The United Kingdom will require seafood exporters to provide new information to generate IUU documentation through the Fish Export Service (FES) from the evening of 8 January 2026, the government’s Marine Management Organisation has advised.
This change comes slightly earlier than the EU’s requirement, which takes effect on 10 January, with the MMO explaining that it has chosen this earlier date to avoid launching changes over a weekend and to ensure it can provide the best possible support when the new rules go live.
From 5pm on 8 January FES will be unavailable while the necessary updates are made. Once the changes have been made, it will be available again, and the information will be mandatory for UK exporters to complete to create a catch certificate, processing statement or non-manipulation document.
Working in partnership with all UK Fishing Administrations, the MMO is supporting industry readiness through the Fish, Trace, Ship campaign.
It said a raft of supporting materials and industry webinars is available to help exporters, fishermen, merchants, importers and transporters through these changes.
The Fish Trace Ship Campaign site provides more information including guidance, FAQs and links to sign up to the webinars.
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