certificate which accompanies the consignment, allow time for this when making the IPAFFS pre-notification.

The FHI will continue to carry out documentary and risk based physical checks on EU imports of live aquatic animals at their destination. You must send a copy of the health certificate to the FHI within 24 hours of arrival in the UK.

There is no change to the current requirement to be authorised to import by the FHI.

Make sure you have the correct transporter authorisation and associated documents for the transport of live aquatic animals from the EU into GB. Contact APHA for more information.

Make sure you are ready for all of the new rules to continue trading with the EU from the 1 January, follow the Transition Guidance and take action now.

Rules from 1 July 2021:

In addition to the new requirements introduced on 1 January, from 1 July 2020 imports must:

• enter through a Border Control Post (BCP) that can accept your type of goods, for documentary, identity and physical checks and customs clearance. You will no longer be required to submit a copy of the health certificate to the FHI after import, however, the FHI will continue to operate a risk based programme of import inspection and testing to monitor for serious diseases.

Importing live aquatic animals from a non-EU country

There will be minimum changes to existing procedures for imports from a non-EU country. Current rules will continue to apply, with the exception that you’ll no longer have access to the EU’s import system TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) from 1 January 2021.

Instead, you’ll need to use the UK’s new Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) for all imports of live fish, molluscs and crustaceans and their eggs and gametes, to notify the UK BCP at least one working day before your consignment is due to arrive. You can submit your notification up to 30 days in advance.

All imports must continue to be accompanied by animal health certificate. There are new UK health certificates, so you need to ensure that the correct template is used for imports from non-EU countries. The certificate must confirm that the goods meet the animal health requirements for entry into England and Wales.

Contact the FHI in advance of making any import arrangements to confirm the health certification requirements and the correct model to use.

There is no change to the requirement that imported animals must enter through a UK BCP for documentary, identity and physical checks and customs clearance.

There is no change to the requirement to be authorised to import live aquatic animals by the FHI.

Movements into England and Wales from Northern Ireland and Crown Dependencies

From 1 January, there will be minimal change to current procedures for movements into GB (England and Wales) from Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies. To do this:

• you must be authorised to import by the FHI.
• you must notify the FHI at least 24 hours before importing, using form AAH1.
• imports of fish, molluscs and crustaceans that are susceptible to or vectors for serious (notifiable) diseases must be accompanied by an animal health certificate, using the correct template for movements from the British Islands into GB. The certificate must confirm that the goods meet the animal health requirements for entry into England and Wales.
• contact the FHI in advance of making any import arrangements to confirm the health certification requirements and the correct model to use.
• if a health certificate is required it must be issued and completed by the Competent Authority responsible for aquatic animal health at the source site, your supplier should make this arrangement with them.
• the original, signed health certificate must accompany the consignment.
• a copy of the original, signed health certificate must be provided to the FHI within 24 hours of arrival in GB.
• the FHI will continue to carry out documentary checks and risk based physical checks at destination.

Make sure you are ready for all changes. Find out more about moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.

Exporting live aquatic animals to an EU Country

From 1 January 2021, new export requirements will apply to live aquatic animals exported to the EU. You’ll need:

New requirements will apply to live aquatic animals exported to the EU from 1 January 2021. You will need to:

• make sure your export is accompanied by an export animal health certificate, check the requirements with the competent authority or official service for aquatic animal health in the destination country or via their embassy in the UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk)
• apply to the FHI for an export animal health certificate, using form EXP1. The health certificate must be signed by a fish health inspector following an inspection of the consignment. You will need to give the FHI a minimum of 5 working days’ notice in advance of export to request a certificate and inspection.
• get your goods checked at a (BCP) that can accept your type of goods in the first EU country they enter.
• make sure your importer or EU-based import agent has notified the BCP that your consignment is arriving. They will need to check with the BCP to find out how much notice is required and use the EU system TRACES-NT to make the notification.
• make sure your consignment meets all labelling requirements for clearance through the EU–BCP and transport to destination. Your EU-based importer or their Agent should be able to confirm these requirements with you.
• comply with wider HMRC guidance on customs requirements for exporting to the EU.

Make sure you are ready for all of the new rules to continue trading with the EU from the 1 January, follow the Transition Guidance and take action now.

If you did not supply the required certification at the time of the export

If animals have been presented at an EU Border Control Post without Cefas FHI certified documents, they will be classed as an illegal consignment and have no certifiable provenance. You will not be able to bring these animals back. These animals will be culled either at the EU Border Control Post or on attempted return to GB.

