Exporting or moving live fish and shellfish
Find out how to export live fish, molluscs and crustaceans for farming, ornamental, or any other purpose except direct human consumption
This guidance applies only to exports or movements of live fish, molluscs, and crustaceans for farming, ornamental, depuration, or any other purpose except direct human consumption, that are leaving Great Britain (GB) from England and Wales.
It does not apply to dead fish and shellfish, or fish and shellfish products, including live shellfish for direct human consumption.
You can find out how to export wild-caught marine fish and fishery product for human consumption at this web page: Exporting or moving fish from the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For information on live fish and shellfish exports to other UK territories and Crown Dependencies:
Exporter Authorisation
All exporters must be authorised to export live aquatic animals from England and Wales, as required under The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009.
This is particularly important if you intend to export to the EU (including Northern Ireland), to ensure compliance with the requirements detailed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236.
The only exception is for sites exporting only to Rest of World (ROW) destinations which do not require inspection or health certificates. If this applies to you, please let the FHI know so you can be registered as an exporter.
Applications for exporter authorisation must be made on Form AUTEXP. There is no fee for applying.
Once authorisation is granted by the FHI you may arrange to export following the steps detailed below.
Exporting from England and Wales to an EU Country
To export live fish and shellfish from England and Wales to an EU member state:
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as of 15 January 2022, Fish Health Inspectors can no longer sign export animal health certificates for exports to the EU. These will need to be signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV). It is the exporters responsibility to source an Official Veterinarian for this purpose.
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your export must be accompanied by an export animal health certificate. You or your importer must find out the animal health certification requirements from the competent authority or official service for aquatic animal health in the destination country, contact their embassy in the UK if you require assistance.
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you need to provide the FHI with details of your export and a copy of the written advice and animal heath certification requirements for entry from the competent authority or official service for the aquatic animal health in the destination country.
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the FHI will assess whether your export can meet these requirements and will provide feedback to you within 15 working days.
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once you have received confirmation from the FHI that your export can meet the requirements, you must contact an Official Veterinarian (OV) to make arrangements for them to inspect the consignment and issue the required health certificate. A list of OVs can be found at Official Veterinarian
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once confirmation is received from the FHI you need to submit an Export Notification Form EXP1, completed in full and signed either electronically or by hand, at least 5-working days prior to the date of export. You will also need to supply the contact details for your nominated OV.
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your EXP1 form will then be validated by the FHI. And if it passes validation, you will receive a confirmation email and the FHI will produce the appropriate animal health certificate.
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your nominated OV, should then contact the FHI to discuss arrangements for provision of the draft health certificate, notes for guidance, attestations from the FHI and to coordinate the inspection of the consignment up to 72 hours prior to departure.
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if the export inspection is satisfactory the OV will sign and issue the health certificate. The original health certificate must accompany the consignment. The OV and FHI must also retain a copy of the signed health certificate.
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your export must be checked and cleared at an EU Border Control Post (BCP) that can accept the type of goods, in the first EU country they enter. Your goods may be refused entry, seized, destroyed, or returned to the UK, if they arrive at an EU port without a BCP or at a BCP that can’t check your type of product. Not all BCPs accept all goods - consider how to redirect your trade route if needed.
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make sure your importer or EU-based import agent has notified the BCP that your consignment is arriving. They need to check with the BCP to find out how much notice is required and use the EU system TRACES-NT to make the notification.
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make sure your consignment meets all labelling requirements for clearance through the EU-BCP and transport to destination. The FHI will provide you with a template transport label that meets the labelling requirements as per Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236.
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comply with wider HMRC guidance on customs requirements for exporting to the EU.
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make sure you have the correct EORI numbers.
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follow animal welfare during transport rules. Contact APHA for more information.
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find out what happens if your consignment is rejected at an EU BCP.
Additional guidance on exporting live bivalve molluscs to an EU Member State
If you are exporting live bivalve molluscs (LBMs) to an EU Member State, please read the additional guidance below:
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all live aquatic animals and products of animal origin (including fish and shellfish) intended for export to the EU and destined for human consumption will require an export health certificate. As a third country, live bivalve molluscs (LBMs) can no longer be directly landed by UK fishing vessels into the EU. They must be exported to arrive via a BCP.
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LBMs such as oysters, mussels, clams, cockles, and scallops can continue to be exported to the EU if they’re harvested from class A waters or depurated (purified) in the UK and have cleared end product testing (ready for human consumption). These can be exported using the export health certificate for LBMs for direct human consumption. You should contact your Local Health Authority to obtain these certificates. Contact APHA for more information.
