Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Context and background
Why are the IUU requirements changing
From 10 January 2026, the EU will require more detailed documentation for seafood imports. This includes updates to catch certificates, processing statements, and storage documents (it is also important to note that, from January 2026, storage documents will be renamed as non-manipulation documents). These changes strengthen traceability and prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Will there be a grace period after the changes take effect?
No. The new rules apply immediately from January 2026, with no grace period. Businesses should prepare now to avoid disruption.
What if my consignment doesn’t have the correct documents?
Consignments without the required documentation may be rejected at the EU border once the new rules take effect.
IUU Documentation
Catch certificate
What new information does the catch certificate application require?
You’ll need to provide additional details including:
- Start date of the fishing trip
- Catch area information (EEZ, high seas, RFMO)
- Gear used to catch the product
- Transport details, including the first mode of transport and point of entry into the importing country
Guidance is available with more details about the information required in each field.
Do I need to fill out the new optional catch certificate questions now?
The new information fields in the catch certificate application will remain optional until January 2026. You can choose to fill them out now to familiarise yourself with the process, but it won’t affect your ability to obtain a certificate if you don’t answer these questions before January 2026.
What happens if I enter information into optional fields?
Prior to January 2026, any information you enter in the optional fields will be stored securely but will not be recorded on catch certificates during this period. You should continue to check that all information is accurate and up to date on your application before submission.
From January 2026, when these fields become mandatory and when the new certificate format is introduced, answers entered in these fields will appear on the final PDF certificate. Once the mandatory period has begun, the fields will no longer appear as “optional” in the catch certificate application, as they will be mandatory alongside the existing fields.
Will I be able to submit a catch certificate without this information after 10 January 2026?
No. From 10 January 2026, the new fields will become mandatory, and it will not be possible to submit an application for a catch certificate without completing them. You must provide all required information for the system to generate a valid certificate.
When will the PDF version of the certificate be updated?
The updated PDF layout will be introduced shortly before 10th January 2026. We’ll confirm the exact timing closer to the change.
What happens if the transport details change once the catch certificate has been submitted and the consignment is in transit, e.g. if a vehicle breaks down or a ferry cancellation.
We are continuing to work with the European Commission to agree on how this can be implemented to support UK exporters.
What information do I need to provide on the Catch Certificate for transporting goods by truck under the new transport requirements? Often we use the same container but we use a different lorry to transport the goods to Dover than the lorry that leaves the UK
For each method of transport used to export the consignment (e.g. road, sea, air), exporters will need to provide a form of transport identification.
- For road transport, the vehicle registration number will be required.
- For other transport modes, such as sea or air, a relevant identifier (e.g. vessel name, IMO number, flight number) will be required
We are continuing to work with the European Commission to agree how transport identification should be implemented for container transport, particularly in cases where the same container may be transferred between vehicles (e.g. picked up by a different lorry at a UK port). Further guidance will be provided once this is confirmed.
Is anything else changing in the Catch Certificate application?
Yes. From January 2026, exporters will need to ensure they enter the weight of fish to be exported, as it was landed in the UK before any processing, when completing the weight box on the catch certificate.
This applies specifically to exports of fish that have been landed by a UK vessel and processed in UK establishments. For these products, the catch certificate must reflect the unprocessed landed weight, not the final processed weight at the point of export.
This change supports new rules for exports of fish that have been landed and subsequently processed in the UK.
If the fish has not been processed since landing, this change will not affect how you complete the catch certificate.
Processing Statement
What is changing in the UK processing statement application?
From late November 2025, the processing statement application and certificate is being updated to ensure compliance with the updated EU regulation, enabling UK exporters to continue to have access to the EU market. From January 2026, new rules will require additional documentation for exports of UK-landed and processed fish.
When do the new requirements come into effect?
The new requirement to complete a processing statement for UK-landed and subsequently UK-processed fish comes into effect from January 2026. Guidance has been published to help users prepare for this change.
What do I need to do differently from January 2026?
From January 2026, if you export fish that was landed in the UK and processed in the UK before export, you must complete:
- A catch certificate showing the unprocessed landed weight to be exported, and
- A processing statement documenting the processing activity and resulting product.
Previously, only a catch certificate was required for these products. From January 2026, the catch certificate must reflect the weight of the fish in its original landed state before any processing, and a processing statement must be created to confirm any processing that has occurred since landing.
This means the weight entered on the catch certificate should reflect the fish to be exported as it was landed, not after it has been filleted, smoked, or otherwise processed.
This update does not affect users exporting fish that has remained unprocessed since landing
Is a processing statement required for fish processed before landing?
No. A processing statement is not required for any processing that occurred onboard a fishing or processing vessel prior to landing in the UK.
What counts as “processing”?
Processing includes activities such as:
• Cutting, filleting, canning, smoking, salting, cooking, pickling, drying, or preparing fish for market.
Freezing and/or packing alone do not require a processing statement.
What weight information do I need to enter in the processing statement?
You’ll need to enter:
- Catch certificate weight (kg) – matches Box 3 of the catch certificate.
- Export weight before processing (kg) – the weight of fish that was processed.
- Export weight after processing (kg) – the net weight of fish in the final product (excluding added ingredients like oil or brine).
When will I see these changes in the application?
From late 2025, the processing statement application will change so that:
- You are able to link each product and species to its relevant catch certificate.
- Each processed product and its catch certificate(s) are displayed separately in the summary screen.
The exporter details, processing plant details, and export health certificate screens unchanged.
Storage document (changing to non-manipulation document)
What is a non-manipulation document?
A non-manipulation document (previously called a storage document) confirms that fishery products imported into the UK and stored prior to re-export have not been altered or manipulated during their time in the UK.
