EU Updates Prompt New FDA, NOAA Seafood Export Certification Procedures

Seafood exporters shipping products to the European Union (EU) will need to comply with updated U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) certification procedures beginning Sept. 3, when new EU import requirements take effect.

The EU recently adopted simplified export certificates for seafood products that will be required beginning Sept. 3, in addition to new EU catch certificates already being implemented. To meet the new requirements, FDA will begin collecting declarations from seafood facilities stating that antibiotics prohibited by the EU for growth promotion or for human medicine were not used, while NOAA will update its process for issuing the required export certificates.

FDA said the declarations will be uploaded to the FDA Export Listing Module (ELM) for each affected facility, allowing NOAA to issue the required export certificates.

FDA will provide more information on the new declaration procedures, including a declaration template, on its Food Export Library webpage.

NOAA said it will also update its industry guidance on requesting the new simplified export certificate. More detailed information can be found here.

Seafood products exported to the EU on or after Sept. 3 must be accompanied by a certificate issued under the new FDA and NOAA procedures.

For more information on FDA’s ELM declaration and application process, contact FDA’s Export Certification Team at hfpexportcertification@fda.hhs.gov. For questions regarding NOAA export certificates, contact NOAA Fisheries at nmfs.seafood.services@noaa.gov.