Exporting poultry meat from the UK to the EU

UK exports bearing one or more of these farming or chilling methods (optional indications) must have a certificate from a UK competent authority.

Farming method marks

Farming method marks include:

• fed with … % …
• extensive indoor or barn-reared
• free range
• traditional free range
• free range total freedom

Chilling method marks

Chilling method marks include:

• air-chilling
• air-spray chilling
• immersion chilling

Competent authority certificates for farming or chilling methods

The UK government will issue certificates, however they may not be available from 1 January 2021. You can either export poultry meat to the EU without a certificate or remove optional indications.

To do this you must remove all optional indications from any:

• packaging
• labelling
• accompanying documentation

If you export without a certificate, your goods may be delayed or rejected at an EU border.

If you plan to export poultry meat from the UK to the EU marked with any of these chilling and farming methods, please contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) at poultry.mailbox@defra.gov.uk.

Marketing standards checks

There may be more marketing standards checks carried out on your products when they arrive in the EU.

EU officials may check that your exports comply with the relevant EU marketing standards regulation for poultry meat. These are the current regulations, which the UK government will keep from 1 January 2021.

Customs checks

There may be more customs checks carried out on your products. Poultry meat, along with all products of animal origin, should enter the EU through a Border Control Post (BCP). BCPs were previously known as Border Inspection Posts (BIP).

For more information see exporting animals, animal products, fish and fishery products from 1 January 2021.

Importing poultry meat to the UK from EU and non-EU countries

Marketing standards for poultry meat imported from EU and non-EU (third) countries will not change straight away.

EU poultry meat with farming or chilling methods will not need an EU competent authority certificate for one year after 1 January 2021.

Exporting poultry meat from the UK to non-EU countries

Poultry meat for export to non-EU (third) countries may need to comply with different regulations for:

• quality
• marking
• labelling

You should check the import requirements of the country you’re exporting to.

Exporting poultry meat to non-EU (third) countries via the EU

You do not need a certificate for exports travelling through the EU as part of a customs transit procedure, unless your destination country requires one.