Statutory guidance

Import of non-domestic ungulates - Import Information Note (IIN) BLLV/3

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 live animals and germplasm, 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 United Kingdom (UK) legislation website. 

2. Scope 

Import conditions for non-domestic ungulates. Ungulates are animals which walk on hooves.

The ungulates covered by this IIN are mainly cloven hoofed (artiodactyls) and include non-domestic species of bovine, sheep, goats and pigs as well as camels, deer, antelopes and hippopotamus. It also covers odd toed ungulates such as rhinoceros and tapirs and extends to elephants.  

Ungulates of domestic livestock species and horses are not covered by this IIN. For further information regarding the import of domestic ungulates please see:

• IIN BVTC2 for bovine animals
  
  
• IIN OVTC2 for sheep and goats
  
  
• IIN PGTC2 for pigs
  
  
• IIN EQ2b for equidae (horses, donkeys and zebra) 

3. 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 live ungulates for:

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

Trading partners must have RUM or SUI listed in column 4 of the above documents in order to be able to export the relevant species of ungulate to Great Britain (GB), where:

• ‘RUM’ is for animals of the order Artiodactyla. Artiodactyla excludes bovine animals, (bovine animals include Bubalus and Bison species and their crossbreeds), and includes, Ovis aries, Capra hircus, Suidae and Tayassuidae), and of the families Rhinocerotidae and Elephantidae
  
  
• ‘SUI’ is for non-domestic Suidae, Tayassuidae and Tapiridae 

Certain countries may be required to provide supplementary guarantees, depending on the animal health situation in the territories of origin. Please also check the 5th and 6th columns of the above documents, where these supplementary guarantees are listed. 

Non-domestic ungulates destined to an approved body, institute or centre entering GB will need to comply with certain conditions. The country of origin must be listed in one of the above documents published by the Secretary of State for non-EU or EU and EFTA countries, where supplementary guarantees are listed for either:

• live ungulates
• fresh meat of ungulates
• equidae
• meat products
• poultry and poultry products
• meat of wild leporidae, of certain wild land mammals and of farmed rabbits
• milk and milk products

Please contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team at imports@apha.gov.uk for further information. 

4. Health certificate 

Non-domestic ruminants and porcine animals from trading partners listed in the documents enumerated in point 3 of this IIN, must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate which conforms to the RUM or SUI or TRE model certificate (as appropriate). 

Model health certificates for other live animals

If the animals imported are listed then they do not need authorisation. If they are not listed, then authorisation is required.

If the animals are to be imported from trading partners which are not listed in the documents for live ungulates (see section 3) for the species concerned, then an authorisation will be required prior to import. Please contact the APHA imports team (see section 8) for further information regarding the process for obtaining an authorisation.  

The animals must comply with the animal health requirements for the species concerned in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 206/2010. 

5. Special conditions regarding the spraying of consignments of live animals transported by air to GB (Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 206/2010)

Where consignments of live animals, excluding consignments of bees, are transported by air, the crate or container in which they are transported, and the surrounding area shall be sprayed with an appropriate insecticide.  

That spraying shall be carried out immediately prior to the closing of the aircraft doors after loading, and after any subsequent opening of the doors in any other country, until the aircraft reaches its final destination.

The captain of the aircraft shall certify that the spraying has been carried out by signing a declaration, drawn up in accordance with the model published on GOV.UK attached in its original form to the veterinary certificate. 

6. Bluetongue information

Transits of non-domestic ruminants through EU bluetongue restricted areas 

Where imported consignments originate from or transit through a bluetongue restricted area, the vehicles in which the animals are transported must be treated with authorised insecticides and/or repellents. This treatment must take place prior to leaving or entering the restricted area.

When a rest period of more than one day is foreseen at a control post during the movement through a restricted zone, the animals must be protected against attacks by vectors in an approved vector-protected establishment.

Consignments must be accompanied by a written bluetongue declaration.

Guidance on transiting animals and animal products through GB

Bluetongue requirements for imports from EU 

Bluetongue requirements for imports and transits through the EU can be found in Import Information Note (IIN) BTEU/1. 

7. Post-import requirements 

All elephants and artiodactyla and their crossbreeds (ungulates other than horses), tapirs, rhinoceros must be taken without delay from the Border Control Post (BCP) to the premises of destination in vector protected transport. They must be kept there for at least 30 days unless consigned for slaughter from the holding direct to the slaughterhouse.

The animals consigned to an approved body, institute or centre shall be kept in quarantine in vector-protected facilities on the premises for a minimum of 30 days. After the 30 days quarantine period the animals may be moved to another approved premises. They may only be moved to a non-approved premises after 6 months have elapsed providing there is no risk of disease transmission. They may be moved for export to a third country prior to 6 months by derogation to paragraph 3, Article 13a of assimilated EU Regulation 206/2010.

Non-domestic ungulates imported to either an approved or non-approved premises may need to undergo post-import tests for certain diseases depending on the country of origin. It may be necessary to apply movement restrictions to those animals in certain cases.

Animals intended for immediate slaughter must be conveyed without delay from the BCP to the slaughterhouse where they should be slaughtered within 5 working days.

8. Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man

Existing controls continue to apply, and therefore these movements must be in accordance with the General Licence. Consignments must comply with the conditions in the licence which may require it to be accompanied by a health certificate.

• Non-domestic ungulates from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2015/08) (PDF, 126 KB, 2 pages)
• Non-domestic ungulates from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/09) (PDF, 130 KB)

You must notify the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) of imports of non-domestic ungulates from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. See the IIN for general information for imports of live animals and germplasm for more information regarding pre-notification.

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