The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is advising the UK seafood industry to urgently check out the EU’s expanded definition of processing to make sure businesses are not caught out from 10 January 2026.
Many more UK businesses are now expected to have to complete processing statements as a result of changes to import controls being introduced by the EU in the New Year.
The changes to processing statement requirements are part of wider changes to the EU Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations. As part of these updates, there will be changes for storage documents, to be named non-manipulation documents, and catch certificates.
Without correct documentation seafood exports from the UK may be delayed or stopped altogether, so businesses need to check now whether their operations will fall under the new processing definition.
MMO’s Fish, Trace, Ship campaign is urging all sectors of the seafood industry to check out its Frequently Asked Questions guidance to assess whether the changes to processing statements will apply to them.
For further information please select the following link: Fish, trace, ship – don’t be caught out - GOV.UK.