Statutory guidance

Canned pet food - Import Information Note ABP/3A

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 canned pet food. 

Canned pet food is defined in Regulation (EU) 142/2011 as heat-processed pet food contained within a hermetically sealed container. This also includes pet food in pouches provided that it has received a heat treatment in a hermetically sealed container. 

Canned pet food may be manufactured from:

a) Category 3 material, other than material referred to in Article 10 (n), (o) and (p) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009

b) in the case of imported pet food or pet food produced from imported materials, from Category 1 material comprising of ABPs derived from animals which have been submitted to illegal treatment as defined in Article 1(2)(d) of Directive 96/22 (as amended)  

3. Production standards

Canned pet food must have been produced and stored in accordance with the requirements of Annex XIII, Chapters I and II, of Regulation (EU) 142/2011.

In particular, and in accordance with Point 3 (a) of Chapter II of Annex XIII of Regulation (EU) 142/2011, canned pet food must be subjected to a heat treatment to a minimum Fc value of 3. 

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 

Imports of canned pet food are permitted from countries listed in the documents for fresh meat of ungulates and: 

• Japan
• Ecuador
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• Saudi Arabia (only processed petfood of poultry origin)

In the case of processed petfood derived from fish materials, imports are permitted from countries listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2019/626.  

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 petfood

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