UK Caviar Rules

A royal claim to a sturgeon gives no licence to take its roe. The Crown's historic right sits alongside modern conservation law, just as a caviar import permit sits alongside food controls, customs requirements and sanctions. Each has its own job. None replaces the others.

The first distinction is geography. Great Britain, meaning England, Wales and Scotland, uses assimilated wildlife-trade and food legislation. Northern Ireland remains subject to relevant EU rules under the Windsor Framework, with specific arrangements for eligible retail movements.

UK caviar rules by jurisdiction

Start with the destination and route. Then establish the species, origin, processing establishment and intended use. This table maps the principal regimes; the sections below explain the permits, food certificates and retail concessions.

Wildlife-trade permits and the GB border

Arrange the permits before the caviar leaves. A normal commercial Annex B consignment entering GB needs a GB import permit and the exporting country's export permit or re-export certificate.

APHA handles CITES permits for both GB and NI as the operational management authority. JNCC is the scientific authority for animals, including sturgeon; the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew performs that role for plants.

In GB, Regulations (EC) No 338/97 and 865/2006 survive as assimilated law, amended for the domestic system rather than applied as EU legislation. The Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018, SI 2018/703, as amended, provide enforcement provisions, including offences, seizure and forfeiture. SI 2020/1395 is an important EU-exit amending instrument; the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/627, made further amendments.

Choose a CITES-designated point of entry or exit and present the documents to Border Force for endorsement. Check its fishery-product border-control facilities separately: CITES designation alone says nothing about their suitability. Plan the route from the current designated-port list, rather than a courier's general delivery coverage.

For domestic sales, keep evidence of lawful acquisition and importation for Annex B stock. Annex A commercial-use restrictions are stricter, with certificates or specific exemptions potentially relevant. The law and regulation hub explains the wider system.

Northern Ireland and the Irish Sea

A journey within the UK can still require wildlife-trade import documents. Under the Windsor Framework, EU wildlife-trade rules continue to apply in NI. Moving protected caviar from GB to NI is therefore an import under Regulation 338/97, normally requiring a GB export or re-export document and an NI import permit.

NI to EU movements are not imports or exports for this regulation, although internal-trade requirements still apply. In the other direction across the Irish Sea, NI to GB access leaves the CITES controls required by international obligations in place. Ask APHA to confirm the documents needed. The corresponding European rules are covered in EU caviar requirements.

Food movements follow another framework. Eligible GB to NI retail consignments can use the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme, NIRMS, while still meeting CITES requirements. Outside that scheme, check the NI requirements for the product and route, including any advance notification, health certification and designated entry point.

The 125 g personal allowance

The allowance is 125 g per person, not per tin. Both GB and NI provide a CITES personal-effects exemption for up to 125 g of qualifying caviar, carried in personal luggage for personal use. Every container must bear the required CITES label, and their combined contents must stay within the allowance. Commercial stock and postal orders fall outside it.

A Russian species name alone tells you nothing conclusive about whether the roe originated in Russia.

The legal basis is Article 57(5)(a) of Regulation 865/2006, read with the personal-effects conditions. Annex A caviar is excluded. Food-import restrictions and sanctions remain separate checks, and the destination or departure country may impose stricter wildlife rules. Read when the 125 g exemption applies before travelling.

Food imports and establishment approval

For commercial imports into GB, first verify that the exporting country and establishment are approved for the relevant fishery products. Submit the required advance notification through IPAFFS, the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System.

Under the Border Target Operating Model, establish the applicable risk category, notification, certification and border requirements before dispatch. The word caviar alone cannot settle the risk category: check the product, treatment and origin against current official guidance.

The Food Standards Agency covers England, Wales and NI; Food Standards Scotland covers Scotland. Local authorities and border authorities carry out relevant approval and enforcement functions. Permission to trade under CITES is separate from approval to operate a food business.

A UK establishment handling products of animal origin may need food hygiene approval under Regulation 853/2004, subject to the applicable exemptions. Scotland's local authorities approve fishery-product establishments.

For direct imports into NI from outside the EU, follow DAERA's applicable EU import-control route rather than GB's IPAFFS instructions. Qualifying NI goods have food-market access to GB, provided their status and dispatching establishment meet the qualifying conditions.

Additives and consumer labels

The stated permission for sturgeon caviar does not extend to other fish roe. In GB, the FSA register authorises boric acid, E284, and sodium tetraborate, E285, under assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Its sturgeon-caviar permission has a maximum of 4,000 mg/kg, expressed as boric acid.

NI's ordinary authorisation follows EU Regulation 1333/2008, which contains the corresponding sturgeon-caviar permission. Eligible NIRMS goods have separate scheme standards and labelling arrangements to check before using that route. Check additive compliance and consumer information individually.

GB applies assimilated Regulation 1169/2011 on food information; NI ordinarily applies the EU regulation. Prepacked products need the applicable mandatory particulars, including ingredients, fish-allergen information, net quantity, date marking, storage instructions and the responsible business's details. Descriptions must not mislead about species, origin or processing.

CITES marking under Article 66(6) of Regulation 865/2006 belongs alongside food labelling. Plants processing or repackaging caviar require the relevant wildlife-trade registration. A CITES label provides traceability, not proof of the contents. See caviar labelling requirements for the separate checks.

Customs classification and Russia sanctions

Caviar and caviar substitutes have separate customs codes under heading 1604: 1604 31 00 for caviar and 1604 32 00 for substitutes. Confirm the full declaration code and current measures in the UK Trade Tariff for the particular movement. The lawful consumer-facing food name is a separate question from tariff classification. NI customs treatment also depends on its applicable Windsor arrangements.

Both caviar and caviar substitutes are expressly listed in Schedule 3DA to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Regulation 46XB prohibits their import where they originate in Russia or are consigned from Russia, subject to applicable exceptions or licences. Screen the related acquisition and supply restrictions too. Dispatch through another country does not erase Russian origin.

Exports to Russia or for use there face a separate restriction under regulation 46B and Schedule 3A where the listed value threshold is exceeded. Screen counterparties and ownership as well as goods, and retain origin evidence. A Russian species name alone tells you nothing conclusive about whether the roe originated in Russia.

Before arranging a re-export, check the receiving jurisdiction. UK clearance grants no right of entry elsewhere, and EU or US authorities may require different documents or apply different exemptions. Follow the workflow in importing and re-exporting caviar.

Wild sturgeon and the royal fish rule

Release a live sturgeon immediately. According to GOV.UK, release a live sturgeon immediately and report it to the MMO, Cefas and the Receiver of Wreck.

That practical advice sits alongside an ancient claim. The royal prerogative concerning sturgeon operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not Scotland, where royal-fish guidance concerns certain stranded whales instead. The English statute traditionally dated 1324, Prerogativa Regis, records the Crown's right, although its precise date is uncertain.

The Crown's historic right gives no permission to capture, retain or sell a protected fish. In England and Wales, common-sturgeon protections include the Habitats Regulations 2017 and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, alongside offshore protection under the Offshore Habitats Regulations 2017. Report a stranded or dead sturgeon directly to the Receiver of Wreck, and do not remove it or take roe. Scotland and NI have devolved conservation arrangements: obtain advice from their authorities.