Port health

The London Port Health Authority is the largest port health authority in the UK, covering the tidal Thames from Teddington Lock to the Thames Estuary. Constituted in 1872, we are now part of the City of London's Department of Markets and Consumer Protection.

We are responsible for all port health functions on the Thames, including the ports at:

• Tilbury
• London Gateway
• Thamesport
• Sheerness and
• London City Airport

Functions include:

• food safety and hygiene
• vessel inspections
• issue of ship sanitation control certificates
• environmental controls
• infectious disease controls

We have highly experienced staff and use up-to-date IT systems to deliver a high standard of service to its customers with fast clearance times.

Our head office is in the City but there are local offices at Tilbury, Denton, Charlton and soon at London Gateway . You can find details of all our offices on our contacts page.

Port Health operates an emergency 24 hour service for infectious disease and illness on board ships and aircraft, the standby officer can be contacted on +44 (0) 7050 389861.

The Authority is registered against ISO 9001 for its imported food enforcement service and the food hygiene service on the river.​