Importing or moving live fish and shellfish

This guidance applies only to imports or movements of live fish, molluscs and crustaceans for farming, ornamental, depuration, or any other purpose except direct human consumption, entering England and Wales from outside Great Britain (GB).

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 import wild-caught marine fish and fishery product for human consumption.

For information on live fish and shellfish imports from other UK territories and Crown Dependencies, contact:

• Scotland
• Northern Ireland
• Jersey
• Guernsey
• Isle of Man.

Authorisation to import live fish and shellfish

You need authorisation from the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), Cefas as required under The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009, to import live fish, molluscs and crustaceans for:

• ornamental purposes
• farming
• human consumption
• scientific research
• ‘put and take’ fisheries (where catches can be taken home)
• public aquariums and zoos
• spas and medical use (nibble fish)

All sources must be approved by the FHI who will check that the source country you are importing from is approved and can meet the animal health certification requirements for import into the GB.

You can get an unlimited fine if you import fish or shellfish without authorisation.

Apply for authorisation to import live fish and shellfish into England and Wales. There’s no fee for applying.

Approved countries for trade in live aquatic animals

• Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain - data.gov.uk
• EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain - data.gov.uk

Susceptible and vector species

Lists of possible susceptible and vector species, that are referenced in aquatic animal health legislation and import health certificates, can be found here: Susceptible and vector species lists (PDF, 210 KB, 10 pages)

Non-native species

There are extra rules for importing non-native species of fish and shellfish.

Ornamental coldwater fish

You need to include a biosecurity measures plan outlining how you deal with fish health and disease if you import ornamental coldwater fish like koi.

Endangered species

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

Welfare of animals in transit

There are rules for the welfare of animals during transport. Contact APHA to find out more and make sure you are following these rules.

Importing into England and Wales from an EU country

From 1 January there are new processes that importers must follow, which are being 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:

To import live fish and shellfish into GB (England and Wales) from the EU:

• your goods must be accompanied by an animal health certificate using the correct template for imports from the EU. 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 template to use.

• the animal health certificate 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 certificate must accompany the consignment.

• you or your Agent must use the UK’s Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) to pre-notify the FHI of your import 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. You also need to upload a copy of the health certificate onto IPAFFS in advance of the import. Allow time for this when making the IPAFFS pre-notification.

• in the event that the original, stamped and signed export health certificate is not present on IPAFFS in advance of the import leaving the source site, the FHI will contact the importer to request the missing documentation is uploaded to IPAFFS urgently. Failure to provide this documentation will result in enforcement action being taken.

• the FHI will carry out documentary checks and, if required, risk based physical checks at destination.

In addition, you need:

• an EORI number

• to comply with customs requirements. Contact HMRC for more information.

Movements into England and Wales from Northern Ireland and Crown Dependencies

For movements of live fish and shellfish into GB (England and Wales) from Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man:

• movements 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 Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies. 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 template 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.

• you must notify the FHI using form AAH1 at least 24 hours before importing fish and shellfish, and must fill in a form for each import.

• you must provide a copy of the original, signed health certificate to the FHI within 24 hours of arrival in GB.

• the FHI will carry out documentary checks and, if required, risk based physical checks at destination.

Find out more about moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland.

Importing into England and Wales from a non-EU country

To import live fish and shellfish into GB (England and Wales) from a non-EU country:

• your goods must be accompanied by an animal health certificate using the correct template 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 Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) in advance of making any import arrangements to confirm the health certification requirements and the correct template to use.

• the animal health certificate 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 certificate must accompany the consignment.

• your goods must enter through a UK Border Control Post (BCP) that can accept the type of goods, for documentary, identity and physical checks and customs clearance. You may need to pay for this service.

• you or your Agent must use the UK’s Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) to pre-notify the BCP of your import at least one working day before the consignment is due to arrive. You can submit your notification up to 30 days in advance.

Problems with documentation

Species susceptible to controlled disease

You may be given a ‘Regulation 23’ notice if there are errors in the documentation for fish or shellfish susceptible to a controlled disease.

If the health risk to other fish is low, the fish or shellfish will be isolated at an APHA approved site while the errors are corrected.

If the errors cannot be corrected, FHI may test the consignment for disease. This requires a minimum of 30 animals and the test results can take up to 3 weeks.

Species not susceptible to controlled disease

You may be given a ‘Regulation 16’ notice if there are errors in the documentation for fish or shellfish not susceptible to controlled disease. You will need to correct the errors but the fish do not need to be isolated.

Contacts

Fish Health Inspectorate in England and Wales

Telephone: 01305 206700

fhi@cefas.co.uk

Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm and Fridays 9am to 4:30pm

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)

Telephone: 03000 200 301

imports@apha.gsi.gov.uk

Find out about call charges