Importing live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed of non-animal origin from non-EU countries to Great Britain
How to import animals and animal products to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man from non-EU countries.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
This guidance applies to businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) that import or move live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed of non-animal origin (HRFNAO) from non-EU countries to Great Britain.
You should follow different rules for personal imports of pet animals or food containing animal products into Great Britain.
You should check the current topical issues, such as diseases, that would affect your import.
Where you can import from
You can only bring live animals, products of animal origin (POAO) and animal by-products (ABP) into Great Britain from approved non-EU countries.
Some animals and animal products must also come from establishments approved to export to Great Britain.
Find the import risk category
Under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), live animals, germinal products, animal by-products not intended for human consumption and POAO from non-EU countries are categorised as:
- low risk
- medium risk
- high risk
HRFNAO is not included in the risk categorisation under the BTOM.
Find the import risk category, inspection rates and related rules for the animal or animal product you are importing from non-EU countries to Great Britain.
Read more about importing live animals and germinal products under Balai rules, under the Border Target Operating Model.
Check what documents you need
You need a health certificate, sometimes called an official certificate, for medium and high risk imports. For medium or high risk animals and products you need an export health certificate (EHC) or importer declaration where one is available. Competent authorities should use model health certificates to create versions that exporters can apply for.
For low risk imports of ABP and POAO you need a commercial document. The goods must meet the relevant import conditions to be considered low risk.
The commercial document must be from the supplier and travel with your consignment.
Suppliers can use the template commercial document for imports of ABP.
In some cases, you may also need:
- an import licence or authorisation
- permits to meet other legal requirements, for example those controlling the trade in endangered species (CITES)
Read guidance below specific to your import to find out more about what documents you need.
Check if you need a specific licence or authorisation
For medium or high risk animals and products, if there is no export health certificate (EHC) or importer declaration for your goods, you need an import licence or authorisation.
For some low risk ABP and POAO products, a specific licence or authorisation may also be required prior to import.
Check the list of general licences to see if the licence you need already exists.
You must follow the conditions in the licence and check your licence to see if it must also travel with the consignment.
If the licence you need does not exist, you must either:
- complete form RM01 to apply for a specific rabies licence for animals (excluding pet dogs, cats or ferrets)
- complete form IV58 to apply for a specific licence or authorisation for animal pathogens and some POAO or ABP
High risk food and feed of non-animal origin (HRFNAO)
You do not need any licences, authorisations or permits for HRFNAO imports.
You will need official documents if you import HRFNAO under emergency controls:
- rice products from China listed in Annex 1 of 2011/844
- nuts and nut products, fruit and fruit products, seeds and seed products, dried spices and guar gum listed in Annex 2 of 2019/1793
- Chernobyl affected products
You will need:
- laboratory analyses
- health certificates (official certificates)
- commercial documents
Laboratory analyses
You must provide full laboratory analyses for HRFNAO products to screen for various contaminants. The screening process and what to screen for depends on your product.
Laboratory analyses from the competent authority where the sample was tested are valid for 6 months. They must be accompanied by an official certificate.
Official certificates
The EU exporter must:
- apply for the official certificate in their own country – competent authorities should use model official certificates to create versions that exporters can apply for
- give you an electronic copy to upload to the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS)
The certificate is valid for 4 months. The original certificate (not a copy) must travel with the consignment.
Commercial documents
The commercial document for your HRFNAO will usually be from the haulage company or its airway bill. It should include the:
- description of what’s in the consignment
- name of the person or organisation who sent it
- name of the person or organisation it’s being sent to
- address of the premises of origin
- address of the destination premises
- reference identifying the lot, batch or consignment
- date the consignment was sent
- name and address of the transporter and details on how the consignment will be transported
The document must travel with the consignment.
Read more about importing HRFNAO under the Border Target Operating Model.
Notify authorities in Great Britain about imports from outside the EU
You need to use IPAFFS to notify a BCP before importing:
- live animals
- germinal products
- POAO subject to veterinary checks
- HRFNAO
- ABP subject to veterinary checks
You must do this at least one working day before your goods are expected to arrive at the point of entry.
Importing products made of more than one commodity type
If you are importing a product that contains different commodity types with different import requirements, you need to submit separate import notifications on IPAFFS for each commodity type. Commodity types include HRFNAO, animal products and plant products.
