United Kingdom (GB)

The United Kingdom (UK) is no longer a member of the European Union (EU) but follows retained EU law as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

The requirements for Great Britain (GB) are shown below. Where this entry refers to 'Great Britain' or 'GB', this is taken to mean England, Scotland and Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

The import requirements and health certification for Northern Ireland are different from those for Great Britain and will continue under EU requirements and using EU certification. This is as a result of the Windsor Framework agreed between the UK and the EU. Please refer to the EU Micor pages for information relating to Northern Ireland.

Fish products for human consumption

1.1 Establishment registration

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the Department) is the Australian government authority responsible for export registration, inspection and certification of Australian food and agricultural exports.

All premises involved in the production of fish and fish products for export, including fishing vessels where fish is prepared for export, must be registered with the Department. For more information or assistance with the export registration process contact the department’s Dairy, Eggs and Fish program at dairyeggsfish@aff.gov.au.

Encapsulated fish oil for human consumption

Fish oil capsules which contain a cellulose or gelatine-based component are considered by GB to be composite products. See below for composite product requirements.

Composite Products for human consumption

Composite products are defined by the GB as products composed of both products of plant origin and processed products of animal origin such as biscuits, dips, soups and pies. For further information on exporting composite product containing fish, refer to the GB Non-prescribed goods Micor page.

1.2 Overseas listing

Table 1: Initial listing procedures – edible products
Initial listing procedure for products for human consumptionRequired?
Establishment listing for GBYes*
*The list of approved establishments and registered vessels is published on GB’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website.
Establishment listing for GB

Export Registered Establishments that prepare fish and fish products for export to GB must be included on the list of Establishments approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain prior to commencing processing of products intended for export to GB.

Cold storage establishments storing, handling and loading fish and fish products are also required to be on the applicable GB lists as part of GB supply chain requirements.

Registered vessels are required to be GB listed if the fish and fish products frozen on-board (either as packaged on board the vessel or to be eligible for reprocessing at a land-based establishment for export to the GB).

Refer to Section 2.1 – Sourcing of fish and fish products.

Listing process – land-based establishments – pre-approval

The Department is responsible for making requests for the listing of land-based establishments and will advise establishments of their listing status or if additional information is required. Please contact the Department at dairyeggsfish@aff.gov.au for further information regarding a listing application.

On receipt, the Department will assess the application to confirm that the Occupier of the registered establishment:

  1. a) Has nominated the product they intend to prepare for export to GB.
  2. b) has an approved arrangement in place that includes any additional controls where required to ensure that GB requirements are met if implemented as documented.

Assessment of the application may include a site inspection to confirm implementation of any additional controls required to be in place at the establishment to ensure that importing country requirements are met.

Listing process – vessels – pre-approval

The process for requesting the listing of registered vessels is the same, with the requirement for additional documentation to be submitted to verify the ownership and flag state of the vessel.

Applications will need to be accompanied by:

  1. a) fishing licences held by the vessel
  2. b) the vessels International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number or List of Registered Ships number as issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
Listing process – modifications and deletions from GB list

Establishments requesting modifications to their existing GB listing (for example, establishment name) must ensure that all export documentation and labelling does not include new details until the GB list is officially amended to reflect the new information and the validity date has been reached.

Consignments accompanied by documentation where the establishment details do not match the GB listing may be detained or refused entry to GB.

Deletions are considered to be effective immediately upon submission to DEFRA. GB health certificates may only be issued until the last day prior to the date on which the request has been submitted to DEFRA.

Information for exporters who are non-manufacturers

Non-manufacturing exporters must ensure the details of the export registered fish establishment/s (including vessels freezing product on board and cold stores) that they source product from appear on the DEFRA website prior to exporting. Only products produced after the date of validity of the manufacturing establishments listing are eligible for export to GB.

The link that exporters need to follow to check if the relevant fish establishment/s details have been added is:

1.3 Prohibited products

Australia is not currently authorised to export crocodile meat to GB.

1.4 Access for fish products for human consumption

Product
Access?
*Refer to section 6 'Documentation'. Certification is currently only available for non-viable fish and fish products to GB. In the absence of agreed certification live fish is currently unable to be exported to GB. Exporters are encouraged to confirm the import eligibility of their product with their importer prior to export.
FinfishYes*
Bivalves (for example, oysters, scallops, mussels, oysters, clams, cockles)Yes*
Crustaceans (for example, crab, prawn, lobster, scampi, crayfish)Yes*
Echinoderms (for example, sea urchins, sea cucumber)Yes*
Gastropods (for example, abalone, periwinkles)Yes*
Cephalopods (for example, squid, cuttlefish, octopus)Yes*
Tunicates (for example, sea squirts)Yes*
Crocodile
No

2.1 Harvest

Sourcing of fish and fish products

Section 5-16 of the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021 (the Rules) details the requirements for the sourcing of fish and fish products for export, including when product may be sourced from a catcher boat or aquaculture farm.

