Guidance

Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues

Current issues relating to imports and exports of animals and animal products.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
Published
23 March 2015
Last updated
6 November 2024 — See all updates

This page provides details on particular issues or changes that importers and exporters may need to be aware of.

You can view all of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra’s) guidance and forms for:

Defra’s animal disease monitoring collection covers major, notifiable or new and emerging animal disease outbreaks internationally and in the UK.

African swine fever (ASF) in the EU and EFTA states

Individuals can only bring pork and pork products from the EU, EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Faroe Islands and Greenland into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for personal consumption where the products: 

  • have been produced and packaged to commercial standards
  • bear an identification or health mark – or commercial labelling if they are animal by-products
  • weigh less than 2kg per person

This is because some pork and pork products that originate from or have been dispatched from these countries pose an unacceptable risk to animal health in Great Britain. This is due to the spread of African swine fever in Europe.

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

These special measures apply from 27 September 2024 until they are revoked or amended.

Special measures from 1 September 2022

The measures applying from 27 September 2024 replace the special measures from 1 September 2022. These prohibit the personal import of pork and pork products over 2kg from entering Great Britain unless they have been produced to EU commercial standards.

The following safeguard measures apply from 1 September 2022. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

Preventing the spread of ASF

Defra’s African swine fever guide covers how to spot ASF, what to do if you suspect it and measures to prevent its spread.

For more information see:

Sheep pox and goat pox outbreak in Bulgaria

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the imports of the following ovine and caprine commodities from Bulgaria:

  • live animals
  • germplasm
  • fresh or chilled skins and hides

This follows an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox that was confirmed on 4 September 2024. Bulgaria has now lost its status as free from sheep pox and goat pox as a result of this outbreak.

Read the ‘live ungulates’, ‘ovine and caprine ova and embryos’ and ‘ovine and caprine semen’ lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

For restrictions on fresh or chilled skins and hides, the safeguard declarations below give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland) and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales).

These special measures apply from 12 September 2024 until they are revoked or amended.

Peste des petits ruminants import restrictions: European Union

Individuals can only bring certain sheep and goat products from the EU, EFTA states, the Faroe Islands and Greenland into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for personal consumption. The products must:  

  • have been produced and packaged to commercial standards
  • bear an identification or health mark – or commercial labelling if they are animal by-products (ABP)

This applies to sheep and goat:

  • milk and milk products
  • meat and meat products

Individuals cannot bring any sheep or goat milk and milk products from Greece or Romania into Great Britain for personal consumption.

These products pose a risk to animal health in Great Britain due to the spread of peste des petits ruminants in Europe.

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

These special measures apply until they are revoked or amended.

Peste des petits ruminants import restrictions: Romania

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the import of the following sheep and goat commodities from Romania:

  • live animals
  • germplasm
  • raw milk and milk products
  • untreated wool and hair
  • fresh or chilled (untreated) skins and hides 

This is due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants that was confirmed on 19 July 2024.

For more information, read the following lists of  EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain:

  • live ungulates
  • ovine and caprine ova and embryos
  • ovine and caprine semen
  • milk and milk products

For restrictions on untreated wool and hair and on fresh or chilled (untreated) skins and hides, the following safeguard declarations give effect to this decision. They are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland). 

Read the:

These special measures apply from 26 July 2024 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Peste des petits ruminants in Greece  

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the import from Greece of raw milk and raw dairy products derived from sheep and goats. This is due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants in Greece that was confirmed on 11 July 2024.

The import of these products is suspended whilst the extent of the disease outbreak is being understood.

Read the ‘milk and milk products’ list of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Australia   

The import of the following ratite products is suspended from Australia to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for consignments produced on or after 22 May 2024: 

  • fresh ratite meat  
  • breeding and productive ratites   
  • day-old ratites    
  • hatching eggs of ratites   

An outbreak of HPAI was confirmed in a commercial layer poultry farm in Victoria, Australia, on 22 May 2024. The suspension of affected commodities will remain in place until the UK recognises Australia as disease free for HPAI.

Read the ‘Poultry and poultry products’ list of non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information about affected commodities.

