Statutory guidance

Import of treated hides and skins of ruminants and equidae that have been kept separate for 21 days or will undergo transport for 21 days before importation - Import Information Note (IIN) ABP/5C

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 treated hides and skins of ruminant and of equidae that have been kept separate for 21 days or will undergo transport for 21 uninterrupted days before importation. 

Treated hides and skins from ungulates must only be derived from Category 3 materials referred to in Article 10(a), (b)(i), (b)(iii) and (n) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009. 

3. Production standards 

The treated hides and skins must have been obtained, produced and stored in accordance with the requirements of Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 4 points 3 and 4 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011. 

The hides and skins must have undergone one of the following treatments:

a) dried

b) dry-salted or wet-salted for a period of at least 14 days prior to dispatch

c) salted for a period of at least 7 days in sea salt with the addition of 2% of sodium carbonate

After treatment the treated hides and skins must have been kept separate for a period of 21 days. 

In the case of salted hides and skins transported by ship 

The treated hides and skins have been treated as referred to in point 28 (b) or (c) of Annex I of Regulation (EU) 142/2011 and have been kept separated after treatment during transportation for a period of at least 14 days in the case of the treatment referred to in point 28(b) or 7 days in the case of the treatment referred to in point 28(c) before importation and the health certificate accompanying the consignment attests such treatment and the duration of the transportation. 

4. Country of origin 

Treated hides and skins of ruminants and equidae can be imported from any country.

5. Approved establishments 

Products must be produced in an establishment approved to export to Great Britain (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  

Imports to GB must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate based on the GB model health certificate.

Model health certificates for hides, horns and trophies

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  

7. 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