Transportation and Welfare

Fish being unloaded from transporter When fish are to be shipped into Great Britain you must make sure that all reasonable steps are taken to safeguard the health of the fish, including the following:

that the duration of the journey is as short as possible
that the vehicle is cleaned and disinfected before the journey starts
that the water is changed, if appropriate (but only at an approved water changing station). Contact the Fish Health Inspectorate based at CEFAS Weymouth for details of any approved stations.

Also, you must ensure that no water escapes from the vehicle and that any consignment of live fish or their products is accompanied by information which:

identifies the consignment
enables the farm or place of origin to be traced
enables the consignment to be linked to a licence and health certificate covering the consignment.

One of the main welfare issues with Third Country imports is the length of time boxes are held awaiting clearance at the airport. This problem can be alleviated by ensuring that all appropriate paperwork is available for inspection at the BIP.

Please Note: You may also be required to obtain or submit other documents (such as journey plans) in relation to relevant animal welfare legislation. For further details please consult the Defra Animal Welfare website.