Sourcing, slaughter and post-mortem inspection of crocodiles

Fish and fish products exported to countries that adopt GB requirements must be processed by establishments (including vessels) and stored in cold storage establishments that are on the GB list of approved fishery product establishments.

GB requires traceability of all products to the point of harvest, with additional documentation being required to confirm the origin of some species. Refer to Section 6.2 – Additional documentation requirements – IUU Catch Certificates.

Catcher boats and aquaculture farms

Sourcing of product from catcher boats and direct from aquaculture farms is limited to product that is live, chilled and has not been dismembered (other than killing, bleeding, and gutting) and held chilled until delivered directly to an UK listed land-based establishment.

If iced, chilled fish must be held aboard the vessel in such a way as to allow any melt water to drain.

Use of imported fish and fish products for further processing and export to the GB

Where fish or fish products have been imported into Australia for further processing and export to the GB, the imported products must be sourced from an establishment that is part of the GB supply chain. That is – the source establishment must be listed in the applicable third country list(s).

Product Standards – GB specific requirements

Fish and fish products exported to GB are required to meet the physical, chemical, and microbiological requirements detailed in the applicable Commission Regulations.

Where GB product or process requirements differ from the requirements of the Rules, establishments are required to identify and document any additional controls required to ensure there are monitored process controls in place. If additional product testing is required to verify processes, a testing schedule must be documented to ensure product testing is undertaken as per the requirements of the Commission Regulations.

Refer to the Product standards guideline - fish exports page for further information on testing requirements for fish and fish products exported to GB.

2.2 Microbial and residue sampling

Fish and fish products exported to GB are required to meet the microbiological requirements detailed in the annexes of Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005.

Establishments conducting routine product testing to verify controls in place are not required to duplicate tests to demonstrate GB requirements are being met where GB requirements are more stringent, provided tests are carried out in a NATA laboratory utilising NATA approved GB specified test methods. Note that sub-sample numbers and permissions around consolidating sub-samples may differ from Australian and other importing country requirements.

2.3 Operational requirements additional to Australia's export legislation

GB legislation requires compliance by establishments with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.

In the majority of instances, operational hygiene requirements are consistent with the requirements of the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

The following section highlights where additional controls may be required. Establishments that are UK listed (including vessels) must be aware of these additional requirements and, where applicable, incorporate controls into their approved arrangement. Inclusion and effectiveness of controls will be verified by the Department.

Chemical requirements

Includes limits for histamines, heavy metals, permitted additives and contaminates including dioxins PCBs and PAHs in fish oils, smoked fish and bivalve molluscs.

Also included in Regulations are permitted levels of histamines and shellfish toxins.

Food Additives

For permitted additives, information is as found in the Annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives.

Contaminates – Heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs, PAHs

For other contaminants, information is as found in the Annex of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.

Residues and contaminants – therapeutants and antibiotics

The Annex of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 37/2010 of 22 December 2009 on pharmacologically active substances and their classification regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin, contains the maximum permitted levels of these products in the muscle tissue of all fish and fish products intended for export to GB.

Establishments preparing fish of aquaculture origin for export to GB must ensure that substances used to treat fish are also approved for use in Australia and, if used, withholding periods have been determined to ensure maximum residues are not exceeded.

Farm specific NRS test results may be utilised in lieu of annual verification testing of individual suppliers by processing establishments.

Evidence that GB MRLs are being met must be verified annually by analysis for each aquaculture suppler, noting this may include a statement from the supplier that no antibiotics are used or present in fish feed.

Note
Where GB establishes lower limits than Australia

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in GB or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Respective limits for contaminants may also vary between GB and Australia.

Establishments eligible to prepare fish and fish products for export to GB should note that:

  1. a) These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering GB standards (here for pesticides, veterinary drugs and contaminants) and the Australian standards (here for pesticides & veterinary drugs and here for contaminants).

  2. b) Any detection of a residue above GB MRLs/MLs (if applicable) at GB border would result in rejection of the consignment and trigger an information, alert and/or border rejection notification.
Parasites, biotoxins and TVB-Ns

Commission Regulations (EU) 2074/2005 provide specific requirements for parasites and biotoxin testing methodology in bi-valve molluscs and fishery products for export to GB. This Regulation includes requirements for determine the Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVB-N) as an indication of freshness for some species.