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the EU Commission has indicated that undepurated (unpurified) LBMs from Class B waters cannot be exported from Great Britain into the EU for the purpose of depuration (purification). This affects both wild harvested LBMs and those from aquaculture.
The FHI are unable to certify for these consignments until this situation is resolved. Defra is continuing to look for a solution to allow exports to resume.
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LBMs which are intended to go for further farming / on-growing in the EU, should be unaffected by the current trade restrictions imposed by the EU on LBMs exported for purification in the EU. These shipments must be accompanied by an Export Animal Health Certificate certified by an Official Veterinarian as per Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236.
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you will need to find the animal health certificate requirements from the competent authority or official service for aquatic animal health in the destination country. We also strongly advise that exporters obtain confirmation, in writing, from the BCP in the importing country that the consignment will be accepted before starting the export. Any decision to export LBMs for this purpose is a commercial decision for you to take as an industry and will be carried out at the exporter’s own risk. Please see full guidance to export live fish and shellfish from England and Wales to an EU country above.
If you did not supply the required certification at the time of the export
If animals have been presented at an EU BCP without an officially issued animal health certificate, they will be classed as an illegal consignment and have no certifiable provenance. You will not be able to bring these animals back. These animals will be humanely culled either at the EU BCP or on attempted return to GB.
Movements from England and Wales to Northern Ireland (NI)
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as of 15 January 2022, Fish Health Inspectors can no longer sign export health certificates for exports to the EU. These will need to be signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV). It is the exporters responsibility to source an Official Veterinarian for this purpose.
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your consignment must be accompanied by an animal health certificate. You or your customer will need to check with the Competent Authority for Aquatic Animal Health in NI DAERA to find out what the animal health certification requirements are.
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you need to provide the FHI details of your movement and a copy of the written advice and animal heath certification requirements for entry from the competent authority in Northern Ireland DAERA.
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the FHI will assess whether your movement can meet these requirements and will provide feedback to you within 15 working days.
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once you have received confirmation from the FHI that your export can meet the requirements you must contact an Official Veterinarian (OV) to make arrangements for them to inspect the consignment and issue the required health certificate. A list of OVs can be found at: Find a professional to certify export health certificates.
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once confirmation is received from the FHI you need to submit an Export Notification Form EXP1, completed in full and signed either electronically or by hand, at least 5-working days prior to the date of movement. You will also need to supply the contact details for your nominated OV.
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your EXP1 form will then be validated by the FHI. And if it passes validation, you will receive a confirmation email and the FHI will produce the appropriate animal health certificate.
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your nominated OV, should then contact the FHI to discuss arrangements for provision of the draft health certificate, notes for guidance, attestations from the FHI and to coordinate the inspection of the consignment up to 72 hours prior to departure.
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if the inspection is satisfactory the OV will sign and issue the health certificate. The original health certificate must accompany the consignment. The OV and FHI must also retain a copy of the signed health certificate.
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your goods must enter Northern Ireland through a designated Point of Entry POE where they will be subject to documentary, identity, and physical checks. For Northern Ireland these are located at Larne (XILAR1-DAERA) and Belfast (XIBEL1-DAERA) only.
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the movement must be pre-notified through TRACES-NT, which will be the system for processing movements of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods in Northern Ireland. This is the responsibility of your customer, or their agent and they should check how much notice needs to be given to the designated point of entry.
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make sure your consignment meets all labelling requirements for arrival at the designated point of entry and transport to destination. The FHI will provide you with a template transport label that meets the labelling requirements as per Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236.
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make sure you have the correct EORI numbers.
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follow animal welfare during transport rules. Contact APHA for more information.
Please contact the FHI for additional guidance on trade to Northern Ireland from third countries or the EU via England and Wales.
Make sure you are ready for all changes, find out more about moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.
If you did not supply the required certification at the time of the export
If animals have been presented at an NI POE without an officially issued animal health certificate they will be classed as an illegal consignment and have no certifiable provenance. You will not be able to bring these animals back. These animals will be humanely culled either at the NI POE or on attempted return to GB.
Movements from England and Wales to Crown Dependencies
To move live fish and shellfish from England and Wales to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man:
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an animal health certificate or official movement notification may be required. You or your customer must find out the animal health certification and movement notification requirements from the competent authority or official service for aquatic animal health at the destination.
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if a certificate or form of official notification is required, you need to provide the FHI details of your export and a copy of the written advice and animal heath certification requirements for entry from the competent authority in the destination country.