African swine fever (ASF) import restrictions: Montenegro

From 23 January 2024, the heat treatment applied to the import of domestic and wild pig meat products from Montenegro into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has changed.

The heat treatment category for domestic porcine, farmed cloven-hoofed game (swine) and wild swine has changed from ‘D’ (minimum temperature of 70ºC) to ‘C’ (minimum temperature 80ºC).

An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) was confirmed in wild boar in Montenegro on 14 January 2024. These measures will remain in place until Montenegro is recognised by the UK as disease free for ASF.

Read the ‘meat products’ list of non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information about affected commodities.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) in the EU and EFTA states

The bluetongue guidance covers the latest situation and advice on measures to protect against the disease.

There are mandatory requirements for imports from all EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries to Great Britain of: 

  • BTV susceptible animals – that is, ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats and cervids (deer), and camelids such as alpacas and llamas
  • germinal products (semen, ova and embryos) of susceptible animals

Importing animals

When importing susceptible animals from countries with BTV to Great Britain:

  • the country you import from must be listed for the relevant species on the ‘live ungulates’ list of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain
  • you must comply with the vaccination requirements outlined in supplementary guarantee ‘A’ of the relevant health certificates
  • you must not move susceptible animals from countries with the BTV-3 serotype of bluetongue to Great Britain – this is because there is no fully approved vaccine for BTV-3 with a guaranteed period of immunity, so it’s not possible to comply with the health certificate requirements

In addition:

  • you should only source animals that have a reliable health status
  • you should test animals to ensure they are clear of infection before they travel to Great Britain
  • you should speak to your private veterinarian about putting in place controls to help prevent the introduction of BTV

Movement restrictions and testing after import 

If you import susceptible animals from an affected country or a country within 150km of an affected country, APHA will contact you after import to arrange for the animals to be tested to confirm they are free of BTV. APHA will also place the animals under movement restrictions until it has confirmed they are disease free. You must not move the animals from the destination premises until you receive this confirmation. The process can take up to 2 weeks. 

Imported animals that test positive for BTV may be culled or returned to the country of origin. Any animals that travelled in the same vehicle that are at risk of becoming infected may also be culled or returned. No compensation will be paid for the culled or returned animals.  

If the animals you’ve imported test positive for BTV, you’ll be restricted from moving any susceptible animals on or off the destination premises until APHA has confirmed that the disease has not spread.

Importing germinal products

When importing the germinal products of susceptible animals from countries with BTV to Great Britain:

More information

For more information on import requirements:

Lifting of reinforced controls for beef, poultry meat and meat products from Brazil

The UK has lifted reinforced controls for consignments of beef, poultry meat and meat products and preparations exported from Brazil to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). This follows an audit of Brazil’s sanitary and phytosanitary controls.

For consignments of beef, poultry meat, and products and preparations from Brazil, exports to Great Britain do not need:

  • enhanced pre-export and post-import testing for salmonella
  • the additional attestation attached to health certificates confirming salmonella sampling, methods of analysis used, and results

The default level of import checks now applies in accordance with retained Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2129.

Brazil can re-list certain poultry and beef establishments for export to Great Britain, as set out in the list of establishments approved to export animals and animal products.

Find out the countries, territories and regions approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) outside the UK

From 23 June 2023, Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) have suspended the import of live cervids and high risk cervid products, including urine hunting lures, from countries where CWD has been reported.

In addition, fresh cervid meat cannot be imported into Great Britain from countries affected with CWD unless it complies with the supplementary guarantee in the relevant health certificate.

CWD has been reported in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Canada, USA and the Republic of Korea.

The following safeguard measures give effect to these decisions. They are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

These special measures apply from 23 June 2023 until they are revoked or amended.

For more information about the risk of CWD being introduced into Great Britain, read the qualitative risk assessments.

Find out the countries, territories and regions approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) was recently reported for the first time in Europe and is now spreading. Outbreaks of EHD have been confirmed in: 

  • Italy on 8 November 2022 
  • Spain on 18 November 2022 
  • Portugal on 19 July 2023 
  • France on 19 September 2023

Importing animals and germinal products

These outbreaks affect animal health certification for imports into Great Britain of: 

  • live cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other ruminants 
  • germinal products (semen, ova and embryos) of cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other ruminants 

Imports of these animals or products from EHD-affected countries must meet the requirements of the relevant health certificate. 