Commission Regulation (EC) 853/2004 Annex III provides details of the health standards required to be met for live bivalve molluscs and includes biotoxin limits product placed on the market live or dead.

Parasites

All fish intended for export to GB are required to be visually inspected for the presence of parasites / nematodes.

Parts of fish which contain visible live or dead nematodes are to be removed and must not be prepared for export. Processors should make every effort to achieve this through a non-destructive examination of the fish and fish products during processing by qualified personnel.

When processing conditions do not allow for the examination of each individual fish (example: mechanical evisceration and/or filleting operations), the processor must develop a sampling plan for each batch of processed fish. The sampling plan for mechanically eviscerated fish must include a representative number of samples of not less than 10 fish per batch.

Biotoxin limits for bi-valve molluscs

Chapter 1 of Commission Regulations (EU) 2074/2005 details the methodology for the testing of biotoxins in the edible parts of molluscs.

Chapter 5 of Annex III Commission Regulation (EC) 853/2004 details the health standards and biotoxin limits for bi-valve molluscs, noting that these limits are in addition to or are lower than the limits set in the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code.

TVB-Ns

Chapter II of Section II of Commission Regulations (EU) 2074/2005 details the levels of TVB-Ns that when exceeded in specified species of unprocessed fishery products are taken as an indication that the product is regarded as unfit for human consumption.

Where organoleptic assessment has raised doubts as to the freshness of the product to be exported, processors are required to confirm as per the test methodology described in this section.

2.4 Premises and equipment

Land based establishments that are freezing product must have freezing equipment with sufficient capacity to lower the temperature rapidly so as to achieve a core temperature of not warmer than -180C and storage holds able to maintain this product core temperature.

Note
Annex I of the Regulation includes definitions of types of fishing vessels. The department has listed Australian vessels as “Factory vessels” in recognition of the level of processing that is permitted to occur under the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021 (with the exception of shucking of bi-valves other than scallops).

Vessels that are freezing product must have freezing equipment with sufficient capacity to lower the temperature rapidly so as to achieve a core temperature of not warmer than -180C and storage holds able to maintain this product core temperature.

Section VIII: Fishery Products of Commission Regulation (EC) 853/2004 details the specific requirements for all fishery products intended for export to GB with the exception of live bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods if they are alive when exported.

Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs provides the general requirements for food business operators on the hygiene of foodstuffs. Specific details for fishery products and live bi-valves (foods of animal origin) are further detailed in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.

Exporters of fish and fish products for human consumption for export to GB must ensure their products meet the requirements laid out in relevant GB regulations. Regulation (EU) 853/2004 sets specific hygiene requirements that must be met by food business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution after primary production and includes requirements that must be met by GB listed establishments in a third country.

3.1 Live fish

Refer to section 3 – Production.

3.2 Non-viable fish

Refer to section 3 – Production.

3.3 Crocodile

Australia is not currently authorised to export crocodile meat to GB.

3.4 Packaging

Regulation (EU) 853/2004 outlines GBs requirements regarding labelling, health standards, harvest, handling, packaging, transport and storage.

3.5 Labelling

Annex II of Regulation (EC) 853/2004 requires that all product in the GB supply chain has an identification mark applied when packaged product leaves the establishment at which it is packaged. This requirement is met by labelling that identifies the product as of Australian origin by including the word ‘Australia’ or ‘AU’ and the export establishment number allocated to the establishment by the department.

Shelf-life & Freezing

Refer to Annex X of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 for requirements for durability date markings and requirement to label frozen fishery products with the initial date of freezing.

Mackerel, escolar and oil fish

Snake Mackerel (Gempylus serpens), Escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) and Oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus) must be labelled with both the scientific and Australian Fish Names (AS 5300) of the fish and must provide information on consumer preparation and a warning about presence of substances that may have a gastrointestinal effect. Refer to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1020/2008 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004).

3.6 Shelf life

GB has no known specific requirements for shelf-life restrictions that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

4.1 Shipping marks

GB has no known specific requirements for shipping marks, that differ from the relevant Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

4.2 Refrigeration, transfer and loadout

Frozen fish and fish products prepared for export to GB must be stored, handled and loaded at temperatures no warmer than –180C.

Vessels
Note
Annex I of the Regulation includes definitions of types of fishing vessels. The department has listed Australian vessels as Factory vessels in recognition of the level of processing that is permitted to occur under the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021 (with the exception of shucking of bi-valves other than scallops).

