Most fish imported to the UK from another country is covered by the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing regulation (IUU).

Imported EU fish consignments are excluded from the IUU customs hold. 

All imports of Bluefin Tuna, Antarctic and Patagonian Toothfish are still subject to a customs hold.

All imported fish products from non-EU countries are subject to an IUU customs hold.

The IUU Regulation applies to imports of:

• Marine caught fishery products including shrimps, prawns, squid, cuttlefish and scampi, unless it is freshwater
• Composite products made up of any wild caught fish content and other ingredients. Further information on goods classification can be found on the government's website

Exclusions from the Regulation are:

• Freshwater, farmed (aquaculture) fish
• Marine fish imported for ornamental purposes 
• Clams and other bivalve molluscs

Importers must notify Port Health at least 4 working hours before each consignment's arrival at the port via a pre-notification form.

Supporting documentation such as a catch certificate, commercial documents, airway bill, invoice and packing list can be attached to the pre-notification or emailed to imported.food@crawley.gov.uk. 

The endorsed catch certificate paperwork will be returned to the agent, who will need to submit a copy to HMRC to enable the consignment to be released.

Documentary checks are undertaken for all imports to ensure that the catch certificate and associated paperwork relates to the consignment, and is valid.

A notice will be served as a result of unsatisfactory catch certificate checks.

Fees for catch certificate checks are detailed on the Port Health charges list. See our Port Health fees and charges page for the list of costs.