Read how to prevent, spot and report epizootic haemorrhagic disease for information on the latest situation, outbreak assessments, and advice on measures to protect against the disease.

Movement restrictions and testing after import 

If you import susceptible animals from an affected country or a country within 150km of an affected country, APHA will contact you after import to arrange for the animals to be tested to confirm they are free of EHD. APHA will also place the animals under movement restrictions until it has confirmed they are disease free. You must not move the animals from the destination premises until you receive this confirmation. The process can take up to 2 weeks. 

Imported animals that test positive for EHD may be culled or returned to the country of origin. Any animals that travelled in the same vehicle that are at risk of becoming infected may also be culled or returned. No compensation will be paid for the culled or returned animals.  

If the animals you’ve imported test positive for EHD, you’ll be restricted from moving any susceptible animals on or off the destination premises until APHA has confirmed that the disease has not spread.

Small hive beetle in Réunion, an overseas territory of France

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment from Réunion, an overseas territory of France. This is due to an outbreak of small hive beetle. These measures are necessary to protect bee health in the UK.

These special measures apply from 26 May 2023 until they are revoked or amended.

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

Small hive beetle in the region of Calabria, Italy

The UK has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from the region of Calabria in Italy. This is due to an ongoing outbreak of small hive beetle. These measures are necessary to protect bee health in the UK.

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

These special measures apply from 17 January 2023 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Small hive beetle in the region of Sicily, Italy

The UK has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from the region of Sicily in Italy. This is due to an outbreak of small hive beetle. These measures are necessary to protect bee health in Great Britain and are in addition to restrictions already in place for imports of these products from the region of Calabria in Italy.

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

These special measures apply from 1 November 2024 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Sheep pox and goat pox in Greece

Imports of the following ovine and caprine commodities from Greece have been temporarily suspended following an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox that was confirmed on 24 October 2023: 

  • live animals
  • germplasm
  • fresh or chilled skins and hides

Read the ‘live ungulates’, ‘ovine and caprine ova and embryos’, and ‘ovine and caprine semen’ lists of  EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

For restrictions on fresh or chilled skins and hides, the safeguard declarations below give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland). 

Read the:

These special measures apply from 10 November 2023 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Sheep pox and goat pox disease free status: Spain

Great Britain has recognised whole country freedom from sheep pox and goat pox in Spain. The restrictions on the import of ovine and caprine live animals and germplasm from Spain have now been lifted.

Bulgaria was recognised as free from sheep pox and goat pox at the same time was Spain, but it has now lost this status following an outbreak that was confirmed on 4 September 2024. New restrictions now apply to imports from Bulgaria.

Read the ‘live ungulates’, ‘ovine and caprine ova and embryos’ and ‘ovine and caprine semen’ lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information.

For fresh or chilled skins and hides, the safeguard declarations published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland) are revoked with effect from 17 April 2024.

Read the:

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana

You can export fresh meat and by-products of ungulates from FMD-free areas of Botswana to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). You cannot export from restricted areas in Botswana.

Great Britain has assessed the disease control and regionalisation measures the Botswanan authorities have put in place to contain the FMD outbreak. As a result, Great Britain has resumed exports from FMD-free areas.

Find out the countries, territories and regions approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine 

If you commercially import dogs, cats and ferrets into Great Britain that originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, you must have Approved Importer status.

Commercial imports are the sale of or the transfer of ownership of a pet animal. This includes rescue animals and if you are travelling with more than 5 dogs, cats or ferrets if these animals are not attending training for a competition, show or sporting event.

This special measure does not apply to non-commercial pet animals from these countries.

Find out how to apply for Approved Importer status.

This special measure replaces the temporary suspension of commercial imports of dogs, cats and ferrets from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine. It will apply until it is revoked or amended.

These countries present a high risk of rabies transmission.

Read the:

Rodents imported from Lithuania

An ongoing outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis among the UK public has been linked to mice imported from Lithuania for use as animal feed, particularly for reptiles. The risk posed to public health has led to a decision to prohibit imports of feeder rodents (mice and rats for use as animal feed) from Lithuania into the UK, coming into force from 17 February 2022.

