Operate after Brexit
Export Hubs in Scotland
Export Hubs in Scotland
Information for fish exporters
Exporting food and drink from Great Britain to France: Common mistakes
Catch Certificates
- You need this for many export tasks
- This can take 1-3 business days to be confirmed
Register with the Fish Export Service to get a Catch Certificate
- Register in advance of needing the certificate
- Your Government Gateway ID is needed to access this
Get a catch certificate for each consignment via the Fish Export Service*
*Bear in mind, some species don’t need a Catch certificate.
- Send the validated catch certificate to your EU importer within deadline: Sea - 72 hours before landing, Air/Rail - 4 hours before arrival, Road- 2 hours before arrival
Visit GOV.UK to make sure you have an EORI number
- Your Government Gateway ID is needed to access this
- Your EORI is required to export goods out of GB
Export Health Certificate
- The process to get an Export Health Certificate (EHC) can take 10-14 days from booking to the collection date
- 1 EHC is required for each product type in a consignment
- The EHC must be signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) or an Official Fish Inspectors (OFI) to make it legal
- Red ink is not acceptable for some customs systems
- Blue ink is acceptable
- The EHC must physically accompany the goods
- If different language(s) needed, the system translates your EHC automatically with no translation cost
- Wild fish and farmed fish must be on separate EHCs
Find an approved vet for Export Health Certificate (EHC)
- Find and book an approved vet/fish inspector for your EHC
- There are 3 Scottish hubs for goods movements and exports outside the UK: DFDS in Larkhall, Mesguen (UK) Ltd in Harthill and O’Toole Transport in Bellshill. Food Standards Scotland staff are onsite at all three hubs and are responsible for signing EHCs at these specific sites
- Wild fish and farmed fish must be on separate EHCs
- Get separate Export Health certificate for wild caught marine fishery fish/shellfish
Support Attestation for fish movements
- Request this from your local authority
- This is not an official export certificate. You should use this as well as your EHC for specific product categories in groupage consignments to the EU in accordance with guidance issued by Defra/APHA
- Red ink is not acceptable for some customs systems
- Blue ink is acceptable and must be ‘fan stamped’
Logistics
Supplier Declaration
- Complete a supplier declaration for every batch of your product and supply all the details needed
Accurate labelling of boxes
- Include on the label: the exporter address, delivery address, GB, the batch numbers, ISO codes, Latin names, a brief description of the products and the catch date
Contact your EU importer at least 24 hours before the arrival
- Give your EU importer the details of the consignment and the Export Health Certificate
Register and get yourself validated on TRACES, before moving goods. The use of TRACES depends on the Incoterms used and it is required when using DDP.
- The EU IT system used to move fish, shellfish, animals and plants
- Pre-notify the arrival of a consignment of goods at the EU Point of Entry, a minimum of 24 hours in advance
Check with your haulier
Have they prepared to meet the requirements for driving in the EU?
- Make sure they’re prepared to travel in the EU in 2021
Are they using a seal?
- If used, a seal must be certified on the Export Health Certificate
Have they planned in advance? Goods must enter the EU through a Border Control post (BCP) that handles fisheries goods
- Goods may be inspected at the border control post
- If they don’t pass inspection, the EU importer is responsible for them
- If your goods don’t pass inspection at the BCP, you must notify the importer immediately
Will they be crossing the channel via a Kent port?
Drivers must have tested negative for coronavirus (COVID-19) up to 72 hours before crossing into France.
Get tested before entering Kent to avoid delays. HGV drivers and crew can get a free test at a haulier advice site. Find your nearest site on the GOV.UK website.
Storage
Check if you need a UK storage document and a UK processing statement. These are only required for certain movements
Catch Certificates
- You need this for many export tasks
- This can take 1-3 business days to be confirmed
Register for the Fish Export Service to get a Catch Certificate
- Register in advance of needing the certificate
- Your Government Gateway ID is needed to access this
Get a catch certificate for each consignment via the Fish Export Service*
*Bear in mind, some species don’t need a Catch certificate.
- Send the validated catch certificate to your EU importer within the deadline: Sea - 72 hours before landing, Air/Rail - 4 hours before arrival, Road - 2 hours before arrival
- Your Government Gateway ID is needed to access this
- Your EORI is required to export goods out of the UK
Export Health Certificate
- Process to get an Export Health Certificate (EHC) can take 10-14 days from booking to collection date
- 1 x EHC required for each product type in a consignment
- The EHC must be signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) or an Official Fish Inspectors (OFI). This is a paper copy
- The OV or OFI has to sign the EHC to make it legal
- Red ink not acceptable for some customs systems
- Blue ink is acceptable
- The EHC must accompany the goods
- If different language(s) needed, the system translates EHC automatically with no translation cost
- Wild fish and farmed fish MUST be on separate EHCs
Find approved an vet for your Export Health Certificate (EHC)
- Find and book an approved vet/fish inspector for your EHC
- There are 3 Scottish hubs for goods movements and exports outside the UK: DFDS in Larkhall, Mesguen (UK) Ltd in Harthill and O’Toole Transport in Bellshill. Food Standards Scotland staff are onsite at all three hubs and are responsible for signing EHCs at these specific sites
- Wild fish and farmed fish must be on separate EHCs
- Get a separate Export Health certificate for wild caught marine fishery fish/shellfish
Support Attestation for fish movements
- Request this from your local authority
- This is not an official export certificate, use as well as your EHC for specific product categories in groupage consignments to the EU in accordance with guidance issued by Defra/APHA
- Red ink is not acceptable for some customs systems
- Blue ink is acceptable and must be ‘fan stamped’
Logistics
Supplier Declaration
- Complete a supplier declaration for every batch of your product, supply all details needed
Accurate labelling of boxes
- Include on the label: the exporter address, delivery address, GB, the batch numbers, ISO codes, Latin names, a brief description of the products and the catch date
Contact your EU importer at least 24 hours before the arrival
- Give your EU importer the details of the consignment and the Export Health Certificate
Register and get yourself validated on TRACES, before moving goods
- The EU IT system is used to move fish, shellfish, animals and plants
- Pre-notify the arrival of a consignment of goods at the Ireland Point of Entry, a minimum of 24 hours in advance
Check with you haulier
Have they prepared for requirements for driving in the EU?
- Make sure they’re prepared to travel in the EU in 2021
Are they using a seal?
- If used a seal must be certified on the Export Health Certificate
Have they planned in advance? Goods must enter the EU through a Border Control post (BCP) that handles fisheries goods.
- Goods may be inspected at the border control post
- If they don’t pass inspection, the Northern Ireland importer is responsible for them
- If your goods don’t pass inspection at the BCP in Northern Ireland, you must notify the importer immediately
Storage
Check if you need a UK storage document and a UK processing statement. These are only required for certain movements.
Got a question about operating after Brexit?
Get in touch with our experts for the latest on the UK's exit from the EU, its impact on Scottish businesses, and how we can help you navigate the changes facing all companies.