Certificate to be signed by the captain accompanying fishery products when entering the EU or Northern Ireland for placing on the market directly from a reefer, freezer or factory vessel: certificate 8363

An Export Health Certificate (EHC) is required to directly land processed fishery products into the European Union (EU) and Northern Ireland (NI) from UK flagged reefer, freezer and factory vessels which are listed as approved food establishments by local authorities in Great Britain (GB). This type of EHC is called a Captain’s Certificate.

  1. A Captain’s Certificate can only be used by a captain who is registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and designated to sign the certificate as a ‘Captain of the Food Approved Vessel’.
  2. Email APHA at [email protected] and ask APHA for an ET198 form to apply for your captain(s) to be designated as a ‘Captain of the Food Approved Vessel’.
  3. APHA will issue an official ‘Captain of the Food Approved Vessel’ stamp, template certificates and guidance on how to use them, directly to the captain once they have been designated.

The specimen certificate on this page is for information only, and will not be accepted at the EU BCP, or point of entry in NI.

Find out more

As trade negotiations with the EU continue, the EHC and guidance notes may change. Stay up to date with changes by signing up for email alerts.

Read the guidance for commercial fishers, merchants and exporters getting ready for 1 January 2021.

Find out how to export fish to the EU from 1 January 2021.

Find out more about landing fish and fishery products in the EU from 1 January 2021.

Help with your application

For more information on how to apply, contact APHA at [email protected] for England, Scotland and Wales

Updates to this page

Published 6 July 2021
Last updated 10 June 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated certificate and guidance notes

  2. This certificate is not currently available to use for exports.

  3. Specimen certificate updated

  4. The guidance notes have been amended.

  5. Updated guidance notes and specimen certificate

  6. First published.