Information : Seafood
Information: Seafood
Ireland has 7,500 km of rugged coastline with natural, clean water which provides exceptionally good seafood. The Irish seafood industry, involving commercial sea-fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing, offers huge potential for expansion as global demands for seafood as a healthy premium protein continue to increase. Seafood exports are an integral component of Ireland’s seafood industry and play a vital role in Ireland’s economy and, in particular, to Ireland’s coastal communities where direct and indirect employment is supported by the industry.
The value of the Irish seafood economy is reported by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) in its annual Business of Seafood Report.
Health Certificates
Consignments of fish/fishery products exported from Ireland to most countries outside the European Union (Third Countries), must be accompanied by a Health Certificate. This is a document which confirms that the consignment in question has been handled under satisfactory hygienic conditions and that the premises from which it is being dispatched has been approved by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). Several countries have specific requirements in place and further information on the applicable criteria can be found by searching under the ‘Country’ tab one is seeking to export to.
The Health Certificates are issued by the SFPA in respect of food consignments manufactured, processed, or packaged in Ireland.
Health Certificates are not required when consignments of fish/fishery products and molluscan shellfish are being exported within the European Union.
Procedures for Health Certificates
A Food Business Operator (FBO) that requires a Health Certificate for Third Country exports must give reasonable notice (a minimum of two working days) to their local SFPA port office to allow sufficient time for their application to be processed. Application forms for a Health Certificate and an explanatory booklet may be obtained from one’s local SFPA office or downloaded from the following link: http://www.sfpa.ie/Seafood-Safety/Exports-to-Third-Countries.
Completed Application forms should be forwarded to the relevant SFPA port office.
http://www.sfpa.ie/About-Us/Contacts
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the statutory authority responsible for the enforcement of sea-fisheries protection and seafood safety legislation in the Republic of Ireland and throughout Ireland’s exclusive fishing limits. It was established on 1 January 2007 under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006.
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of national and EU legislation which deals with health conditions for the production and placing on the market of fish, shellfish, and fisheries products through a service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Bord Bia
The Irish Food Board, Bord Bia’s mission is to drive the commercial success of a world class Irish food, drink and horticulture industry, through market insights and in partnership with industry.
Bord Bia acts as a link between Irish food, drink and horticulture suppliers and existing and potential customers throughout the world. Bord Bia’s objective is to develop markets for Irish suppliers and to bring the taste of Irish food to more tables worldwide.
Bord Bia organises group participation in a range of International trade fairs, details of which are available on the Bord Bia website.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) assists in the development of the Irish seafood industry by providing technical expertise, business support, funding, training, and promoting responsible environmental practices.
BIM - Supporting the Irish Seafood Industry
