Check risk categories for animals and animal products imported from the EU to Great Britain
Use this guidance to find the risk category and inspection rate for imports of live animals and animal products from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to Great Britain.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Documents
Details
To import live animals or animal products from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein into Great Britain, you need to:
- find the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) risk category for the commodity you’re importing
- follow the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules for that import risk category
The BTOM categorises live animals, germinal products, products of animal origin (POAO) and animal by-products (ABPs) as high risk, medium risk or low risk. Each category has different requirements.
This guidance applies to animals and animal products imported from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein only. Read separate guidance on BTOM risk categories for:
How to find the BTOM risk category for animals and animal products
Use the documents on this page to find the risk category for a commodity you’re importing.
The tables give a summary of how different types of animals and animal products will be categorised. They do not provide the risk categories for specific commodity codes.
You can use the spreadsheet on this page to find the risk category for a specific commodity you’re importing. You can search using a commodity code or browse the spreadsheet list of commodities.
What to do if you can’t find your commodity risk category
If the spreadsheet does not give the risk category for the commodity you’re importing, or indicates that it could be either medium or low risk, refer to the tables for more information about how that type of commodity will be categorised.
Updates to commodity risk categories
Risk factors will be reviewed regularly. Commodities may be moved into higher or lower BTOM risk categories in future to reflect changing levels of risk.
You’ll be notified in advance if there is a change to the BTOM risk category of a commodity you have imported.
Composite products
All composite products from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are either:
- in the low BTOM risk category
- not placed in a BTOM risk category because it is exempt from official import controls
Some composite products may become medium risk following future risk assessments.
Find out if your product is a composite, and if it is exempt from import controls.
Rules for each BTOM risk category
There are 3 BTOM risk categories:
- low risk
- medium risk
- high risk
If your consignment is in the low BTOM risk category
Use the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) to notify authorities before the goods arrive in Great Britain.
You will need the IPAFFS commodity code, rather than the Trade Tariff commodity code, to enter your details into IPAFFS. You can get the IPAFFS code from the spreadsheet on this page.
You do not need a health certificate.
Low BTOM risk category consignments must come with a commercial document from the supplier.
Low risk consignments will not be subject to routine documentary, identity and physical checks. However, checks may still be undertaken where intelligence indicates a specific risk.
Your goods must enter Great Britain through a point of entry with a border control post (BCP) that is designated to check your commodity.
For EU goods entering Great Britain through west coast ports, there will be a different implementation date for intelligence-led checks and for the requirement to enter through a port with a BCP. There is more detail in the Border Target Operating Model.
If your consignment is in the medium BTOM risk category
Use IPAFFS to notify authorities before the goods arrive in Great Britain.
You will need the IPAFFS commodity code, rather than the Trade Tariff commodity code, to enter your details into IPAFFS. You can get the IPAFFS code from the spreadsheet on this page.
Your consignment must have a health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country where the goods originate.
Products in the medium BTOM risk category:
- will need to enter Great Britain through a point of entry with a BCP that is designated to check them
- may be subject to documentary, identity and physical import checks
For EU goods entering Great Britain through west coast ports, there will be a different implementation date for identity and physical checks and for the requirement to enter through a port with a BCP. There is more detail in the Border Target Operating Model.
If your consignment is in the high BTOM risk category
Use IPAFFS to notify authorities before the goods arrive in Great Britain.
You will need the IPAFFS commodity code, rather than the Trade Tariff commodity code, to enter your details into IPAFFS. You can get the IPAFFS code from the spreadsheet on this page.
Your consignment must have a health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country where the goods originate.
Consignments in the high BTOM risk category are subject to physical import checks and identity checks.
Find out how to complete a health certificate to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.
If your consignment is in the medium or high BTOM risk categories, but there is no health certificate for your goods
If a health certificate does not exist for the goods you want to import from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, you may need an import licence or authorisation.
Contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Animal Imports team if:
- there’s no licence for your animal or germinal product
- you’re not sure if you need a licence
If you are importing a medium-risk ABP, but there’s currently no health certificate for your goods, you will require a commercial document. Find out more about importing ABPs from the EU to Great Britain.
Inspection rates of imported goods
Some imports are subject to identity (ID) checks and physical checks. The percentage of times identity and physical checks happen (the inspection rate) depends on the risk category of the commodity being imported:
- high risk commodities are inspected every time the commodity is imported (inspection rate 100%)
- medium risk commodities are inspected 1% to 30% of the time the commodity is imported - the specific inspection rate (M1, M2 or M3) depends on the commodity and country
- low risk commodities are not subject to routine inspection, but may be subject to non-routine or intelligence-led checks
These rules, as set out in the UK Official Controls Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and Regulation (EU) 2019/2129, are applicable to EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries.
How risk levels are determined
Risk categorisation is a dynamic process drawing on the most current data and reflecting changes in:
- disease status
- animal and public health hazard analysis
- compliance history
- data associated with disease outbreak in the exporting country
- transmission data
- risk mitigation treatments and restrictions
- compliance data
These factors underpin risk categorisation and inspection rates (the percentage of time identity checks and physical checks will take place). Taking these factors into account, the following 3 risk levels have been introduced for medium risk commodities:
- M1: consequence of non-compliance with import conditions is likely to be manageable or acceptable (baseline inspection rate 1%)
- M2: consequences of non-compliance with import conditions, including any of the factors mentioned above, could pose a significant risk to public or animal health (baseline inspection rate between 10% and 15%)
- M3: consequence of non-compliance with import conditions is likely to pose a significant risk to biosecurity or public health (baseline inspection rate 30%)
The frequency rates of identity checks and physical checks will be determined by ministers in Great Britain and agreed by the Animal Disease Policy Group (ADPG). The frequency rates will be determined taking into account a range of factors including:
- risks to human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or the environment, associated with different types of animals and goods
- information collected by the competent authorities
- the controls already performed on the animals or goods
- history of compliance (including of the operator and exporter)
- data and information collected by computer management system
- available scientific assessments
- any other information regarding the risk associated to the categories of animals and goods
The frequency rates of identity checks and physical checks may change in response to local risk factors and factors specified in the Official Controls Regulation.
Imports from the Faroe Islands and Greenland
The BTOM risk categories for the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will also apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
The Faroe Islands and Greenland follow EU SPS rules for certain commodities, such as fishery products. Imports of these commodities into Great Britain from the Faroe Islands and Greenland will follow the same process as imports from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Other imports from the Faroe Islands and Greenland will continue to follow import rules for non-EU countries.
Get help
If you have any questions about notifying imports of animal products or which BTOM risk category your product is in, email the APHA imports team at imports@apha.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
Last updated 20 November 2024 + show all updates
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We've made structural updates to the content to improve usability. The classifications (products of animal origin (POAO), animal by-products (ABP), live animal and hay and straw) are now on separate HTML documents. We’ve also made some editorial updates to the content for clarity. We've added a note explaining the medium risk category inspection rates (M1, M2, M3). We’ve clarified the documentary check rate for high, medium and low risk commodities. On the POAO page, we’ve extended the definition of bivalve molluscs to include echinoderms, tunicates, marine gastropods. On the ABP page, we’ve added a new ‘All other ABP commodities’ row - this clarifies the risk category and inspection rate for ABP commodities not mentioned in the tables. On the live animals page, we’ve clarified that live animals currently do not need to enter GB through a border control post and report for a physical inspection. In the risk categorisation spreadsheet, we’ve updated an incorrect IPAFFS code for fish solubles for fish feed. We’ve also updated the following commodities to include information on the criteria that would make the commodity low risk: 0307421000, 0307422000, 0307423000, 0307424000, 0307429000. We've also updated an incorrect commodity code for 'mackerel, fillets of the species scomber scombrus'.
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Some incorrect IPAFFS codes have been updated in the risk categorisation spreadsheet.
