Published:
11 December 2021
Updated:
06 May 2026
Actions you need to take
- You must first receive an Export Health Certificate (EHC) and supporting documentation such as a valid Catch Certificate the Fish Export Service (FES) associated with the consignment from your Great Britain (GB) supplier.
- You must pre-notify the Northern Ireland Port of Entry.
- Pre-notification must be done online through TRACES-NT a minimum of 24 hours prior to arrival.
- You must complete Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) on TRACES-NT. A CHED-A is used for live animals and CHED-P is used for products of animal origin containing fish for human consumption.
- Ensure that all regulated fish and fishery products enter NI through a designated Port of Entry (Belfast Port/ Larne Port).
Important Information
The Northern Ireland consignee (person responsible for the consignment in NI), must follow the steps in order to successfully move live fish / ornamental fish / live shellfish / trout egg and products of animal origin containing fish for human consumption from GB to NI or Rest of the World (RoW) to NI via GB.
What is a Catch Certificate?
A Catch Certificate provides information, which proves that the fishery product/s have been caught under a legal fishing regime.
A validated Catch Certificate (CC) needs to be created on the Fish Export Service (FES).
Changes to guidance and policy
Last updated May 2026.
May 2026: Continuous Improvement updates.
December 2025: Conversion to HTML.
Published December 2021.