What is changing from January 2026?
From 10 January 2026:
- The name of the document changes from storage document to non-manipulation document to align the UK document name to that adopted within the EU regulations.
- A new version of the document template will be introduced, with updated sections to improve traceability and clarity.
Why has the name changed from storage document?
The name change from storage document to non-manipulation document has been made to align with the EU’s terminology for this document.
What’s new in the non-manipulation document application and template?
The updated template includes:
- A new Arrival to Place of Storage section, capturing details of the consignment’s journey before entering UK storage. This includes:
- Date the consignment departed its previous location
- Method of transport used (e.g. sea, air, road)
- Place of departure
- Arrival at storage date (this will become mandatory once the application changes go live)
- A split Consignment Details section:
- On arrival: Product type, condition (e.g. chilled or frozen), and quantity when entering UK storage.
- On departure: Product type and quantity when leaving storage, to confirm no manipulation occurred.
- A revised Departure from Place of Storage section, documenting how and when the consignment leaves the UK. This includes:
- Date the consignment leaves the UK
- Method of transport used
- Point of departure and final destination
When is a non-manipulation document required?
You must complete a non-manipulation document in the following scenarios:
- When fishery products have been imported into the UK and stored prior to re-export.
- When a consignment is split into sub-consignments before export, each sub-consignment must have its own non-manipulation document.
Do all fishery products require a non-manipulation document?
No. Some fish and shellfish are excluded from the definition of ‘fishery products’ and do not require a non-manipulation document. Check the guidance for the list of exclusions.
Indirect exports
What is an indirect export?
An indirect export refers to seafood which has been imported from another country into the UK where it is usually stored or processed, and then re-exported to a different destination, for example, to the EU.
This typically applies to consignments that are stored or processed in the UK before being re-exported.
How will the new EU rules affect indirect exports?
Indirect exports to the EU, where seafood is first imported into the UK and then re-exported, must include all IUU documentation, such as catch certificates, processing statements and non-manipulation documents, as required by the EU.
Missing or incomplete documentation may result in delays at the border, rejection of consignments, or non-compliance with EU import controls. Exporters should ensure all paperwork is accurate and complete before shipping.
How will the UK ensure documents for re-exports meet EU requirements?
The UK is updating its systems and processes to align with the EU’s IUU documentation standards. In the short term, this will be supported through agreements with other countries, to use the EU’s revised IUU documentation templates, which will ensure that consignments contain all the additional information required to meet new EU requirements.
The UK will also provide updated guidance for exporters. Longer term this change will be formalised in legislation.
EU CATCH and integration with the UK Fish Export Service
EU CATCH:
What is EU CATCH?
CATCH is part of the European Commission’s online platform for managing sanitary and phytosanitary certifications for trade in animals, products, and plants (Traces NT). The CATCH part is used to electronically certify that fish and fishery products have been caught legally and meet EU import rules; preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Do I need to use CATCH if I’m based in Great Britain?
No. CATCH will be mandatory for EU operators from 10 January 2026. However, under the Windsor Framework, importers in Northern Ireland will need to use it.
Northern Ireland:
Do I need to use the CATCH system if I’m based in Northern Ireland?
Yes. Under the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland must follow the EU’s IUU Regulation. From 10 January 2026, importers will need to use CATCH for fishery products from non-EU countries, including Great Britain.
Where can Northern Ireland importers learn more about CATCH?
DAERA will provide training materials, info sessions, and workshops to help Northern Ireland importers understand and use the CATCH system.
Will using CATCH affect trade via NIRMS?
No. Fishery products moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under NIRMS are exempt from the new EU requirements. Current processes remain unchanged.
How does the UK’s FES system interact with CATCH?
Currently, FES and CATCH aren’t digitally linked. EU importers must manually transfer data from FES to CATCH, which may create extra work. The UK plans to integrate both systems in 2026 to ease this burden.
When will FES and CATCH be integrated?
Integration is planned for early 2026.
What does FES–CATCH integration mean for UK seafood exports?
Catch documentation created in FES will be digitally transferred to CATCH, helping maintain smooth and attractive export processes to the EU.
How will integration benefit Northern Ireland importers?
It will remove the need to manually enter data from FES into CATCH for fishery products from Great Britain.
What about seafood imported into the UK from other countries and re-exported to the EU?
If the exporting country hasn’t integrated with CATCH, documentation will still need to be manually uploaded.
Act Now! Get on Board!
Start adopting the new changes early. The new EU requirements do not come into force until 10 January 2026. However, all UK fishing authorities strongly advise you to familiarise yourself with the changes as they roll out and start to provide the relevant information to your buyers when selling your produce. This will help minimise disruption to your business and keep exports moving.
We understand these changes create an extra burden on the wider UK fishing industry. We are working to support fishers, merchants and exporters with these changes to minimise any disruption to commercial operations and trade.
How we are supporting you
UK Fishing Authorities have published new guidance explaining these changes, and we have been conducting face to face sessions with fishers, merchants and exporters in England over the summer. Further engagement opportunities are being planned for the wider UK this autumn. Please look out for these in our updates to you.
We are also looking for fishers, merchants and exporters to join our research panel to help us design and implement the changes to FES. If you are interested, please sign up here.
What are we doing
Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and other UK Fisheries Authorities have been working to understand the changes and what they mean for UK fishers, merchants and exporters. MMO has also been developing updates to FES to support exporters to provide the newly required information.
We are introducing these updates on a phased basis to enable users to become familiar with these changes ahead of January 2026.
Please remember #FishTraceShip and get onboard with the changes.