A pallet of chilled salmon or a container of frozen prawns can sit untouched at the border if one document is missing. Anyone learning how to import seafood UK buyers will accept quickly discovers it is not a normal customs job: fish and shellfish are products of animal origin (POAO), so they ride on a stack of sanitary paperwork on top of the usual declaration. Get the health certificate, the catch certificate and the pre-notification right and the goods clear; miss one and the consignment stalls. This guide walks through the controls using only current gov.uk and Food Standards Agency guidance.
Why import seafood UK rules are different
Fishery products, bivalve molluscs and anything containing them are treated as POAO. That means they fall under sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls, not just tariffs. In practice three things sit alongside your normal import declaration: an export health certificate, a pre-notification in IPAFFS, and — for wild marine catch — a catch certificate. The exact mix depends on the species and how it was caught or farmed.
Most imported products of animal origin are classed as medium-risk, which is the band that triggers the full documentary and certificate requirements below.
Export health certificate (EHC)
All medium-risk POAO must travel with an export health certificate issued in the country of dispatch. The certificate is signed by an official authority confirming the goods meet the health conditions for entry to Great Britain. You upload a copy of it into IPAFFS in advance of the import, so the original certificate and your notification line up. Great Britain accepts verifiable PDF GB health certificates from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
IPAFFS pre-notification
You or your agent must pre-notify the authorities through the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS). For fishery products you submit the notification at least one working day before the consignment is due to arrive, and you can lodge it up to 30 days in advance. All your import documents need to be uploaded electronically, for example as PDFs, before you submit.
One detail catches agents out: if you act on behalf of an importer, you register for IPAFFS using your own business details. Once a notification is raised, the importer takes responsibility for the consignment from when it enters Great Britain until the authorities complete their checks.
Catch certificate for wild-caught fish
Marine wild-caught fishery products that fall under the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing rules must be accompanied by a catch certificate and IUU documentation issued by the flag state that manages the fishing vessel. This proves the fish was caught legally. Farmed fish and certain products are outside the catch certificate scope, so confirm whether your specific species and source need one before you ship. If the certificate scheme and IPAFFS upload feel like a lot to coordinate, you can book a customs broker to manage the declaration and SPS paperwork end to end.
SPS checks at Border Control Posts
Whatever the risk category, POAO under SPS controls must enter Great Britain through a point of entry with a Border Control Post (BCP) designated to check that commodity. At the BCP the goods may face documentary, identity and physical checks. Routing a fish consignment through a port without a suitable BCP is a common and avoidable mistake — plan the entry point before the goods leave. The same SPS logic that governs other animal-derived goods, such as the rules covered in importing food supplements to the UK, applies here in a stricter form.
Checklist: importing seafood to the UK
- Confirm the species classifies as POAO and check its risk category.
- Obtain the export health certificate from the dispatch country’s authority.
- Arrange a catch certificate and IUU documentation for wild marine catch.
- Register for IPAFFS (agents use their own business details).
- Pre-notify in IPAFFS at least one working day before arrival; upload all documents as PDFs.
- Route the consignment through a port with a designated BCP for that commodity.
- Prepare the customs declaration, commercial invoice and your EORI number.
Mini-FAQ
Do I always need a catch certificate to import seafood?
Not always. A catch certificate is required for wild marine-caught fishery products under the IUU rules. Farmed fish and some products fall outside the scheme, so check your specific species and source.
How far in advance must I pre-notify in IPAFFS?
For fishery products you must pre-notify at least one working day before the consignment is due to arrive. You can submit the notification up to 30 days ahead.
What is a Border Control Post?
A BCP is a designated point of entry where products under SPS controls undergo documentary, identity and physical checks. Your seafood must arrive at a BCP equipped to check that commodity.
Can my customs agent handle IPAFFS for me?
Yes. An agent can pre-notify on your behalf, but they must register for IPAFFS using their own business details. Responsibility for the consignment still rests with the importer.
Sources (gov.uk): Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS), Importing or moving fish to the UK. Rules and timeframes can change — verify current requirements on gov.uk before you import.