Vessels that are freezing product must have freezing equipment with sufficient capacity to lower the temperature rapidly so as to achieve a core temperature of not warmer than -180C and storage holds able to maintain this product core temperature.

5.1 Import permit

Exporters should confirm with their importer or agent if an import permit is required for their product.

5.2 Port of entry inspection and testing

The department has no specific knowledge of port-of-entry inspection and testing for imports into GB. Exporters should confirm requirements with their importer or agent. 

The below documentation requirements apply for products exported to GB only and do not apply to products intended for export to Northern Ireland.

The import requirements and health certification for Northern Ireland are different from those for GB and will continue under EU requirements and using EU certification. This is as a result of the Windsor Framework agreed between the UK and the EU. Please refer to the EU Micor pages for information relating seafood exports to Northern Ireland.

Please contact the department by ExportStandards@aff.gov.au if you intend to export to Northern Ireland direct from Australia.  

6.1 Live fish

Export health certification is not available for the export of live fish to Great Britain.

Exporters interested in exporting live fish to GB should contact the department at ExportStandards@aff.gov.au and provide information on the expected quantity and value of your intended exports. Your request will be assessed and prioritised by departmental staff. 

6.2 Non-viable fish

The following certificate templates are available to export non-viable fish and fish products to GB (England, Scotland and Wales):

Non-viable fish and fish products templates
CommodityCertificate template name
  • For the export of non-viable crustaceans, whether aquaculture or wild-caught

  • Non-viable, eviscerated, finfish for human consumption whether aquaculture or wild-caught

  • Other non-viable fish products, including frozen bivalves, gastropods etc.
FGBA
  • For the export of non-viable, uneviscerated aquaculture finfish, not susceptible to disease of concern to the GB
FGBB
Note
Diseases of concern and vector species can be found at - Lists of possible Susceptible and vector species.

From 8 April 2024 the department shall issue amended certification for FGBA and FGBB to meet importing country requirements. Please refer to Market Access Advice 2024-08. The amended certificates no longer contain the ‘Notes for Completion.’ These notes may be viewed on the UK government website (PDF 171 KB).

Low risk fish and fishery products

From 30 April 2024, consignments of fish and fish products classified as ‘low risk’ by DEFRA will continue to require an export permit to leave Australia but will no longer require a Health Certificate to enter Great Britain. These consignments will only require commercial documentation.

Fishery products (including crustaceans) are considered by DEFRA to be low risk if they are shelf stable at ambient temperature and sterilised by either:

  • having undergone specific heat treatment in a hermetically sealed container that achieves an F0 value of three or more, or
  • having undergone heat treatment prior to aseptic packaging that achieves commercial sterility.

For bivalve mollusc products, they should be sterilised in hermetically sealed containers as laid out in Annex III, Section VII, Chapter II, Part A, paragraph 5(a) of Retained EU Regulation No. 853/2004.

For fishery products, species associated with histamine including, species of the families Scombridae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Coryfenidae, Pomatomidae or Scombresosidae cannot be considered as low risk even if they otherwise meet the criteria above.

Fishery products from aquaculture and bivalve molluscs for human consumption, which are not in hermetically sealed containers intended to render them stable at ambient temperature (called Category II products) cannot be considered low risk.

Full details can be viewed on the UK government website.

Under the Export Control Act 2020 it is mandatory to obtain a valid export permit before exporting a consignment of fish and fish products. Therefore, exporters are still required to make a Request for Export (REX).

For low-risk fish and fish products no longer requiring a health certificate, the exporter can mark an "N" (not required) in the certificate print indicator field to indicate a Health Certificate is not required. This must be done prior to requesting validation from the department.

Where an exporter requires a Health Certificate, (i.e. consignment also contain fish products not classified as low risk by DEFRA), they will be able mark “A” (automatic) in the print indicator field to indicate a certificate is required. This must be done prior to requesting validation from the department.

Additional documentation requirements – IUU Catch Certificates
GB traceability requirements Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing

Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 details the system established by the EU to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

All fish and fish products entering the GB market, including products caught by GB-flagged vessels operating outside of the GB Economic Exclusion Zone are covered by the requirements of the IUU Regulation.

For some species exported to GB, a government validated Catch Certificate is required to ensure fish and fish products exported originate from non-IUU (legal) fisheries. The catch certificate is required to attest that the fish being exported was caught in compliance with the IUU regulations

It generally includes all marine fishery products including live, fresh, chilled, frozen, prepared and preserved product forms. Fishery products which fall under Chapter 03 and Tariff Headings 1604 and 1605 of the Harmonised System Tariff Code must be accompanied by a catch certificate, with some exceptions.

