Port health

For information on Brexit as a Northern Ireland business, go to NI Business Info (link opens in new window). Specific queries can be directed to DAERA (link opens in new window).

As well as the inspection of third country imports, we are responsible with DAERA for documentary, identity and physical checks on the movement of food from the UK into Northern Ireland, to make sure it meets EU safeguards. This has led to a major expansion of our capabilities in Belfast, including premises and staff.

To ensure the efficient flow of goods, the correct steps must be followed when importing foods into Northern Ireland. Follow the guidance given in the compliance protocol (link opens in a new window).

Opening hours

Our imported food office operates a 24-hour a day service. We can carry out ship sanitation inspections from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, and outside these hours in exceptional circumstances. Opening times can vary on bank and public holidays. Check our holiday arrangements for updates.

Port of Belfast

Belfast is the largest port in Northern Ireland. Port of Belfast handles a wide range of products, including dry goods, commercial items, petroleum and oil.

• Find out more on the Belfast Harbour website (link opens in new window)

Our role

We're responsible for making sure the port meets environmental health standards. 

We are responsible for:

• Overseeing and checking imports into Belfast of:
  • High-Risk Food not of Animal Origin.
  • fish and fishery products for human consumption.
  • plastic kitchenware originating in China and Hong Kong.
• Verifying imports of fish and fishery under the Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing Regulations (IUU).
• Endorsing organic imports.
• Carrying out inspections on ships and other vessels to check compliance with food safety and hygiene standards.
• Overseeing the International Health Regulations by:
  • issuing ship sanitation and exemption certificates
  • monitoring the port of Belfast and George Best Belfast City Airport for infectious disease
• Inspecting the port for signs of pests.
• Checking the quality of water provided to and stored on ships and aircraft.

Ship sanitation certificates

Ships and all other vessels engaged in an international voyage between countries must hold a valid ship sanitation certificate. 

We issue these certificates as one of our responsibilities under the Public Health (Ships) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008.

Ship sanitation inspection charges from 1 April 2024

There is a charge for inspecting and issuing a ship sanitation certificate. These charges are issued nationally by the Association of Port Health Authorities (APHA). 

The charges are listed in this table.

There are some exceptions to these charges:

• vessels with a capacity of between 50 and 1,000 persons: £520
• vessels with a capacity of more than 1,000 persons: £890

Extra charges, based on actual costs, may be added for exceptional costs such as launch hire, out-of-hours duty, travel and extended or re-inspections of ships due to control measures.

Extensions to a ship sanitation certificate is £105.

If you need a Ship Sanitation Inspection, contact your agent or call Port Health Team on 028 9035 1199.

The Official Control Regulation (EU) 2017/625 is the main legislation setting out the checks required on food imports.

Specific checks are imposed by: 

High Risk Food not of Animal Origin

Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2019/1793 (as amended) lists and applies increased and emergency controls to High Risk Products of non-animal origin.

The EU has specific import conditions for food:

• originating in or consigned from Japan, Regulation 2016/6 (as amended).
• certain mushrooms and fruit of the genus Vaccinium, Regulation 2020/1158.
• rice and rice products originating from China, Commission Decision 2011/884/EC (as amended).
• jelly confectionery or mini cups, Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008.

Products controlled by these regulations must enter the EU through a Border Control Post (BCP). Belfast is an EU approved BCP.

Importers and food business operators must notify us at least one working day before the physical arrival of a consignment by completing Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED-D) on TRACES-NT the EU’s online platform for importing HRFNAO.

Guidance on registering on TRACES-NT and completing the CHED’s can be found online: TRACES-NT web help (link opens in new window).

The fee is £47 for the required documentary check. Any additional costs for sampling will be added. 

High Risk Food not of Animal Origin moving from GB to Northern Ireland that comply with EU import requirements are not subject to this charge.

Plastic Kitchenware: Conditions of Import from China

Controls are in place for imports of polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware that originated in, or is consigned from China and Hong Kong (CN code ex 3924 10 00).  

For more information on the legislation visit the Food Standards Agency website (link opens in new window).

Products which are subject to this regulation, can only enter the EU through a BCP.

Importers and food business operators must notify Port Health at least two working days before the physical arrival of a consignment by submitting a declaration and an attached laboratory report of analysis for each consignment.

We charge £47 for doing the required documentary check. There might be additional costs for sampling. 

Plastic kitchenware that originated in China or was consigned from Hong Kong and conforms to EU import controls, moved from GB to Northern Ireland is not subject to this fee. 

Fish and Fishery Products for Human Consumption

There are strict rules for the commercial import from outside the European Union (EU) of fishery products, bivalve molluscs and products that contain them. Prior to arrival, all consignments must be notified to the BCP. Belfast is an approved BCP for the importation of frozen fishery products. 

These products:

• must come from an approved non-EU country.
• be accompanied by appropriate signed health certification.
• come from an EU-approved fishery product establishment, premises or approved bivalve mollusc production areas.
• enter the EU through an officially designated Border Control Post (BCP) where veterinary and hygiene checks are carried out by an Official Fish Inspector.

Fish and Fishery products for human consumption must be notified 24 hours prior to arrival in Belfast, on TRACES by completion of part 1 of a Common Health Entry Document (CHED).

The Official Control Regulation (EU) 2017/625 lays down the minimum harmonised charge in Euros for imports of POAO including Fish and Fishery products. The exchange rate is set at €1.00 = £0.8974.  

Fish or Fishery products including composite fishery products moving from GB to Northern Ireland that comply with EU import requirements are not subject to this harmonised charge.

Regulation 2017/625 requires Member States of the EU to have a National Monitoring Plan to detect residues, pathogenic organisms or other dangerous substances.

This involves taking samples from prioritised consignments, depending on throughput and current risks. Each consignment is rounded up to the nearest 1000kg. The invoice charge is calculated on the rounded up weight. (For example 19,500kg will be rounded up to 20,000kg.)

If any products are selected for sampling it may take up to 14 days for results to be received.

Fishery products

Break bulk consignment of fishery products

Equivalence agreements

All products from New Zealand have their charges reduced by 22.5 per cent in accordance with Annex VIII of Decision (EU) 2015/1084)1

These charges are subject to review and may change at short notice following guidance or instruction from the Food Standards Agency, or the European Union. 

Organic imports

For an imported product to be sold as organic, it must conform to equivalent standards as EU produced goods, Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. All organic products imported into the EU must have the appropriate electronic certificate of inspection (e-COI). This e-COI must be endorsed at the point of entry into the EU by the Port Health Authority.

Importers and food business operators must notify us at least one working day before the physical arrival of a consignment by completing the e-COI on TRACES-NT.

Defra (organic imports) oversee organic imports into the UK, advice can be found on the Defra (organic imports) web pages (link opens in new window).

We charge £45 for the required documentary check, and endorsing the e-COI. There may be additional costs for sampling.

Organic products moving from GB to Northern Ireland that comply with EU import requirements are not subject to this fee.

 For guidance and queries on importing products, refer to the Food Standards Agency (link opens in new window).

You can find food-labelling guidance, including information about health and identification marks on the Food Standards Agency website (link opens in new window), and information about food and drink labelling changes on GOV.UK (link opens in new window).