New health certification procedures introduced on May 1 this year have caused so much confusion to exporting countries that none of the forms have been filled in correctly, PFK has learned.
The new health certification forms need to be filled in by all non-EU countries when sending fish to the UK that may be susceptible to the virus, Spring Viraemia of Carp, SVC, which is a notifiable disease.
The new certificates need to be completed by an official from the country's fish health inspectorate or an officially appointed representative.
However, experts have criticised the new forms as too complex and believe that this has lead to all of the forms so far being completed incorrectly.
The current system is said to be continuing for the forseeable future. However, Defra may be working on alternatives and has produced some examples documents for exporters on its website.