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Risk categorisation spreadsheet updated to reflect that all fishery products associated with histamine are classified as medium risk in all circumstances, even if it otherwise meets the low risk criteria. This is except for fish oil. Commodity 'snails, other than sea snails' (16055800) updated to medium or low risk. This product is low risk if shelf stable at ambient temperature (can be safely stored at room temperature in a sealed container).
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We've clarified the risk category for fishery products of species associated with histamine as medium risk. We've removed a row from the risk categorisation spreadsheet with an out-of-date code.
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The searchable list with commodity codes has been updated. 4 new commodities have been added (1502109010, 1502109090, 1502909010 and 1502909090). The risk category for commodity code 3507909090 has been updated to reflect that if the product isn't derived from animal products, SPS controls don't apply and the risk level is N/A. An incorrect IPAFFS code for commodity code 19024090 has been updated.
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The guidance has been updated to reflect that all new import controls under the Border Target Operating Model came into force on 30 April 2024.
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New column added to summary tables showing the inspection rate of commodities. From 30 April 2024, imports will be subject to identity checks and physical checks. The percentage of times identity and physical checks will happen (the inspection rate) depends on the risk category of the commodity: high risk (100%), medium risk (between 1% and 30%) and low risk (not subject to routine inspection, but may be subject to non-routine or intelligence-led checks). Descriptions for some commodities have been edited for clarification, but no risk categories have been changed.
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New ‘Miscellaneous’ section added to the summary tables. This will include any products that do not fit into the existing 3 category sections. ‘Hay and straw’ commodity moved out of ‘Animal by-products’ into ‘Miscellaneous’. Straw – intended for combustion (1213000011), Straw – other (1213000019), and Hay (1214909020) are now in the risk categorisation spreadsheet. The risk category descriptions for bones and horn-cores (0506100000) and other uncooked pasta (1902110090) have been edited for clarification.
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We have added a clarification to the summary tables. In Table 2a, we have added the line 'it is not bivalve molluscs' to the list of criteria that products of animal origin (POAO) have to meet in order to be low risk.
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We have added some new information for clarification. In the summary tables, in Table 3k, we have added a line to explain that apiculture products that are not for use in apiculture are categorised as low risk.
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The searchable list with commodity codes has been updated.
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Added links to new APHA import information notes (ABP/20 and ABP/46) in Table 3k of the summary tables.
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We have made some textual changes as part of our ongoing review of this information. In the risk category spreadsheet, we’ve updated some risk category descriptions, where there is more than one potential risk category for a single commodity. This is intended to make the risk categories easier to understand. The risk categories in each case remain the same. In the risk category summary tables, we have provided clarification on fishery species that are associated with histamine, by amending the following phrase "histamine (for example, scombroids)" to "histamine (that is, species of the families Scombridae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Coryfenidae, Pomatomidae, or Scombresosidae)".
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We have updated this guidance. The latest version of Combined Nomenclature (CN) for the year 2024 came into effect on 1 January 2024. In response, we have updated a number of Trade Tariff commodity codes in the spreadsheet to make sure the guidance aligns to this release. As part of an ongoing review, we have made improvements to the spreadsheet by: - revising the risk category descriptions for some of our commodities, where there is more than one possible risk level for a commodity - adding instructions on how to search the spreadsheet using Excel functionality - reordering the columns in the commodity list worksheet, to bring the risk level and risk category descriptions together - adding additional columns to signpost related information; improving our instructions As part of this review, we have also improved signposting on our landing page to make it easier to access key information.
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We have uploaded a new version of the risk categorisation spreadsheet to include the following changes: 1. We have rearranged the instructions tab to make the information clearer. 2. We have updated the following commodity codes on Tab 3 (Commodity list) to include a POAO risk categorisation: 1504101000, 1504109100, 1504109900, 1504201010, 1504201090, 1504209000. 3. We have added IPAFFS codes to a number of commodities currently included in the searchable commodity list on Tab 3. (The remaining IPAFFS codes will be added in due course.)
