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Port health

Plymouth Port Health Authority is hosted by us and it is responsible for a range of functions connected with the Port of Plymouth and all shipping that enters the port.

Services relating to imported foods, including organic import controls and Illegal, unreported, and unregulated Fishing (IUU) are provided by London Port Health Authority.

The authority charges for some of its services and the schedule of fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges webpage.

  • Includes ship sanitation certificates, water sampling onboard vessels, export certificates and catch certificates

  • Food imported into the UK is regulated under UK legislation

  • You usually need to complete an Export Health Certificate and some supporting documents to export food that contains products of animal origin from the UK

  • The commercial production and sale of live bivalve molluscs, e.g. clams, cockles, mussels, oysters, scallops etc. are strictly controlled as they have the potential to cause serious illness due to the way in which they feed. 

  • Commercial fishing vessels are classed as food businesses and need to register with their Home Port

  • Maintaining international health 

Contact details

You can complete our online form if you have a port health query about the Port of Plymouth

London Port Health Authority (Imported food services only)

Visit the City of London website to find contact details for their port health authority.

Plymouth Port Health Authority (Excluding imported food services)

Office hours:

  • Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm
  • Friday from 9am to 4.30pm

Address:

Public Protection Service
Plymouth City Council
Plymouth
PL1 3BJ

Contact number: 01752 398591