Wales and England

This guidance applies only to live fish, molluscs and crustaceans imported or exported for aquaculture and ornamental purposes and includes live shellfish for purification (depuration) prior to consumption. It does not apply to dead fish and shellfish, fish and shellfish products, or live shellfish for immediate 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

This guidance does not currently apply to UK businesses moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland. Further information will be added to GOV.UK in the coming weeks. Find out more about moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.

Importing and Exporting

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.

Import from an EU country

The UK has left the EU. There will be new processes that importers must follow. These processes will start in 3 stages.

1) From 1 January 2021:

The UK will operate a full, external border with the EU. This means that live aquatic animals imported from the EU will be subject to new import controls. They must be:

• pre-notified by the importer using the UK’s new Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System IPAFFS for all imports of live fish, molluscs and shellfish and their eggs and gametes.
• you must use IPAFFS to pre-notify at least one working day before your consignment is due to arrive.
• accompanied by an export animal health certificate which meets UK standards for entry into England and Wales.
• current requirements to be authorised to import by the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) will remain unchanged.

2) From 1 April 2021:

Further changes will be introduced for animal products (POAO’s and ABP’s) and for high-risk food and feed not of animal origin.

Import controls on live animals, including live aquatic animals for aquaculture and ornamental purposes, will remain unchanged from those introduced on 1 January 2021 until 1 July 2021.

3) From 1 July 2021:

New import requirements will apply to live aquatic animals imported from the EU. They must be:

• accompanied by an export animal health certificate so they can have documentary checks. UK model animal health certificates are under review and will be made available through the FHI on completion.
• pre-notified by the importer using IPAFFS
• entered through a Border Control Post (BCP) so they’re available for documentary, identity and physical checks.

Full list of UK BCPs

Import from a non-EU country

You’ll no longer have access to the EU’s import system TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) from 1 January 2021.

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 shellfish and their eggs and gametes.

You must use IPAFFS to notify the UK BCP at least one working day before your consignment is due to arrive.

Export animal health certificates are required. Health certificates and other documentation are being reviewed and further guidance will follow. Contact FHI for the required document.

You must continue to import live animals into the UK through a UK border control post (BCP) formerly known as Border Inspection Posts (BIPs).

Export to an EU Country

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

• an export animal health certificate. Check with the Competent Authority or Official Service for Aquatic Animal Health in the destination country or via their embassy in the UK to find out what export animal health certificate is required.
• contact the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) at Cefas to apply for an Export Animal Health Certificate. Certificates 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.
• to get your goods checked at a border control post (BCP), that can accept your type of goods in the first EU country they enter.
• make sure your importer/ EU-based import agent has notified the BCP that your consignment is arriving – check with the BCP for how much notice needs to be given.
• to comply with wider HMRC guidance on customs requirements for exporting to the EU.

Export 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

Find the correct BCP for your goods

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.

There are more than 400 BCPs in the EU and they’re usually at EU ports and airports. Check the main list of BCPs. There have been 8 extra BCPs added in early October 2019.

All EU BCPs require advance notice of goods arriving. Check with the BCP you’re planning to use for how much notice is needed.

Contact your importer or agent in the EU to make sure they notify the BCP through TRACES 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 a 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 specimens

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

Data protection

You’ll need to make sure your business follows data protection law.

If you operate across the EU or exchange personal data with organisations in the EEA, there may be changes that you need to make before the UK leaves the EU. Read the guidance on data protection during and after the transition period.

You can also check if you can use standard contractual clauses for transfers from the EEA to the EU.

Contacts