For example, if your product contains HRFNAO and animal products, you need to:
- submit a CHED.D for the HRFNAO
- submit a CHED.P for the animal product
You should include both CHED reference numbers in the commercial documentation uploaded to each import notification. For example, you need to:
- add the CHED.P reference number to the commercial documentation on the CHED.D notification.
- add the CHED.D reference number to the commercial documentation on the CHED.P
For all types of CHED, the reference number should be entered in the field labelled ‘data element (DE) 2/3’ on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). You should write the CHED reference number in the following format on your customs declaration - GBCHDyyyy.nnnnnnn. For example, the product containing HRFNAO and animal products would be declared using:
- document code C678 for the CHED-D, followed by the CHED reference number
- document code N853 for the CHED-P, followed by the CHED reference number
If any CHED reference numbers are missing, your products may be held until this is resolved. Find more guidance on how to enter data into CDS.
Checks at BCPs
There are checks at the border on medium and high risk consignments imported from non-EU countries.
Low risk consignments imported from non-EU countries must enter through a BCP, but they may not have physical or identity checks.
Finding the right BCP
You must import your animals or animal products through a point of entry which has the relevant border control point for the animals or animal products in your shipment.
Fees
You must pay a fee to have your consignment checked at a BCP. Find the fees for checks on live animals at a BCP or contact the product BCP you plan to use for information on the fees you’ll be charged.
You may also have to pay a common user charge. The common user charge applies to commercial movements of animal products, plants and plant products through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.
When your consignment arrives
Official veterinarians or inspectors at the BCP may check the consignment. This may also include a physical check.
The result of the check will be recorded on IPAFFS and officials will give you a completed and validated common health entry document (CHED).
Leaving the BCP
You must not remove your consignment from the BCP or customs clearance area until official inspectors have completed and validated the CHED.
After your consignment leaves the BCP, you must:
- make sure your consignment goes directly to the destination named on the CHED
- make sure the original CHED goes with your consignment to its final destination
- comply with any movement restrictions associated with your import
ABP: confirm goods have arrived at their destination if they need channelling
‘Channelling’ is where an ABP consignment must be moved directly from the point of entry to the approved point of destination. All precautions, including safe disposal of waste, must be taken to avoid risks of spreading diseases to animals or humans.
The recipient must tell APHA within one day of the goods arriving at the destination.
For low risk goods, the import risk summary table will tell you if your import needs channelling.
The following medium risk ABPs are subject to channelling:
- those intended for the manufacture of feed for fur animals, petfood other than raw petfood, and for derived products for uses other than for feeding farmed animals
- rendered fats which are not destined for the production of feed for farmed animals, the manufacture of cosmetics, medicinal products or medical devices
- fat derivatives
- photogelatine
- horns and horn products, excluding horn meal, and hooves and hoof products, excluding hoof meal, intended for the production of organic fertilizers or soil improvers
- trade samples
Untreated blood and blood products require channelling if all the following is true:
- they are for the manufacture of derived products for uses other than feeding farmed animals
- they have been derived from animals belonging to the taxa Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla (excluding Equidae) and Proboscidea, including their crossbreeds
- they come from a country or region where vaccination programmes against foot-and-mouth disease are being officially carried out and controlled in domestic ruminant animals for at least 12 months
Untreated blood products from animals other than Suidae, Tayassuidae and Equidae require channelling if they come from countries or regions where:
- there have been recorded cases of vesicular stomatitis and bluetongue in the previous 12 months
- vaccination programmes against vesicular stomatitis and bluetongue are being officially carried out against those diseases for at least 12 months in the susceptible animals
Untreated blood products from Suidae and Tayassuidae animals require channelling if they come from countries or regions where:
- no case of swine vesicular disease, classical swine fever and African swine fever has been recorded in the previous 12 months and vaccination has not been carried out against those diseases in those 12 months
- cases of vesicular stomatitis (including the presence of seropositive animals) have been recorded in the previous 12 months and vaccination has been carried out against this disease within those 12 months in the susceptible species
Animal welfare when importing live animals
You must make sure you meet animal welfare standards when transporting live animals.
Endangered species
You need to check if your import is on the list of endangered species covered by CITES. If your import is on the CITES list, you may need to apply for a CITES permit before importing.
Display, laboratory and research animals
You need to follow different rules, known as the Balai Directive, if you’re importing display, laboratory and research animals, including those used in conservation or education programmes.
