Guidance

Processing Statement Updates - From 10 January 2026

Updated 13 October 2025

1. Changes to the UK processing statement application

The UK processing statement is being updated to reflect changes in EU regulations and UK export control requirements. These updates improve traceability and ensure compliance for fishery products exported from the UK.

2. When is a UK processing statement required?

A UK processing statement is required for fish and shellfish that have been imported or landed directly into the UK for processing, ready for export.

Some fish and shellfish are excluded from the definition of ‘fishery products’ and do not need a UK processing statement.

If you use more than one processing plant for your export, you’ll need a separate processing statement for each plant.

Important: From January 2026, if the fish was landed in the UK and processed after landing in the UK, you must also create a catch certificate for the original landing and a processing statement referencing that catch certificate. See “New requirement” below for more detail. A processing statement is not required for any instances of processing that have occurred prior to landing.

3. Definition of processing:

Processing operations requiring a processing statement include cutting, filleting, canning, smoking, salting, cooking, pickling, drying or preparing fish for market in any other manner. Fishery products subject only to freezing and/or packing will not require a processing statement.

4. New requirement:

From January 2026, a UK processing statement is also required for fish that has been landed in the UK and subsequently processed in approved establishments in the UK before export.

This means that exporters of these types of products will now need to complete both:

• A catch certificate to certify the quantity of original catch to be exported before it was processed on land, and
• A processing statement for each separate instance of UK-based processing

This is a new requirement. Previously, these products did not require a processing statement and only a catch certificate was required. From January, the catch certificate must reflect the unprocessed (landed) weight to be exported, and the processing statement must document the processing activity and resulting product.

This guidance is being published in advance to help users prepare for the change. Until January 2026, exporters of UK-landed and UK-processed fish are not yet required to complete a processing statement but should begin familiarising themselves with this new requirement to ensure compliance once this becomes mandatory.

A processing statement is not required for any instances of processing that have occurred prior to landing.

5. Processing statement weight fields explained:

When completing a UK processing statement, it is essential to enter the correct weights in the appropriate fields. The following guidance reflects the expectations set out for weight fields:

• Catch certificate weight (kg) This should match the quantity shown in Box 3 of the corresponding catch certificate.
• Export weight before processing (kg)
  This is the actual weight of fish that has been processed. It may be the full or partial amount of the total landed weight declared above.
• Export weight after processing (kg) This refers to the net weight of fish contained in the final product, excluding any added ingredients such as oil, brine, salt, or vegetables.

Please note: The net weight of the final product including other ingredients is not required in the processing statement application.

6. Updates to the processing statement application, applicable from late November 2025

The application process for creating a UK processing statement is being updated to improve clarity and product-level documentation.

• Each product and species within that product must be linked to the relevant catch certificate.
• Each processed product and its catch certificate(s) will be displayed separately in the summary screen, so that you can check and confirm the details before submission.

The screens for exporter details, processing plant details and export health certificate will remain the same.

From January 2026, the final processing statement will show each processed product explicitly linked to its supporting catch certificate.

7. What you need

To create a processing statement, you’ll need:

• a Government Gateway user ID and password
• the company name and address of the exporter
• to say what is in the consignment (and include the EU tariff commodity codes)
• a health certificate number for the export
• the species, catch certificate number(s) and total weight from each catch being used in the consignment
• the before and after processing weights of the export the name, address and plant approval number of the processing plant used (and the name of the person responsible for the consignment)