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) and Food Standards Scotland:

The special measures shall continue to apply until revoked or amended. The measures will be reviewed over the coming months to take into account any actions taken by the Lithuanian authorities to control the risk from imports of feeder rodents in the long term.

Lifting of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) measures: Chile

Following an outbreak of HPAI in Chile in March 2023, Great Britain has assessed the disease control and regionalisation measures implemented by the Chilean authorities to contain the outbreak. As a result, Great Britain has resumed imports from HPAI-free areas of Chile.

You can import the following products into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from HPAI-free areas of Chile:

  • live poultry and ratites
  • hatching eggs of poultry and ratites
  • fresh poultry, ratite and wild game bird meat

You cannot import these products from restricted areas of Chile.

Imports must meet the requirements of the relevant health certificate.

Read ‘Poultry and poultry products’ on the Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain page to find the restricted areas of Chile.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Argentina  

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has recognised Argentina’s self-declared HPAI disease-free status.  

The restrictions on the import of poultry, ratite and wild game bird meat into Great Britain from Argentina have been lifted.  

The heat treatment required for meat products of poultry and farmed feathered game has been amended from heat treatment ‘D’ to heat treatment ‘A’. 

Read the ‘Poultry and poultry products’ and ‘Meat Products’ lists of Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Japan

From 28 October 2022, the import of fresh poultry meat is suspended from Japan into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Additionally, the heat treatment category for poultry meat products has changed from ‘A’ (no specific treatment) to ‘D’ (minimum temperature of 70̊ C).

On 28 October 2022, 2 outbreaks of HPAI were confirmed in commercial poultry establishments in Japan. Restrictions will remain in place until Japan is recognised by the UK as disease free for HPAI.

Read ‘Poultry and poultry products’ and ‘Meat Products’ on the Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain page for more information about affected commodities.

Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK

This section was updated on 2 March 2023.

Our research reports provide preliminary and updated outbreak assessments for avian influenza (bird flu) in Europe, Russia and in the UK.

You cannot import poultry and poultry products into the UK from disease restricted zones around confirmed cases of avian flu in other countries.

You must continue to comply with specific requirements in Commission Regulation (EC) 798/2008 when importing poultry and poultry products.

Changes to the minimum surveillance period for imports of poultry and poultry products (including ratites) from bird flu affected countries

The surveillance period for imports of live poultry (including ratites) and certain poultry and ratite products from highly pathogenic avian influenza control zones has reduced from 90 days to 30 days. This follows an assessment of risk by Defra, Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Import requirements for Great Britain are now in line with the Terrestrial Animal Health code set by the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH).

This is only available for countries approved to export to Great Britain and can demonstrate:

  • adequate cleansing and disinfection has been carried out
  • the required surveillance activity has been completed
  • the zone has been lifted (minimum of 30 days after effective cleansing and disinfection)

The requirements are set out in the model health certificates for:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America

Defra has received notification of multiple outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by authorities in Canada and the United States.

The import of certain animals and products originating in, or dispatched from, the affected regions in both countries pose an unacceptable level of risk to animal health in Great Britain.

Imports to Great Britain of relevant poultry and poultry products (including hatching eggs and day old chicks) from affected regions of Canada and the United States are no longer authorised.

Read ‘Poultry and poultry products [EUR 2008/ 798]’ on the Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain page for more information about the affected commodities and regions.

This document supersedes the safeguard declarations published by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland) which have now been revoked:

Restrictions to trade first came into force on 25 March 2022 and will remain in place until the necessary conditions have been met to resume trade from the affected regions.

Lifting of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Ukraine

Since December 2020, imports of poultry products from Ukraine to Great Britain have been suspended due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The Ukrainian authorities have supplied information to Defra about the epidemiological situation and the measures taken to control the outbreaks.

An assessment of risk led by Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (in consultation with the Food Standards Agency) concluded that allowing imports of poultry products from Ukraine to resume poses an acceptable level of risk to public and animal health in Great Britain. This is provided the consignments originate from outside the areas affected by HPAI.

Based on that assessment, Defra, Scottish and Welsh governments have agreed to allow trade to resume.