Transiting live animals and animal products through Great Britain
Read guidance about moving live animals and animal products from one country to another and transiting Great Britain, known as ‘landbridge’ movements.
Importing animals and animal products from non-EU countries to Great Britain that transit through the EU
There are different requirements to import live animals, germinal products, ABP and POAO if they start their journey in a non-EU country then travel through the EU on their way to Great Britain.
Imports of HRFNAO have specific import conditions on entry into Great Britain and must always follow the rules for imports from non-EU countries, even if they transit the EU.
Read guidance below specific to your import to find out more about the requirements.
Equines imported or moved to Great Britain through the EU, Norway or Northern Ireland
Normally, equines (horses and donkeys) imported or moved to Great Britain from a non-EU country need to enter Great Britain through a BCP, unless they come from Norway or Northern Ireland.
If they have passed animal health inspections at a recognised EU BCP then they do not need to enter Great Britain through a BCP.
Read guidance about the EU’s digital certification and management platform (TRACES).
If you cannot prove that the equines you’re importing have passed an animal health inspection at an EU BCP, they must enter through a point of entry with the relevant approved BCP.
An APHA veterinary officer will inspect an equine and relevant documentation again if APHA:
- decides the equine requires another animal health inspection
- suspects any non-compliance
Live animals, germinal products and ABP
Live animals, germinal products and ABP subject to veterinary checks that originate in a non-EU country and travel through the EU before arriving in Great Britain do not need to enter Great Britain at an established point of entry with the relevant authorised BCP if they meet all the following requirements:
- the goods have a GB health certificate certified in the third country of origin
- a Great Britain importer has notified on IPAFFS at least one working day before the expected time of arrival at the point of entry – select the EU member state the goods are travelling from as the ‘country of origin’
- you can show proof of a successful health inspection – you can upload the CHED to the IPAFFS notification
If the goods have not met these requirements, then they must:
- be notified on IPAFFS at least one working day before the expected time of arrival at the point of entry – select the non-EU country the consignment originated from as the ‘country of origin’
- have a GB health certificate
- enter Great Britain at a point of entry with the relevant authorised BCP for document, identity and physical checks
POAO
If your consignment of POAO has undergone full animal and public health checks and has been cleared for circulation on the EU market, follow the guidance to import food and drink (POAO) from the EU to Great Britain.
Other consignments of POAO from non-EU countries must:
- be notified on IPAFFS at least one working day before the expected time of arrival at the point of entry – select the non-EU country the consignment originated from as the ‘country of origin’
- have a GB health certificate
- enter Great Britain at a point of entry with the relevant authorised BCP for document, identity and physical checks
Contact APHA for help
Contact the APHA Animal imports team for help.
Updates to this page
Last updated 27 August 2024 + show all updates
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Information has been added on importing products made of more than one commodity type.
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The page has been updated with information about changes to imports in line with the Border Target Operating Model. Structural changes have also been made throughout the page to clarify the guidance.
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Added information about imports of live animals and animal products which transit the EU.
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There are new fees for BCP checks in England and Scotland from 1 July 2023. Updated the link to find the new 'fees for checks on live animals at a BCP'.
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Updated with new dates for the introduction of controls on equines imported or moved to Great Britain from a country other than an EU Member State, Norway or Northern Ireland, via the EU, Norway or Northern Ireland.
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Updated with new dates for when equines do not need to enter Great Britain through a Border Control Post (BCP) provided they meet certain health and identity requirements.
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Content added on health and identity requirements for equines.
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Updated with guidance on how to comply with rules from 1 January 2021.
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Updated to explain that importers should use IPAFFS instead of TRACES to notify BCPs of live animal imports.
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Changed new import system users will need from TRACES to IPAFFS.
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Explained new processes for Live animal notifications and Animal products notifications.
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Highlighted the link to guidance about how importers should prepare for Brexit.
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Updated to include link to EU Exit guidance
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Replaced the link to UK border inspection posts on the EU website with a link to UK border inspection posts on GOV.UK in the section Finding the right Border Inspection Post.
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BIP fees updated
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Updated contact details links to the European Commission.
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Change of address for Centre for International Trade Carlisle.
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General review and update to clarify guidance in some sections including commercial imports, notifying the BIP
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Added a link to the form to request updates on changes to rules on imports of animals and animal products.
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Updated guidance under the general licences heading.
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AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
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First published.