Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

Import documents

To import fish to the UK from another country (excluding EU fish into Northern Ireland), you will need a Catch Certificate validated by the competent authority of the country where the fishing vessel is registered or licensed.

The catch certificate formats will vary depending on which exporting country produced them but they will all ask for specific information such as:

• vessel name
• catch species
• estimated weights

For fish that has been stored or processed you may also need the following documents validated by the competent authority:

• processing statement filled in by the processor
• documents showing the fish was stored prior to export

Imports from the EU

Imports to Great Britain from the EU, EEA and EFTA are subject to a phased approach.

Importers of most fish and fishery products (as products of animal origin) from the EU need to ensure they:

• submit illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing documents to the port health authority in advance of the consignment’s arrival
• comply with customs requirements (such as submitting a customs import declaration and paying duties and VAT)
• check that you have correct documents if moving CITES goods, or goods subject to restrictions (such as bluefin tuna or Antarctic and Patagonian toothfish)

From 1 April 2021:

• pre-notify the import on IPAFFS and upload a digital copy of your EHC/IUU documents
• make sure that a certified EHC physically accompanies the consignment

From 1 July 2021:

enter via a point of entry with a border control pos