Statutory guidance

Dog chews - Import Information Note ABP/3C

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 dog chews. 

Dog chews are defined in Regulation (EU) 142/2011 as products for pet animals to chew, produced from untanned hides and skins of ungulates or from other material of animal origin. 

Dog chews may be manufactured from:

a) Category 3 material, referred to in Article 10(a), (b), (d), (e), (i) and (j) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009

b) in the case of imported dog chews or dog chews 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 

3. Production standards 

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

In the case of dog chews made from hides and skins of ungulates or from fish, they must be subjected to a treatment that is sufficient to destroy pathogenic organisms including salmonella and the dog chews are dry. 

In the case of dog chews made from ABPs other than hides and skins of ungulates or from fish, they must be subjected to a heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout their substance.

After that treatment, every precaution must be taken to ensure that such dog chews are not exposed to contamination. 

Dog chews must be packaged in new packaging. 

Random samples must be taken from dog chews during production and/or during storage (before despatch) to verify compliance with the standards laid down in Division 5 of Chapter II of Annex XIII of Regulation (EU) 142/2011 in respect of salmonella and enterobacteriaceae. 

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 dog chews 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) 

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 food 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 or documentation 

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