Statutory guidance

Import of fish oil to be used as feed material or for purposes outside the feed chain - Import Information Note (IIN) ABP/9

Published 2 December 2024

1. General information 

This Import Information Note (IIN) must be read in conjunction with the IIN for general information for imports of animal by-products (ABPs), which provides information on pre-notifications, veterinary checks, risk categories and more. 

References to European Union (EU) legislation within this document are references to direct EU legislation which has been assimilated in Great Britain (assimilated direct legislation), as defined in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and can be viewed on the UK legislation website. 

2. Scope 

Import conditions for fish oil to be used as feed material or for purposes outside the feed chain. 

Fish oil is defined in Regulation (EU) 142/2011 as oil derived from the processing of aquatic animals except sea mammals, including farmed aquatic invertebrates, and starfish of the species Asterias rubens which are harvested in a mollusc production area, or oil from the processing of fish for human consumption, which an operator has destined for purposes other than human consumption. 

Fish oil that could be used as feed material or for purposes outside the feed chain must only be derived from Category 3 materials referred to in Article 10 (i) and (j) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009 and Category 3 material of aquatic animal origin referred to in Article 10 (e) and (f) of that Regulation. 

3. Production standards 

The fish oil must have been produced and stored in accordance with the requirements of Annex X, Chapter II, Section 3 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011. 

In particular the fish oil must have undergone a processing standard as laid down in Annex X, Chapter II, Section 3, point B of Regulation (EU) 142/2011

The product must be packaged and transported in accordance with the requirements laid down in Annex X, Chapter II, Section 3, point C of Regulation (EU) 142/2011.

4. Country of origin 

Imports are permitted from trading partners, listed in the approved country list for fish oil found in Annex XIV, Chapter I, Section 1, Table 1, row 3 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011. This states that fish oil must come from countries listed in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/626. 

5. Approved establishments 

Products must be produced in an establishment approved to export to Great Britain (GB). Importers should check prior to importation that the premises are listed on the correct list.  

Find consolidated lists of approved plants (excluding the EU)

Find approved EU ABP establishments 

If the establishment or plant is not listed, importers are urged to contact the company concerned, who should contact their competent authority immediately. If the plant or establishment of origin is not included on the appropriate list when veterinary checks are carried out the consignment is likely to be held and could be rejected and re-exported or destroyed. 

6. Health certification or documentation 

Imports to GB must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate based on the GB model health certificate. 

Model health certificates for fish oil

This requirement applies to products in the high and medium risk categories. Find information about import risk categories, inspection rates and related rules for animals and animal products imported from:

• the EU to GB

• non-EU countries to GB

7. Labelling requirements 

The containers used must bear labels indicating “NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION”. 

8. Contact for further information  

For more information about import requirements, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team:

Centre for International Trade - Carlisle
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk 

Telephone: 03000 200 301