Imports from Third Countries
All countries that are not members of the European Union or a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) State are regarded as third countries for the purposes of importing and exporting.
Imports of fish, shellfish and crustaceans for farming, relaying areas, put and take fisheries, open ornamental facilities and closed ornamental facilities must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of origin.
Imports of marine species of fish, all shellfish and all crustaceans must be licensed by the Fish Health Inspectorate regardless of the intended use of the animals. A licence to hold or release may be also required for imports of non-native species. Please refer to Lobster Deposits and Introduction of Non-native species for further details.
Importers are also required to be authorised under the Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009.
Please complete an IMP2 notification form for all imports of fish, their ova or gametes from a third country. Notification should be submitted at least 5 working days prior to the intended arrival date. An authorization application form can be sent out upon request.
Importers should contact either their Local Authority Environmental Health Office or the Food Standards Agency Scotland to discuss additional certification requirements for consignments destined for human consumption.
All imports arriving in Great Britain direct from a third country must go through a Border Inspection Post (BIP). The health certificate will be examined by the State Veterinary Service Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) the time of entry. The DVM will prevent the entry of consignments which do not have a licence or the appropriate health certificates.
The BIPs for the importation of live fish into Great Britain are situated at Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester. Consignments may be cleared through another BIP within Europe and then transported into Great Britain via any airport or port. Consignments travelling by air should comply with the standards set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Importers of exotic species should be aware of The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, more commonly known as CITES. It aims to protect certain plants and animals by regulating and monitoring their international trade to prevent it reaching unsustainable levels. Import, export and re-export permits are required to authorise trade in CITES species with non-European Union countries. Queries and applications should be directed to DEFRA's Wildlife Licensing Section.
Exports to Third Countries
All countries that are not members of the European Union or a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) State are regarded as third countries for the purposes of importing and exporting.
The requirements for exporting fish, shellfish and crustaceans to a third country are determined by the competent authority in the country of destination. It is the responsibility of the exporter to ascertain what these requirements are and to gain copies of any health certificates, with translations, that must accompany the consignment. The exporter is responsible for ensuring that health certificates supplied to the Fish Health Inspectorate are accurate and will be accepted by the competent authority.
The Fish Health Inspectorate will then determine if the site of origin can meet those requirements or if further sampling is necessary to attest to the health status of the fish or shellfish on the site. If the site of origin can not meet the requirements of the competent authority, the exporter or importer in the destination country may approach the competent authority to ask them to revise their requirements.