All freshwater fisheries and aquaculture products are exempt from this regulation, as well as some forms of molluscs such as scallops, mussels, oysters and snails.

Annex I of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 has the list of fishery products excluded from the scope of implementation of the catch certificate.

Completing Catch Certificates

All catch that may be exported to GB needs to be noted in the catch certificate i.e. even if only a portion of a catch is exported to GB, the catch certificate must reference the whole catch from which that portion was taken for export.

All applicable product, destined for GB, harvested by GB-approved Australian-flagged vessels, regardless of size (even small vessels), need a catch certificate for export to GB.

Note
As prescribed in Annex II of EC Regulation 1005/2008 (Appendix 3 of MAA FISH 09/10), there is a requirement for one catch certificate for each vessel that contributes fish or fishery product to a consignment. Multiple species can be used on this catch certificate if they were taken by the same vessel during a single fishing trip.

As prescribed in Annex IV of EC Regulation 1010/2009, a separate, ‘simplified certificate’ (Appendix 2 of MAA: FISH 09/10) has been developed by the EC for catch harvested from vessels which:

  • have an overall length of less than 12 metres without towed gear or
  • have an overall length of less than 8 metres with towed gear or
  • is without a superstructure or
  • is of less than measured 20 GT.

Where a consignment is comprised of catches from vessels that meet the above criteria, the exporter can use the EC’s ‘simplified catch certificate’ which allows for multiple catches to be referenced on the one document. It is the exporter’s responsibility to ensure that all of vessel information required on the ‘simplified catch certificate’ can be provided.

Catch Certificates must be signed by the applicable fisheries management authority

Catch certificates, once completed are required to be verified by the State/Territory/Commonwealth authority where the fish were harvested to get their signature and stamp. Refer to contact details at the end of this section.

Contact details:

Commonwealth Fisheries

  • Australian Fisheries Management Authority

State/Territory Fisheries Authorities

6.3 Crocodiles

There is no agreed certification for crocodiles for human consumption to GB.

Fish products not for human consumption

1.1 Establishment registration

The Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021 does not regulate fish and fish products not for human consumption. Establishments processing such products are not required to be export registered with the Department unless it is a requirement of the importing country. Exporters are encouraged to confirm the eligibility and import requirements of their product with their importer, or directly with the importing country competent authority prior to export.

Importing countries may require a health certificate be provided for fish and fish products not for human consumption. If a health certificate is required, contact the department’s Non-prescribed goods program at NPGExports@agriculture.gov.au for further information.

1.2 Overseas listing

Initial listing procedure for fish products not for human consumptionRequired?
Establishment Registration Yes*
*For animal feed containing fish products or products from other aquatic animals.

1.3 Prohibited products

The Department has no knowledge of prohibited products. Additional information relating to fish and fish products not for human consumption may also be found on the corresponding GB Micor meat webpage. Exporters should check with their importers to determine if the products are permitted for import to GB.

1.4 Access for fish products not for human consumption

Product
Access?
Aquaculture feedNo agreed certification
Animal feed
Yes
Crocodile skins and hidesNo agreed certification
Technical products and pharmaceutical materialYes
Rendered products
Yes
Shells
Yes*
*For shells from shellfish with soft tissue or flesh refer to the GB Micor meat webpage. Exporters should check with their importer or the GB competent authority prior to shipping any shells to GB.

For petfood (raw, processed, canned and dog chews) containing fish products or products from other aquatic animals, establishment listing is required. Establishments exporting fish based petfood must be listed on the DEFRA website as a petfood processing establishment.

Establishments must be audited against the GB requirements for fish-based petfood and recommended for GB petfood listing by the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA) or another department approved auditor. 

For further details, refer to the GB Micor meat webpage .

The Department is not aware of the requirements for crocodile skins and hides. Additional information relating to fish and fish products not for human consumption may also be found on the corresponding Meat Micor page. Exporters should check requirements with their importer or the GB competent authority prior to shipping crocodile skins and hides to GB.

For rendered products which contain fish products or products from other aquatic animals please see the GB Micor meat webpage. Exporters should check with their importer or the GB competent authority prior to shipping any rendered products to GB.

For technical and pharmaceutical products which contain fish products or products from other aquatic animals please see the GB Micor meat webpage. Exporters should check with their importer or GB competent authority prior to shipping any technical products or pharmaceutical material to GB.

For information on fish oil capsules refer to section 1.1 of Fish products for for human consumption.

15/01/2025 - Added information for exporters who are non-manufacturers (section 1.2).
11/04/2024 - Information on DEFRA low risk products (section 6.2).
04/04/2024 - Page first published.