Dec 8th, 2020
5 mins
As the end of the transition draws near members will need to ensure that are prepared for the changes required to both import and export fish from the UK. Whilst the UK Government have agreed to a staged approach on much of the new documentation process for goods that are imported, there are some exceptions. One of these relate to catch certification for fish which will be required from 1st January 2020. We are grateful to Seafish for providing us with the following overview.
Requirements for catch certification (importing)
- All products covered by the IUU Regulation (Regulation 1005/2008) require catch certification for importation into the UK
- All fish falling under Chapter 03
- All prepared fishery products falling under headings 1604 and 1605
- The exceptions are listed in the Annex to the IUU Regulation (mostly fish for ornamental purposes, farmed fish, freshwater fish and some specific shellfish)
- EU fish will require catch certification from 1/1/2021.
Catch certificates
- Direct imports of fish require an original catch certificate. It contains
- Vessel details
- “Catch” details including any processing
- Transhipment details
- Transport details
- Re-export details if the fish was previously imported
- A simplified catch certificate is available for catches from multiple vessels
- Must be validated by the competent authority of the flag state
Storage document
- Required for imports of fish that has been stored in a country other than that of the vessel flag.
- No set storage time. 12h recommended as a minimum.
- Required by Article 14(1) of the IUU Regulation
- Submitted together with a copy of the catch certificate
Processing statement
- Required for imports of fish that has been processed in a country other than that of the vessel flag.
- To be endorsed by the competent authority of the processing country
- Required by Article 14(2) of the IUU Regulation
- Submitted together with a copy of the catch certificate
*Fish fingers situation: The official line, as I understand it, is as follows.
Where batches are mixed during processing, it is important to maintain sufficient traceability to identify which catch certificates relate to the finished product, and to know the weights from each catch that corresponds to the finished product. This will allow accurate completion of the processing statement/s.
Catch certificates for exports
Seafood exports to these countries will require catch certificates:
- EU
- Iceland
- Ivory Coast
- Kuwait
- Madagascar
- Norway
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Ukraine
The pattern is the same as with imports:
- Direct exports from the UK require a catch certificate
- Direct landings from UK-flagged vessels into EU ports also require a catch certificate
- Indirect exports leaving the UK require:
- Either a processing statement or a storage document
- A copy of the catch certificate
The three types of catch certification are generated by the exporter using the electronic Fish Exports Service: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/create-a-uk-catch-certificate
The service is available now for testing and can currently be used to produce certificates for training purposes.
See related article: https://bfff.co.uk/brexit/mmo-guidance-to-support-commercial-fishers-merchants-and-exporters/