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the FHI will assess whether your export can meet these requirements and will provide feedback to you within 15 working days.
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once approval is granted by the FHI you need to submit an Export Notification Form EXP1, completed in full and signed either electronically or by hand, at least 5-working days prior to the date and time of export.
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if the inspection is satisfactory the FHI will sign and issue the health certificate. The health certificate must accompany the consignment.
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make sure your consignment meets all requirements for transport and arrival at the destination. The FHI will provide you with a template transport label that meets the labelling requirements.
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make sure you follow animal welfare during transport rules. Contact APHA for more information.
Exporting from England and Wales to a non-EU country
To export live fish and shellfish from England and Wales to a non-EU country:
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an animal health certificate may be required. You or your customer must find out the animal health certification requirements from the competent authority or official service for aquatic animal health in the destination country, contact their embassy in the UK if you require assistance.
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if an animal health certificate is required, you need to provide the FHI details of your export and a copy of the written advice and animal heath certification requirements for entry from the competent authority in the destination country. You will also need to provide a copy of the health certificate being requested.
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the FHI will assess whether you export can meet these requirements and will provide feedback to you within 15 working days
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once approval is granted by the FHI you need to submit an Export Notification Form EXP1, completed in full and signed either electronically or by hand, at least 5-working days prior to the date and time of export.
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your EXP1 form will then be validated by the FHI. If your EXP1 form passes validation you will receive a confirmation email and the FHI will produce the appropriate animal health certificate using the copy provided by the competent authority in the destination country.
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if an Official Veterinarian (OV) is required to sign the animal health certificate you must follow the guidance under ‘For exports to EU and NI’.
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if an OV is not required to sign the animal health certificate, a Fish Health Inspector will contact you to arrange an inspection of your goods for export, within 72hrs of departure.
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if the export inspection is satisfactory the FHI (or OV if required) will sign and issue the health certificate. The health certificate must accompany the consignment.
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make sure your consignment meets all requirements for transport and arrival at the destination. Your customer or their Agent should be able to confirm these requirements.
Exporting CITES species
Additional rules apply to endangered species under CITES. Find out how to trade and move species protected by CITES.
Consignments of live aquatic animals from England and Wales rejected by the EU or Northern Ireland
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if your officially certified consignment is rejected by the authorities in the EU Member State of entry or Northern Ireland, you may have the option to bring the goods back. Live fish and shellfish will only be accepted back to GB if they meet certain conditions.
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if your goods fail inspection because of risks to animal or public health, they may be destroyed immediately. The BCP will not usually contact the exporter.
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if your consignment is rejected because they failed animal health or identity checks at the EU BCP or NI POE contact the FHI. FHI officials will advise you whether the animals may be accepted for return if there is an option to do so.
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GB will only accept the return of the animal consignment if the original officially certified documents accompany the animals. You will need to coordinate the return of the animals by pre-notifying FHI of the return before commencing the return journey.
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on arrival at the GB port, FHI will undertake documentary, identity and physical checks to determine whether the animals are able to re-enter GB territory.
Errors in documentation
If the documents, you supplied at the time of export contained errors contact the FHI.
In some circumstances, it may be possible that a replacement certificate sent to the EU BCP or NI POE could reverse the decision to reject. The final decision whether this is acceptable will be made by the EU BCP or NI POE.
If your goods were rejected for other reasons, such as customs declaration issues
Contact HMRC or your customs intermediary for advice on whether the issues can be resolved.
Contacts
Fish Health Inspectorate in England and Wales
Fish Health Inspectorate
Cefas
Barrack Road
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 8UB
Telephone: 01305 206 700 Out of hours : 01305 206 630
Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm and Fridays 9am to 4:30pm
Last updated 17 August 2023 + show all updates
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Updated contact email address and fixed broken links.
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Updated out of hours number.
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Guidance page has had an annual review and has been up-dated.
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Fixed two broken links.
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Updated hyperlink for Exporter Authorisation information.
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Edit made to the link for AUTEXP form
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Edited to include the required use of OV's
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Significant changes throughout to include the new certificate requirements for exporting live aquatic animals from England and Wales.
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Changed to include the guidance on shellfish exports to EU.
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Removal of the reference to exporting LBM to the EU.
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Updated with new guidance as of January 1st 2021
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Updated the title to reflect our remit of live fish and shellfish exports for aquaculture and ornamental purposes only and not the export of fish and fishery product. These changes are for clarity for our users in the aquaculture sector.
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Brexit update
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First published.