Statutory guidance

Import of treated hides and skins of ungulates - Import Information Note (IIN) ABP/5B

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 ungulates. 

A. Treated hides and skins which have undergone certain treatments 

As stated in Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 4 point 2 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011, treated hides and skins of ungulates which have undergone the following treatments as stated in Annex XIII, Chapter V, point C.2 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011 may be imported without any restrictions: 

i) hides and skins having undergone the complete process of tanning

ii) “wet blue”

iii) “pickled pelts”

iv) limed hides (treated with lime and in brine at a pH of 12 to 13 for at least eight (8) hours)

If however the treated hides and skins mentioned in Aiii. or Aiv. above are supplied to establishments or plants producing pet food, organic fertilisers or soil improvers or transforming those materials into biogas, additional commercial documentation may be required as stated in Annex XIII, Chapter V, Point 3 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011. Importers should contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team at imports@apha.gov.uk for further information. 

B. All other treated hides and skins of ungulates

Treated hides and skins are defined in Regulation (EU) 142/2011 as meaning derived products from untreated hides and skins, other than dog chews, that have been: 

i) dried

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

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

iv) dried for a period of at least 42 days at a temperature of at least 20°C

v) subject to a preservation process other than tanning

These treated hides and skins must comply with the requirements set out in this IIN. 

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 2, 3 and 4 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011.

4. Country of origin 

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed in a document published by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers for:

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

The treated hides and skins must either:

• in accordance with Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 4 point 3 a(i) come from a country or, in the case of regionalisation, from a part of a country listed in the document for fresh meat of ungulates from which imports of fresh meat of the corresponding species are authorised and have been treated as referred to in point 28 (a), (b) and (c) of Annex I of Regulation (EU) 142/2011
  
  
• in accordance with Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 4 point 3 a(ii) come from a third country listed in the document for fresh meat of ungulates and have been treated as referred to in point 28 (c) or (d) of Annex I of Regulation (EU) 142/2011. 

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  

Treated hides and skins which have undergone a treatment mentioned in section 2.A i., ii., iii. or iv. above do not require any health certification unless the hides and skins referred to in 2.A iii. or 2.A iv. are supplied to establishments or plants producing pet food, organic fertilisers or soil improvers or transforming those materials into biogas. In this case additional commercial documentation may be required. 

All other treated hides and skins 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. Veterinary checks at the border   

Veterinary checks on entry to GB only apply to fresh, chilled or treated, skins and hides, including dried, dry-salted, wet salted, or preserved by a process other than by tanning or an equivalent process. Veterinary checks are not required for treated hides and skins that have undergone treatment as laid down in point 2.A above. 

8. 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