Statutory guidance

Import of untreated and treated blood products excluding those of equidae for uses outside the feed chain - Import Information Note (IIN) ABP/4C

Published 2 December 2024

1. General information 

This Import Information Note (IIN) must be read in conjunction with the IIN for general information for imports of animal by-products (ABPs), which provides information on pre-notifications, veterinary checks, risk categories and more. 

References to European Union (EU) legislation within this document are references to direct EU legislation which has been assimilated in Great Britain (assimilated direct legislation), as defined in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and can be viewed on the UK legislation website. 

2. Scope 

Import conditions for untreated and treated blood products, excluding equidae blood products, for the manufacture of derived products for uses outside the feed chain for farmed animals. 

Blood products are defined in Regulation (EU) 142/2011 as meaning derived products from blood or fractions of blood, excluding blood meal; they include:

• dried, frozen or liquid plasma
• dried whole blood
• dried, frozen or liquid red cells or fractions thereof
• mixtures

Blood products, excluding equidae blood products, for the manufacture of derived products for uses outside the feed chain for farmed animals must only be derived from Category 1 materials referred to in Article 8(c) and (d) and Category 3 materials referred to in Article 10(a), (b), (d), (e) and (h) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009. 

Blood and blood products derived from the production of products intended for human consumption may also be used. 

Untreated and treated blood products for the manufacture of derived products for uses outside the feed chain for farmed animals must not be derived from blood from equidae species (See IIN ABP 4A for blood products from equidae).  

3. Production standards 

The blood products must have been produced and stored in accordance with the requirements of Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 2 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011. 

4. Country of origin 

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed in documents published by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers. See the documents for blood products for:

• non-EU countries
• EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries

Untreated blood products from ungulates 

Untreated blood products from ungulates must come from countries or parts of countries listed in the document for fresh meat of ungulates from which imports of fresh meat of any domestic ungulate species is authorised, and Japan. 

Untreated blood products from poultry and other avian species

Untreated blood products from poultry and other avian species must come from countries listed in the document for poultry and poultry products and Japan. 

Untreated blood products from other animals

Untreated blood products from other animals must come from countries listed in either the documents for fresh meat of ungulates, poultry and poultry products, meat of wild leporidae, of certain wild land mammals and of farmed rabbits, or Japan. 

Treated blood products from any species

Treated blood products from any species must come from countries listed in either the documents for fresh meat of ungulates, poultry and poultry products, meat of wild leporidae, of certain wild land mammals and of farmed rabbits, or Japan. 

5. Approved establishments 

Products must be produced in an establishment approved to export to GB. Importers should check prior to importation that the premises are listed on the correct list.  

Find consolidated lists of approved plants (excluding the EU)

Find approved EU ABP establishments 

If the establishment or plant is not listed, importers are urged to contact the company concerned, who should contact their competent authority immediately. If the plant is not included on the appropriate list when veterinary checks are carried out the consignment is likely to be held and could be rejected and re-exported or destroyed.  

6. Health certification or documentation 

Imports to Great Britain (GB) must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate based on the GB model health certificate.

Model health certificates for blood products

This requirement applies to products in the high and medium risk categories. Find information about import risk categories, inspection rates and related rules for animals and animal products imported from:

• the EU to GB
• non-EU countries to GB 

For untreated blood products excluding those of equidae

The health certificates are based on the requirements included in Annex XV Chapter 4(C) of Regulation (EU) 142/2011. 

For treated blood products excluding those of equidae

The health certificates are based on the requirements included in Annex XV Chapter 4(D) of Regulation (EU) 142/2011.

7. Labelling requirements 

The outer packaging or containers must bear labels indicating 

“NOT FOR HUMAN OR ANIMAL CONSUMPTION – ABP Category X”. 

8. Monitoring of the products to an approved premises 

In the case of the animal by-products listed below, following the veterinary checks provided for in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715, and in accordance with the conditions laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1666, the animal by-products must be transported directly from the BCP under customs procedures to the registered establishment or plant of destination: 

• untreated blood products from a country or region in which vaccination programmes against foot-and-mouth disease are being officially carried out and controlled in domestic ruminant animals for a period of at least 12 months
  
  
• untreated blood products of animals other than Suidae and Tayassuidae from countries or regions of origin where there has been recorded cases of vesicular stomatitis and bluetongue for a period of at least 12 months and vaccination programmes against vesicular stomatitis and bluetongue are being officially carried out against those diseases for a period of at least 12 months in the susceptible animals
  
  
• untreated blood products of Suidae and Tayassuidae animals from countries or regions of origin where no case of swine vesicular disease, classical swine fever and African swine fever has been recorded for a period of at least 12 months, vaccination has not been carried out against those diseases for a period of at least 12 months and cases of vesicular stomatitis (including the presence of seropositive animals) have been recorded for a period of 12 months and vaccination has been carried out against this disease within the previous 12 months in the susceptible species 

9. Contact for further information  

For more information about import requirements, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team:

Centre for International Trade - Carlisle
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk 

Telephone: 03000 200 301