A Statutory Instrument (The Approved Country Lists (Animals and Animal Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021) came into force on 17 December 2021 to implement this decision.

Lifting of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Australia

Since July 2020, imports of poultry and poultry products from Australia to Great Britain have been suspended due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The Australian authorities have supplied information to Defra about the epidemiological situation and the measures taken to control the outbreaks.

An assessment of risk led by Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (in consultation with the Food Standards Agency) concluded that allowing imports of poultry and poultry products from Australia to resume poses an acceptable level of risk to public and animal health in Great Britain.

Based on that assessment, Defra, Scottish and Welsh governments have agreed to allow trade to resume.

A Statutory Instrument (The Approved Country Lists (Animals and Animal Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021) came into force on 17 December 2021 to implement this decision.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Botswana

On 6 September 2021, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) was notified of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of subtype H5N1 by authorities in Botswana. The outbreak was confirmed on a poultry farm outside of Gaborone.

In order to prevent the introduction of HPAI into Great Britain, Botswana is no longer authorised to certify and export poultry of live breeding or productive ratites, day old chicks of ratites, hatching eggs of ratites and meat of farmed ratites to Great Britain for human consumption. Full details on the commodities affected and new restrictions are available in the declarations below.

These safeguarding measures prohibiting imports of susceptible commodities from Botswana are published on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), Scottish Ministers and the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales and the Trefnydd, (one of the Welsh Ministers).

These restrictions will be put in place until all the necessary criteria of assurances to resume certification of trade to Great Britain are met.

Avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK

This section was updated on 13 April 2022.

A collection of guidance and forms for importing and exporting live animals or animal products is available.

World Animal Health Organisation (WOAH) disease freedom

The UK is no longer free from avian influenza under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) rules. There are some restrictions on exports of affected commodities to third countries. Trade in poultry and poultry related products with third countries that do not require whole UK avian influenza country freedom may continue on the basis of the conditions included in the export health certificates, unless otherwise notified by the importing country.

Agreed export health certificates between the UK and importing countries are considered and issued on a case-by-case basis and can be certified by an Official Veterinarian only if the consignment meets the requirements set out in the export health certificates in full.

Exports to the EU

Exports from Great Britain to the EU of live poultry or poultry products are not permitted from disease control zones.

There are no restrictions on exports to the EU from outside the disease control zones.

The European Commission is currently considering amending the regionalisation of the UK in Regulation (EU) 2021/404 in relation to these new HPAI outbreaks.

To avoid disruption to trade, the European Commission has requested that EU countries consider continuing to accept certified poultry and poultry products from the UK, if they originate outside the restricted areas.

Imports from the EU

You cannot import poultry and poultry products into the UK from within avian influenza disease control zones in EU countries.

EU trade relies on strict certification for movement of live poultry, day old chicks and hatching eggs. Products such as poultry meat, table eggs and poultry products are not subject to certification within the EU.

Our avian influenza (bird flu) page covers the latest situation.

Go to bird flu cases and disease zones in England for information about cases and the measures that apply in disease zones.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk status of trading partners

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE) has established a procedure for categorising the BSE risk status of countries or parts of countries as either ‘undetermined’, ‘controlled’, or ‘negligible’. 

When WOAH changes the BSE risk status of a trading partner, Defra carries out an assessment. Based on that assessment Defra, with Scottish Government and Welsh Government, may agree to recognise and adopt the change in BSE risk status.

Importers and official veterinarians must be aware of the BSE risk status of trading partners when importing certain commodities to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).  

Find out the: 

Crabs to Hong Kong: residue testing

This section was updated on 27 March 2019.

The import restrictions on live brown crab exported from Anglesey, Wales introduced by the Hong Kong authorities remain in place. Brown crabs from Anglesey, should not be exported to Hong Kong until the situation is resolved.

Restrictions on trade of agricultural commodities to the Russian Federation

This section was updated on 27 March 2019.

The Russian Federation has banned the import of a number of agricultural commodities from the whole of the EU including the UK and also the USA, Canada, Australia and Norway until December 2019. The ban was imposed on 7 August 2014.

Banned products

The ban covers many agricultural products, raw materials, plants and foodstuffs including most meat, dairy and fish.

If you need to check whether a particular product is affected, please contact APHA or Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Withdrawal of Export Health Certificates for the Russian Federation

In the light of this, APHA and DAERA have withdrawn all Export Health Certificates for the animals and animal products affected, for the duration of this ban. This also applies to consignments of these commodities transiting through the Russian Federation to another destination. But there may be exceptions so you should check.

Any exporter planning to send any consignment (including live animals) to the Russian Federation should get assurances from importers in the Russian Federation that the consignment will be accepted. If consignments of live animals are blocked at the border of the Russian Federation, re-entry into the UK or any other member state is not permitted under EU law. Exceptions may be considered in specific cases.

Read further guidance on exporting to Russia.

Contacts

Contact APHA for advice about imports and exports to and from Great Britain.

Exporters in Northern Ireland should contact:

Updates to this page

Published 23 March 2015
Last updated 6 November 2024 + show all updates

  1. Information about lumpy skin disease in Europe has been removed because there are no restrictions in force.

  2. Added a new section about small hive beetle in the region of Sicily, Italy. The UK has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from the region of Sicily in Italy.

  3. Updated 'Bluetongue virus (BTV) in the EU and EFTA states' and 'Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe' sections to add information about movement restrictions and testing for susceptible animals imported from affected countries and countries within 150km of an affected country.

  4. Updated 'African swine fever (ASF) in the European Union and EFTA states' section, as new special measures apply from 27 September 2024.

  5. Added declarations suspending the import of ovine and caprine fresh or chilled skins and hides from Bulgaria to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

  6. Added a new section about sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the imports of the following ovine and caprine commodities from Bulgaria: live animals and germplasm.

  7. Added 'Peste des petits ruminants in European Union: declaration of special measures (Scotland)'

  8. From 22 August 2024, the peste des petits ruminants personal import restrictions will also apply to bringing certain sheep and goat products into Wales.

  9. From 21 August 2024, individuals can only bring certain sheep and goat products from the EU, EFTA states, the Faroe Islands and Greenland into England for personal consumption. This is due to the spread of peste des petits ruminants in Europe.

  10. Added declarations restricting the import of following sheep and goat commodities from Romania: untreated wool and hair, and fresh or chilled (untreated) skins and hides.

  11. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the import of the following sheep and goat commodities from Romania: raw milk and milk products, live animals and germplasm. This is due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants.

  12. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the import from Greece of raw milk and raw dairy products derived from sheep and goats. This is due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants in Greece.

  13. Added a new section on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Australia. The import of certain ratite products is suspended from Australia to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for consignments produced on or after 22 May 2024.

  14. The declarations revoking special measures for sheep pox and goat pox in Spain and Bulgaria for England, Scotland and Wales are in effect from 17 April 2024.

  15. Added declarations revoking special measures for sheep pox and goat pox in Spain and Bulgaria for England, Scotland and Wales. Removed previous declarations.

  16. The restrictions on the import of ovine and caprine live animals and germplasm from Spain and Bulgaria have been lifted.

  17. The restrictions on the import of poultry, ratite and wild game bird meat into Great Britain from Argentina have been lifted.  

  18. Added guidance about import restrictions for domestic and wild pig meat products from Montenegro into Great Britain due to African Swine Fever.

  19. The temporary suspension of imports of ovine and caprine commodities from Greece includes fresh or chilled skins and hides. We have published the declaration of special measures for sheep pox and goat pox in Greece.

  20. Information has been added about sheep pox and goat pox in Greece.

  21. Updated import requirements for exporting live ruminants from bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) affected countries to Great Britain. Also removed Switzerland from the list of confirmed outbreaks epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe.

  22. Updated guidance for imports of live ruminants from countries with bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3). Added outbreak of epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHC) in Switzerland on 10 October.

  23. Updated information about bluetongue virus (BTV) in Europe.

  24. Updated dates of the epizootic haemorrhagic disease outbreaks in Europe.

  25. Updated information on epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe.

  26. Added a new section for sheep and goat pox in Bulgaria. From 29 September, live sheep and goats and certain sheep and goat products from Bulgaria have been temporarily restricted from entering Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

  27. Updated guidance on bluetongue virus (BTV) in Europe.

  28. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has recognised Belgium’s bluetongue virus disease-free status. Added guidance on imports of live ungulates from Belgium to Great Britain.

  29. Added information for the lifting of reinforced controls for beef, poultry meat and meat products from Brazil.

  30. From 23 June 2023, Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) have suspended the import of live cervids and high risk cervid products, including urine hunting lures, from countries where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been reported.

  31. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has resumed imports from HPAI-free areas of Chile.

  32. From 26 May 2023: 1. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment from Réunion, an overseas territory of France. 2. Great Britain has resumed the export of fresh meat and by-products of ungulates from FMD-free areas of Botswana to England, Scotland and Wales. 3. Scotland has amended their declaration of special measures for small hive beetle in Calabria, Italy.

  33. Updated the 'Changes to the minimum surveillance period for imports of poultry and poultry products (including ratites) from bird flu affected countries' section to include ratites and add the revised model health certificates.

  34. Added new sections for 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Chile' and 'Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe'.

  35. Imports of poultry, ratite and wild game bird meat into Great Britain from Argentina that were slaughtered on or after 28 February 2023 are suspended. Meat products of poultry and farmed feathered game must be heat treated to 70°C throughout the meat (heat treatment ‘D’). The requirement for heat treatment ‘D’ already applies to wild game birds.

  36. Updated the 'Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK' section. The surveillance period for imports of live animals and fresh poultry meat from highly pathogenic avian influenza control zones has reduced from 90 days to 30 days.

  37. Updated the Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk status of trading partners section.

  38. The UK has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment into Great Britain from the region of Calabria in Italy.

  39. The import of raw milk and milk products is no longer restricted from Spain. This follows a risk assessment by Defra finding that these commodities do not pose an unacceptable level of risk to Great Britain.

  40. Added fresh or chilled skins and hides to the list of sheep and goat products that are temporarily restricted from entering Great Britain from Spain.

  41. Added an amendment to the declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania (Scotland). Documents that show proof of registration or approval of a premises must be issued within 6 months.

  42. Added an amendment to the declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania (Wales). Documents that show proof of registration or approval of a premises must be issued within 6 months.

  43. Added an amendment to the declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania from 29 October (England). Documents that show proof of registration or approval of a premises must be issued within 6 months.

  44. From 28 October 2022, the import of fresh poultry meat from Japan into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is suspended.

  45. Approved Importer status for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania applies to Wales from 1 November 2022.

  46. Added how to apply for Approved Importer status from 29 October 2022 if you commercially import dogs, cats and ferrets into England that originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine.

  47. Removed ‘fresh or chilled skins and hides’ from the list of sheep and goat products from Spain that are restricted from entering Great Britain.

  48. Added a new section for the lifting of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) import restrictions from Japan.

  49. Added a new section for sheep and goat pox in Spain. From 30 September, live sheep and goats and certain sheep and goat products from Spain are temporarily restricted from entering Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

  50. Added new section on foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana. Great Britain has temporarily suspended exports of fresh meat and by-products of ungulates from the whole of Botswana if they were processed after 28 July 2022.

  51. Great Britain’s temporary suspension of the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, has been extended until 29 October 2022.

  52. Added African Swine Fever (ASF) special measures. From 1 September, pork and pork products over 2kg are prohibited from entering Great Britain unless they have been produced to EU commercial standards.

  53. Edited the guidance under the 'Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) status for Canada and Ireland' heading.

  54. The World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OiE) has updated the risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) from 'controlled' to 'negligible' for Canada and Ireland.

  55. Added 4 new documents to revoke safeguard measures for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America.

  56. Great Britain’s temporary suspension of the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, has been extended until 3 September 2022.

  57. 6 updated documents have been uploaded for 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America'; 1. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in the USA: declaration of special measures (England)' | 2. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in the USA: declaration of special measures (Scotland)' | 3. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in USA: declaration of special measures (Wales)' | 4. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada: declaration of special measures (England)' | 5. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada: declaration of special measures (Scotland)' | 6. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada: declaration of special measures (Wales)'.

  58. Updated the declarations under the 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America' heading.

  59. Great Britain’s temporary suspension of the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, has been extended until 9 July 2022.

  60. Declarations of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania will be replaced with new declarations from 14 May 2022.

  61. Updated the declarations under the 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America' heading.

  62. Added the Declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania to Wales.

  63. Updated the USA declarations under the 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America' heading to reflect new outbreaks in the United States.

  64. Declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus. Poland and Romania to Scotland.

  65. England has temporarily suspended the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania, until 14 May 2022.

  66. Updated the USA declarations under the 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America' heading to reflect new outbreaks in the United States.

  67. Updated the section ‘Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK’. Replaced the USA avian influenza declarations for England, Wales and Scotland with new versions.

  68. Updated the section ‘Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK’. There are multiple outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the US and Canada. Imports to Great Britain of relevant poultry and poultry products (including hatching eggs and day old chicks) from affected regions of Canada and the United States are no longer authorised.

  69. Updated the sections about bluetongue virus, African swine fever, chronic wasting disease and lumpy skin disease.

  70. Added safeguarding measures on feeder rodents imported from Lithuania.

  71. Updated the section 'Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK'. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) import restrictions for Ukraine and Australia have been lifted.

  72. Added information regarding Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Botswana and the suspension of imports of certain animals and products from Botswana.

  73. Updated the information under the 'Avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK' heading to reflect the UK is now free from avian influenza.

  74. Updated following the confirmation of low pathogenic avian influenza at a commercial chicken farm in Mid Suffolk.

  75. New advice on African swine fever added. Advice updated on avian influenza (bird flu), bluetongue virus and lumpy skin disease. Crabs from Anglesey still cannot be exported to Hong Kong. Continued restrictions on trade of agricultural commodities to the Russian Federation until December 2019.

  76. Avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK section updated: trade unaffected following findings of bird flu in wild birds in England. Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK section updated: new strain of HPAI detected in wild birds in Northern Europe.

  77. Bluetongue virus in Europe section added and updated the chronic wasting disease and lumpy skin disease sections.

  78. Avian influenza in the UK section updated: the UK has declared itself free from highly pathogenic avian influenza today.

  79. Updated the guidance on avian influenza in Europe and the UK, lumpy skin disease in Europe, and restrictions on trade of agricultural commodities to the Russian Federation.

  80. Updated in the light of the case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) confirmed in turkeys on a poultry farm near Louth in Lincolnshire on 16 December 2016.

  81. Updated information about avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK, lumpy skin disease in Europe and chronic wasting disease in Norway.

  82. Added information on the UK becoming officially free of notifiable avian influenza.

  83. Published an update on lumpy skin disease in Bulgaria and updated content under other headings.

  84. Avian influenza (bird flu) section updated: the UK has today declared itself free from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

  85. Updated the section on Avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK.

  86. Updated the section on: Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK

  87. Avian Influenza section updated as final cleansing has now been done.

  88. Added new section on Lumpy skin disease in Greece. Removed the section on changes to the import requirements of intermediate products.

  89. We've made a further about to the information about exports of crabs to Hong Kong.

  90. Updated the section dealing with export of live crabs to China and Hong Kong.

  91. Updated to reflect lifting of avian influenza (bird flu) restrictions in Lancashire on 16 August 2015.

  92. Updated Restrictions on trade of agricultural commodities to the Russian Federation as ban has been extended to 2016.

  93. Avian influenza: United Kingdom (UK) notification of regionalisation added.

  94. Added line on outbreak of avian influenza in the commune of Herzlake, Lower Saxony, Germany.

  95. Section on bird flu in the UK updated to reflect a confirmed case at a farm in Lancashire. Page reordered - it now leads with the most recently updated item.

  96. Section on bird flu in the UK updated to reflect a suspect case at a farm in Lancashire.

  97. Amended the following sections: Avian Influenza (AI) outbreaks in the UK: availability of Export Health Certificates; Low Pathogenic Outbreak of Avian Influenza in the UK.

  98. Updated the Live crabs to China: residue testing section.

  99. Added information around horse imports from third countries.

  100. Added information about a new methodology for determining cadmium levels in foods.

  101. Added information about live crab exports to China.

  102. First published.

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