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We've updated the BTOM risk categorisation spreadsheet as follows: 1. We amended the comments for commodity code 3502907000 to expand its intended uses 2. For commodity codes 0410101000, 0410109900 and 0410900000, we changed the ABP risk categorisation from medium or low, to medium.
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We have removed the paragraph in the rules under the heading 'If your consignment is in the low TOM risk category' that stated 'Some ABPs currently need a facilitation letter to import from the EU. From 31 January 2024 you’ll no longer need a facilitation letter for these products if they are in the low TOM risk category'. This is because it was misleading. Facilitation letters may currently be required for various imports, not just low risk ABPs. But they will no longer be required for any risk category, from 31 January 2024.
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We have updated the document 'TOM risk categories for animal and animal product imports from the EU to Great Britain: searchable list with commodity codes'. As part of a review, we’ve revised the comments of some animal by-product (ABP) products with regards to the use of fish oils, and beeswax and other insect waxes. It should now be clear that when fish oil is imported to be used as feed material, it is medium risk whereas if fish oil is imported for use outside the feed chain, it is low risk. It should also now be clear that only beeswax (and not other insect waxes), which is imported to be used for technical and cosmetic purposes other than feeding to farmed animals, is low risk but that this excludes beeswax for apiculture use, which is medium risk. We have also provided additional commodity code information for a further 130 codes. These mostly cover animal by-product (ABP) goods.
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We've updated the risk categories spreadsheet. 51 aquatic commodity codes have been updated with new comments and more detailed descriptions. The risk categories for these commodities vary, depending on whether they are imported as a live animal or as a product of animal origin.
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We’ve made the following updates to the to the risk categorisation spreadsheet (‘searchable list with commodity codes’): 1. The following commodity codes have been added: - 0302499000 - Other herring - fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304 - 0308220000 - Frozen - sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus spp., Paracentrotus lividus, Loxechinus albus, Echinus esculentus) - 1212999510 - Bee pollen - 1517909300 - Edible mixtures or preparations of a kind used as mould-release preparations, not margarine, other than containing by weight more than 10% but not more than 15% of milkfats - 1517909990 - Other edible mixtures of fats or oils, other than containing by weight more than 10% but not more than 15% of milkfats 2. Added a note (note 3) to the Notes tab, which defines ‘non-raw’ in relation to dairy and colostrum-based products.
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We’ve updated the guidance in line with the revised implementation timeline set out in the Border Target Operating Model. We’ve also provided more detail about risk categorisation of live aquatic animals; live fish; infant formula, follow-on formula, food for special medical purposes and baby food; wool, hair and feathers. We’ve added further clarification about the criteria for non-raw dairy products, live aquatic animals, fishery products and bivalve molluscs.
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We have updated the risk category for commodity: '1604199190 - Fillets of other fish species - raw, merely coated with batter or breadcrumbs, whether or not pre-fried in oil, frozen' from Medium to Medium or Low. This commodity is in the low-risk category if it meets the wild caught requirements outlined in the notes section of the spreadsheet.
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We've updated the comments section in the TOM risk categories spreadsheet for 7 egg product commodity codes: 0407901000, 0407909000, 0408118000, 0408198100, 0408198900, 0408918000, and 0408998000. These commodities are only low risk if shelf-stable at ambient temperature.
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We've add information about how TOM risk categories will apply to imports from the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
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We've added a searchable list of commodities to help you find the TOM risk category for specific commodities. You can search the list using a 10-digit commodity code. We've also expanded the criteria for wild caught fish in the summary tables document. This clarifies that a product cannot be classed as wild caught if it has been subject to processing, as defined in Article 2 of Retained EU Regulation 852/2004.
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We've added some extra information to the Target Operating Model (TOM) risk categories for animal and animal product imports. We've added more detail about how live aquatic animals and wild caught fish are categorised. We've also added further commodities and clarifications to the following tables: - Table 3b. Blood and blood products - Table 3h. Pet food and products for the manufacture of pet food - Table 3j. Wool, hair and feathers - Table 3k. Other ABP
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First published.