Guidance

Storage Document Updates - From 10 January 2026

Updated 13 October 2025

1. Changes to the UK Storage Document

A storage document is needed for products that have been imported into the UK and stored prior to re-export and confirms that the products have not been altered or manipulated during their time in the UK.

From 10 January 2026, the name of the storage document is changing to the non-manipulation document, and a new version of the document template is being introduced.

2. When is a non-manipulation document required?

You’ll need a separate non-manipulation document (previously called a storage document) for each export.

Some fish and shellfish are excluded from the definition of ‘fishery products’ and do not need a UK non-manipulation document for export.

Important: you must complete a non-manipulation document in the following scenarios:

• When fisheries products have been imported into the UK and stored prior to re-export.
• When a consignment enters the UK and is split into sub-consignments prior to export. Each sub-consignment must be accompanied by its own non-manipulation document.

3. Updates to the non-manipulation document application

To support this change, a new version of the document template will be introduced. This updated format includes several new and reorganised sections to improve traceability and and clarity around how fisheries consignments have been handled during storage.  

As part of these updates, users will continue to provide the catch certificate(s) that pertain to the original catch. However, they will now also need to specify the country that issued each catch certificate, along with the document number. This additional detail helps ensure that re-exported consignments meet EU traceability requirements.

4. Arrival to place of storage

This new section captures details about the consignment’s journey before it entered storage in the UK, including the date it departed its previous location, the method of transport used, and the place of departure. It will become mandatory to complete the ‘arrival at storage date’ from the point the application changes. This is a new section in the application and will need to be completed ahead of the departure from storage sections.

5. Consignment Details

This section is now split into two parts:

• On arrival: this part records which products are being stored and their condition   when they first enter the UK storage facility. This includes details like temperature (e.g. chilled or frozen), and quantity.
• On departure: this part documents which products are being removed from storage, including any changes in quantity. This helps confirm that no manipulation has occurred during storage.

6. Departure from place of storage

This section captures when and how the consignment left the UK, including its destination.  This refers to the export from the UK, not the original catch or vessel. In this section the following must be recorded:

• The date the consignment leaves the UK
• The method of transport used (e.g. road, sea, air)
• The point of departure and final destination

7. What you need

To create a UK storage document, you’ll need:

• a Government Gateway user ID and password
• the company name and address of the exporter
• to say what products are being stored (and include the EU tariff commodity codes)
• Departure details from the location before import into the UK
• catch certificate numbers and export weights for each product including the Net weight and the Net fishery weight
• the dates and places that the products entered the UK (and transport details upon entry to the UK)
• the name, address and facility approval number of each storage facility used
• to say how each storage facility stores the product (frozen, chilled or other)
• transport details for how the export will leave the UK, where it will leave from and when
• Details about the point of destination
• the identification numbers of the containers used to export the product

Bolded points indicate additions that will take effect after 10 January 2026.