Notify the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) about an export of live fish or shellfish
Use this service to notify the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) before you export or move live fish or shellfish.
Applies to England and Wales
Authorisation to export or move live fish or shellfish
Before you can export or move live fish or shellfish, you must apply to become authorised to export live aquatic animals in England and Wales. It’s free to apply to become authorised.
This includes moving live fish and shellfish to Northern Ireland or the Crown Dependencies.
Before you start
We’ll ask you to provide:
- the departure date and time of the consignment – you must provide FHI with a minimum of 5 working days’ notice
- details of the fish or shellfish in the consignment such as their size, scientific name and common name
- details of the packages in the consignment such as the total number, type and whether you want to upload a draft packing list
- a copy of the written advice and aquatic animal health certification requirements for entry from the competent authority in the destination country (for the first time you export)
We’ll also ask you to provide contact details of the:
- supplier or consigner
- site where the consignment originated
- destination site or consignee
- transport company
For consignments being exported to the EU or moved to Northern Ireland, we’ll ask you for:
- details from the CHED-A including the name, business address and EU member states the consignment will transit through – this will enable EU member states to issue documents in the appropriate language
- the border control post (BCP) name and unit number in the destination country
- the name and contact details of your official vet (OV)
- a date and time when the OV will inspect the consignment
For consignments being exported to the rest of the world, if the destination country requires an OV to sign a health certificate, we’ll ask you for:
- the name and contact details of your OV
- a date and time when the OV will inspect the consignment
Notify online
After you’ve applied
What happens after you’ve applied depends on where you’re exporting or moving your consignment to.
For movements to Crown Dependencies (Guernsey, Jersey, and Isle of Man)
The FHI will produce the animal health certificate.
A Fish Health Inspector will contact you to arrange an inspection of your goods for export, within 72hrs of departure.
For exports to the EU or movements to Northern Ireland
The FHI will produce the animal health certificate. Your nominated OV should contact the FHI to discuss arrangements for the:
- draft health certificate
- notes for guidance
- attestations from the FHI
- inspection of the consignment up to 72 hours prior to departure
For exports to the rest of the world (RoW):
The FHI will produce the animal health certificate using the template you provided from the competent authority in the destination country.
If the competent authority in the destination country requires an OV to sign the animal health certificate, your nominated OV should contact the FHI to discuss arrangements for the:
- draft health certificate
- notes for guidance
- attestations from the FHI
- inspection of the consignment up to 72 hours prior to departure
Animal health certificates
If you’re exporting to the EU or moving to Northern Ireland, you must arrange for an OV to sign an animal health certificate.
If the competent authority or official service in the destination country does not require an OV to sign the animal health certificate, a Fish Health Inspector will contact you to arrange an inspection of your live fish or shellfish. This will happen within 72 hours of the consignment leaving the port of exit in Great Britain.
Amend a submitted form
To request an amendment to an animal health certificate once the FHI has generated it, you must apply again using this service, giving at least 5 working days’ notice before the date of departure.
Get help
For help using this form, email fhi@cefas.gov.uk