Statutory guidance

Import of organic fertilisers and soil improvers for direct sale (ready-to-use) - Import Information Note (IIN) ABP/49

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

This IIN covers the importation of organic fertilisers and soil improvers (OFSI) which are for direct sale or ready for placing on the market. 

OFSI are materials of animal origin used to maintain or improve plant nutrition and the physical and chemical properties and biological activities of soils, either separately or together. 

This IIN does not cover the importation of OFSI containing processed manure if this is the only ABP or derived product component in the OFSI. See import of processed manure, derived products from processed manure and guano from bats - Import Information Note (IIN) ABP/17.

This IIN does not cover the importation of ABPs or derived products for the manufacture of OFSI, which includes the import of products to approved ABP establishments for mixing and/or re-packaging or re-labelling for placing on the market. See the relevant IIN for import requirements or contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team (section 10).

3. Production standards

OFSI, other than manure, digestive tract content, compost, milk, milk-based products, milk-derived products, colostrum, colostrum products and digestion residues from the transformation of animal by-products or derived products into biogas, must be produced in accordance with Section 1, Chapter II, Annex XI to Regulation 142/2011.  

If the OFSI also contains processed manure, the processed manure component must be produced in accordance with Section 2, Chapter I, Annex XI to Regulation 142/2011. 

Imported OFSI is not permitted to contain materials derived from Category 2 ABP other than processed manure, as referred to in Article 9 of Regulation 1069/2009. 

Mixing Requirements

Some types of OFSI must be mixed with certain authorised components, before being placed on the market in GB. This includes OFSI which has been produced from processed animal protein (PAP) derived from any Category 3 material except material referred to in Article 10 (n), (o) and (p) of Regulation 1069/2009.

Authorisation B4, issued by the Secretary of State to enable derogations to be used in England, and published at Derogations from Animal By-Product controls under Regulation (EC) 1069/2009 and Commission Regulation (EU) 142/2011, lists the components which are authorised for mixing with OFSI.

Making fertilisers from processed animal by-products

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 permitted country of origin will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

However, it should be noted that imports of OFSI which have been manufactured using processed animal protein or materials which have been subject to another treatment, and for which there are available health certificates, will only be permitted from third countries approved to export those types of products to Great Britain (GB). 

For example, if the OFSI has been produced by using processed animal protein (PAP) and processed manure, the OFSI must meet the third country requirements for imports of both respective components.

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.  

Establishments approved to export animals and animal products to GB

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. Import documentation

Authorisation

Prior to importation, an authorisation is required from APHA. The authorisation sets out the conditions for importing these ABPs into GB. This document is required before imports can take place.

From non-EU countries

Authorisations must accompany the consignment.

Apply for an authorisation to import animal pathogens or products

From EU and EFTA member states

There is currently no requirement to apply to APHA for an authorisation to import these types of animal by-products from the EU and EFTA member states.

Authorisation to import these products from EU and EFTA member states is now provided by general import authorisation IMP/GEN/2024/08 (PDF, 254 KB, 3 pages) which does not need to travel with the consignment.

The consignment must be accompanied by a commercial document.

New general import authorisations are currently under development for certain types of products from EU and EFTA member states, which may introduce new import conditions to ensure animal and public health is protected. Sufficient time will be given to traders before their use is required.

This section will also be updated if a new general import authorisation is published which is of relevance to the products covered by this IIN. 

Health certificates

In addition to an import authorisation, one or more health certificates may be required if the OFSI has been manufactured using processed animal protein or other materials which have been subject to another treatment, and model health certificates are available for those materials.

For such consignments, under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), each medium risk ABP or derived product component of the OFSI must have its own health certificate, where one is available, for example for processed animal protein.

The consignment must also be accompanied by a commercial document which contains a description of the OFSI and all ABPs or derived products within the OFSI, including any low-risk components. 

7. Approval or registration of destination premises

Destination premises must be approved  or registered by APHA under Animal By-Products Enforcement Regulations unless either:

• the destination is the place the OFSI will be applied to land and there are no farmed animals kept there
• operators at the destination handle and distribute OFSI exclusively in ready-to sell retail packaging of not more than 50kg in weight for uses outside the feed and food chain

This requirement is provided for in Article 23 or Article 24 of Regulation 1069/2009. 

Guidance on animal by-product categories, site approval, hygiene and disposal. 

8. Packaging and labelling requirements

A label attached to the packaging, container or vehicle must:

• clearly indicate the category of the ABPs or of the derived products
• bear the following words visibly and legibly displayed on the packaging, a container or vehicle, as applicable: “organic fertilisers or soil improvers/no grazing of farmed animals or use of crops as herbage during at least 21 days following application” 

However, this labelling shall not be required if the organic fertilisers and soil improvers are either:

• in ready-to-sell packages of not more than 50kg in weight for use by the final consumer
• in big bags of not more than 1000kg in weight, provided that:
  • their use has been authorised by the APHA
  • it is indicated on those bags that they are not destined for application to land to which farmed animals have access

9. Export to third countries

If the product is to be re-exported, you should ensure that the importing country will permit entry prior to export and that you have the correct paperwork to accompany the product before the export takes place. 

10. 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