As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads and the Government continues to oversee the national response, North East Lincolnshire Council will support the local economy and communities. The Port Health Team are implementing contingency plans to ensure that we can continue services as far as possible to facilitate food imports and exports, food safety and infectious disease control to ensure safe food supplies in our area.
As a precaution we have taken the decision to reduce the number of external visitors to our office during this time.
Our Service: –
- Imported Food Control & Catch Certificates
Our intention is to continue service provision to maintain flow of goods through the port, support local economy and maintain regulatory control. Those dropping off documents are encouraged to use the letterbox at Estuary House.
Catch certificates accompanying third country consignment can be submitted as they are now along with the rest of the documentation and those accompanying consignments of EEA origin (including fresh fish) are largely unaffected due to the ability for electronic submission and endorsement.
- Export Health Certificates
We will continue, as far as possible, to provide the service of issuing Export Health Certificates (EHC’s). If there is a requirement to collect a certificate from our office to accompany the load, you can continue to do so and we will ensure steps are in place to facilitate this.
- Infectious Disease Control
All vessels arriving from foreign ports are requested to submit a Maritime Declaration of Health (MDH) in accordance with national guidance. All vessels are reminded of the legal requirement to notify us of any cases or suspected cases of infectious disease on board. We will continue to respond as normal to any notifications.
All notifications during core office hours are to be sent to port.health@nelincs.gov.uk or 01472 326299. For notifications outside of office hours, please call 01472 326299 and select option 1 or 01472 313131.
- Routine Ship Inspections and Water Samples
We are no longer responding to requests for routine ship sanitation visits or requests for water samples until further notice. This decision has been made in line with other Port Health Authorities and the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA). We will however offer an extension to any valid SSC for the period of 1 month.
We will continue to monitor the national, regional and local situation and follow the advice from both government and Public Health England (PHE). If there are changes to our ability to continue to provide our services, then we will endeavour to make you aware as soon as possible.