Exporting live bivalve molluscs to the EU for depuration

If you are exporting live bivalve molluscs (LBMs) to the EU for depuration, please read the additional guidance:

• negotiations with the EU are ongoing, but in a non-negotiated outcome, all live aquatic animals and products of animal origin (including fish and shellfish) intended for export to the EU and destined for human consumption will require an export health certificate. When we become a third country, the legislation will no longer permit live bivalve molluscs (LBMs) to be landed by UK vessels into the EU. They must be exported to arrive via a Border Control Post (BCP).
• LBMs that are ready for human consumption, i.e. from class A waters or depurated in the UK, can be exported to the EU using the export health certificate for LBMs. This will be the case from January 2021 onwards.
• LBMs from Class B waters must be depurated before they are fit for human consumption. Those that are intended to go for depuration in the EU, must be accompanied by another specific Export Health Certificate: ‘Model animal health certificate for the import into the European Union of aquaculture animals for farming, relaying, put and take fisheries and open ornamental facilities’. This certificate is limited to LBMs sourced from aquaculture establishments i.e. fish farms.
• a new certificate is expected to come into force from 21 April 2021 for LBMs originating from the wild as well as those from aquaculture farms, subject to agreement by EU member states. It will be part of the new EU Animal Health Regulations.

Movements to Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021

• your consignment must be accompanied by an animal health certificate. You or your importer will need to check with the Competent Authority for Aquatic Animal Health in NI to find out what the certification requirements are.
• you need to apply to the FHI for an animal health certificate using form EXP1. The certificate must be signed by a fish health inspector following an inspection of the consignment. You need to give the FHI a minimum of 5 working days’ notice in advance of the movement to request a certificate and inspection.
• your goods must enter Northern Ireland through a designated point of entry where they will be subject to documentary, identity, and physical checks. The Government has submitted its designation applications to the EU and further information will be provided on specific port/ airport designations once that application process has concluded. Your customer should be able to confirm the location of the appropriate designated point of entry.
• the movement must be pre-notified through TRACES-NT, the EU system for processing movements of SPS goods. This is the responsibility of your importer or their Agent and they should check how much notice needs to be given to the port or airport.
• make sure your consignment meets all labelling requirements for arrival at the designated point of entry and transport to destination. Your importer or their Agent should be able to confirm these requirements with you.

Make sure you are ready for all changes, find out more about moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.

Rejected live aquatic animal exports by the EU

If your consignment is rejected by the EU after exporting, you may have the option to bring the goods back. Live aquatics will only be accepted back to GB if they meet certain conditions.

If your consignment is rejected because they failed animal health or identity checks at the EU BCP contact the FHI. FHI officials will advise you whether the animals may be accepted for return.

GB will only accept the return of the animal consignment if the original FHI certified documents accompany the animals. You will need to coordinate the return of the animals by pre-notifying FHI of the return before commencing the return journey.

On arrival at the GB port, FHI will undertake documentary, identity and physical checks to determine whether the animals are able to re-enter GB territory.

Errors in documentation for live aquatic animal exports

If the documents you supplied at the time of export contained errors contact the Cefas FHI

In some circumstances, it may be possible that a replacement certificate sent to the EU BCP could reverse the decision to reject. The final decision will be taken by the EU BCP whether this is acceptable.

If your goods were rejected for other reasons, such as customs declaration issues

Contact HMRC or your customs intermediary for advice on whether the issues can be resolved.

If your animals need to return to GB, you will need to coordinate the return of the animals by pre-notifying FHI of the return by email or phone before commencing the return journey with the original documentation.

On arrival at the GB port, FHI will undertake documentary, identity and physical checks on entry to determine whether the animals are able to enter GB territory.

Exporting live aquatic animals to a non-EU country

There’s unlikely to be any change to the current export rules and processes for countries outside the EU. Make sure you check the existing guidance.

Border and customs offices

You must get your animals and animal products checked at an EU BCP, from 1 January 2021. These checks are made to protect:

• animal health and welfare
• public health

Your goods may be refused entry, seized, destroyed or returned to the UK, if they arrive at:

• an EU port without a BCP
• a BCP that can’t check your type of product

You must find a BCP that can accept your type of goods as not all BCPs accept all goods. Consider how to redirect your trade route if needed.

All EU BCPs require advance notice of goods arriving. Contact your importer or agent in the EU to make sure they notify the BCP through TRACES-NT, the EU notification system, of the arrival of the consignment. They must do this within the time limits set out by the BCP.

What happens if your goods fail inspection at the BCP?

If your goods fail inspection because of risks to animal or public health, they will be destroyed immediately. The BCP will not usually contact the exporter directly.

Importing or exporting CITES species

Additional rules apply to endangered species under CITES. Find out how to trade and move species protected by CITES from 1 January 2021.

Contacts

fhi@cefas.co.uk