UK IUU regulation update planned for November 2026

DEFRA announced the following information on 24 September 2026.

Which relates to changes to the UK IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing) regulation. If you have any queries on the below, please contact MMO (Marine Management Organisation) by emailing UKIUUSLO@marinemanagement.org.uk. Unfortunately SCPHA cannot answer any queries regarding the below.

From 26 November 2026, imports of fish and fishery products into Great Britain will need to meet new IUU documentation requirements.

These new requirements will include:

• Changes to the catch certificate so that additional information is required, including details of the fishing gear used, as well as more detailed information on catch area and dates;
• A processing statement will be required for fish processed prior to import into the UK, including if the fish were processed in the same country as the flag State of the catching vessel; and
• The storage document will be replaced with a non-manipulation document which will be required if fish is stored in a country prior to import into the UK, or if only a portion of fish from a consignment is imported.

• In addition to these changes, GB importers will be required to upload all IUU documents, where relevant, to the appropriate UK digital imports system.
• The changes will support the UK’s efforts to prevent products derived from IUU fishing from accessing the UK market by increasing traceability
• These changes will also align the UK’s IUU documentary requirements with corresponding changes introduced by the EU, which came into force on 10 January 2026, and will support the export and re-export of seafood from the UK to the EU.
• The UK’s IUU Vessel List has also been updated. The changes reflect the updates made to the IUU Vessel Lists of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.
• Inclusion on the IUU vessel list prevents named vessels from exporting seafood to the UK and accessing the UK market. This supports the UK’s efforts in preventing IUU fish entering the UK supply chain.

Indirect exports/re-exports

• A significant proportion of the UK's seafood exports to the EU is estimated to be indirect exports - seafood that is imported into the UK then re-exported to the EU, at a potential value of £114m.

• The changes Defra are introducing to the UK’s IUU documentary requirements for imports will help facilitate the smooth flow of seafood re-export trade from the UK to the EU.

• By aligning the UK’s import requirements with changes introduced by the EU earlier this year, defra can help ensure UK exporters have access to the information needed to subsequently place their products on the EU market.

• This will remove the burden on UK exporters of having to negotiate separately with overseas suppliers to obtain this information. At present, suppliers are asked to provide this information on a voluntarily basis, meaning there is no guarantee that UK exporters can obtain the information required to access the EU market.

Background information

• Fishery products imported into the UK must be accompanied by IUU documentation, providing assurance that the fish has not been sourced from illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing. The information contained in the IUU documents must comply with the requirements set out in Assimilated Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 which established a system to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing. 
• The EU updated its IUU Regulation so that as of 10 January 2026, exporters sending seafood to the EU need to provide more information and, in some cases, additional documentation to support improved traceability.
• The UK is updating its IUU regulation to strengthen the traceability of seafood products, prevent IUU-caught fish entering the UK market, and to support continued export and re-export trade between GB and the EU.
• The amendments will include revisions to the IUU documentation templates to capture the additional information required by the EU. This includes the addition of new data fields within the catch certificate, such as fishing gear type, extension of fishing area information and dates the vessel was fishing. In addition, seafood processed in the same country as it was caught will require a processing statement. The storage document will also be replaced with a non-manipulation document to align with the EU.
• Following the UK’s exit from the EU, the EU’s Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulation (1005/2008) was retained and assimilated into UK law. This regulation includes a provision establishing an “IUU vessel list”, identifying vessels that have engaged in IUU fishing. Vessels on this list are subject to specific restrictions, such as being denied entry to UK ports and being prohibited from importing fisheries products into the UK.
• However, the UK’s IUU vessel list has not been updated since EU Exit and is now seven years out of date. This significantly undermines its effectiveness.
• To address this, this legislation will update the UK’s IUU Vessel List. Specifically, the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No 468/2010, which establishes the UK’s IUU vessel list, will be revised to include all vessels currently listed by RFMOs but not yet included on the UK’s list. This update will incorporate vessels from all RFMO lists, not only those from organisations to which the UK is a Party, to minimise the risk of IUU-caught fish entering the UK supply chain.
• Additionally, vessels that no longer pose a threat of engaging in IUU fishing and have been delisted by an RFMO, such as those subject to effective sanctions or those that have been scrapped or sunk, will be removed from the UK’s list.

Import Guidance on IUU is available on our website IUU | SCPHA .