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Fisheries: Fish farming and health

Trade

UK fish/shellfish health status and implications for trade
Approved zones

Approved zones are areas within the EC which have a high fish health status because they are free from the serious fish diseases Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) or Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS).

The long history of freedom from VHS and IHN in Great Britain has been recognised and the whole area has been designated an EU Approved Zone for both diseases. The whole of Great Britain is also an approved zone in respect of the shellfish disease Marteilia. In addition, it is also designated free from the shellfish disease Bonamia (excluding the south coast of Cornwall from the Lizard to Start Point; the area along the coast in Essex from Shoeburyness to Landguard Point and the area around the Solent estuary from Portland Bill to Selsey Bill).

Great Britain also has additional guarantees for Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC), Gyrodactylus salaris (Gs) and Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) as set out in Commission Decision 2004/453/EC. Again, these recognise the high health status of Great Britain in relation to these diseases.

Strict fish health requirements apply to movements into approved zones and those with additional guarantees. Fish can only enter if they come from an area which has equal or higher health status. This means that any susceptible species coming into these areas have to be accompanied by certification confirming their freedom from these diseases.

Intra-community trade
Importing live fish and shellfish into the UK from EU

Consignments of live fish or molluscan shellfish, their eggs and gametes, from the EU into the UK must be accompanied by a movement document. This is an official form, completed by the official fish/shellfish health protection service where the fish are produced, and is our assurance that the consignment is safe to enter Great Britain.

The document must be drawn up in English no more than 48 hours before the fish or shellfish are loaded for despatch. Without valid movement documents any introduction of fish or shellfish into Great Britain is illegal.

Importers must also give at least 24 hours' notice, in writing, of the arrival of the consignment - see form DOF 14: "Importation into Great Britain of live fish and shellfish from elsewhere within the European Union: notification form".

Trade with "third countries"
Importing live fish, eggs and gametes from countries outside the EU (third country)

New harmonised rules for trade with third countries came into force on 1 May 2004. Further information can be found in the consultation letters (consultation letters of 29 April 2004, 30 July 2004 PDF logo and 14 January 2005 PDF logo - on efishbusiness website). Further detailed guidelines are in course of preparation.

All imports arriving from non-EU countries must go through a designated Border Inspection Post (BIP) and should be accompanied by the relevant movement document as set out in Annex II, IV and V of 2003/858/EC, as amended (for fish); and Annex II of 2003/804/EC, as amended (for shellfish).

Please refer to the consultation letters for current implementation arrangements.

All importers should ensure that their contacts in third countries take steps as a matter of urgency to ensure that the animal health certificates are completed correctly.

Please note that Fish Health Inspectors monitor all consignments where there are irregularities in documentation and they will take action if any are likely to pose a risk to the fish health status of this country.

Requirements for importing live fish and shellfish into the UK from the EU and third countries can be found in our booklets:

Please note that these booklets are in the process of being updated to take account of the new rules on trade with third countries. For the latest information please contact the relevant departmental contact (listed below).

Contacts

The Department takes the lead for the UK in negotiations on fish health matters within the EU. Together with the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), we are responsible, through the Fish Health Inspectorate, based at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) for the implementation and enforcement of fish health policy in England and Wales.

If you have any queries about the import of live fish or molluscs please contact:

Fish Health Inspectorate at the CEFAS Weymouth Laboratory
Barrack Road
The Nothe
Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB
Tel: 01305 206673/4
Email: Fish.Health.Inspectorate@cefas.co.uk

If you have queries about the import of fish products of aquaculture origin please contact:

Robert Dray
Defra
Area 5E
3-8 Whitehall Place
London SW1A 2HH
Tel: 020 7270 8227
Email: Robert.j.Dray@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Queries relating to public health aspects of such imports should be addressed to the Food Standards Agency imported food helpline 020 7276 8018.

The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) is responsible for fish health matters in Scotland together with the Fisheries Research Services, Aberdeen.

Links
Consultation letters

Defra letters of 29 April 2004, 30 July 2004 and 14 January 2005 on Third Country Imports: New Animal Health Certification

EU legislation

amended by

amended by

 

Further information is available on our Help page about downloading or reading Adobe Acrobat PDF logo documents.

Page last modified: 21 April 2006
Page published: 8 April 2005

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs