Submit a residue control plan for exports to Great Britain
Guidance for competent authorities submitting a residue control plan and test results to Defra for exports of products of animal origin for human consumption to Great Britain.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Countries must have an approved residue control plan in place for each type of product of animal origin (POAO) for human consumption they export to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
If you are the responsible competent authority in an exporting country, you must submit a residue control plan and test results to Defra when you apply for approval to export POAO for human consumption to Great Britain.
Read more about applying for approval to export animal products to Great Britain.
If you already have approval to export POAO for human consumption to Great Britain, every year you must submit an updated residue control plan and test results for each approved commodity.
If you are an exporter, food business or trade body, you cannot apply for approval to export animal products to Great Britain. Contact the responsible competent authority in the country of export.
What a residue control plan is for
Products of animal origin for human consumption exported to Great Britain must not contain more than the maximum permitted amount of certain:
- pharmacologically active substances
- pesticides
- contaminants
A residue control plan shows how you monitor and control the presence of these substances in the commodities you export to Great Britain. It is necessary to have one in place for any of the following types of commodity:
- bovine
- ovine or caprine
- porcine
- equine
- poultry
- aquaculture
- milk
- eggs
- rabbit
- wild game
- farmed game
- honey
We (Defra) assess submitted plans for equivalence with Great Britain’s standards for monitoring of residues, including compliance with maximum residue limits. These assessments are intended to ensure that imports into Great Britain of POAO are safe for human consumption.
How to prepare and submit your residue control plan
You should use Defra’s template submission documents to submit information about your residue control plan.
The documents cover:
- test results from the previous year
- your plan for the current year
- supplementary information
You can request the documents by emailing the UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance at ukassurance@defra.gov.uk. Complete all 3 documents and return them by email.
When to submit your residue control plan
If you are applying for approval to export POAO for human consumption to Great Britain, you should submit your residue control plan and test results when you make the market access request.
Read more about applying for approval to export animal products to Great Britain.
If you already have approval to export POAO for human consumption to Great Britain, you must submit an updated residue control plan and test results for each commodity by 31 March every year.
If you do not submit an updated plan and test results by 31 March every year, you may be removed from the list of approved countries.
When you submit a plan and test results, you should make it clear whether it is part of:
- a market access request
- an annual submission for commodities for which you already hold approval
After you have submitted a plan
Once you have submitted your plan and test results, we (Defra) will be in touch if we have any questions.
If you do not hear from us, you do not need to take further action.
If you have submitted the plan and test results as part of a market access request and the request is successful, we will update the list of countries with approved residue control plans.