In addition to following poultry meat marketing standards, you must also follow guidance for importing animal and animal products or exporting animals and animal products to the EU from 1 January 2021.

Exporting poultry meat from the UK to the EU

The UK is no longer a member of the EU and from 1 January 2021 will be classed as a third country.

The UK has applied to the EU for third country listing to allow the export of poultry meat with optional indications.

Exporting poultry meat from GB to the EU

If you export poultry meat from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to the EU from 1 January 2021, you should prepare for the third country import requirements (PDF, 772KB) in the EU marketing standards regulations.

GB exports bearing one or more of these farming or chilling method marks (optional indications) must have a poultry meat optional indications certificate from a GB competent authority from 1 January 2021.

You’ll also need to get an export health certificate.

Moving poultry meat from GB to NI

Goods moving from GB to NI will also be required to meet EU import marketing standards requirements.

Exporting poultry meat from NI to the EU

There will be no change to the requirements for exporting poultry meat to the EU from Northern Ireland (NI).

Farming method marks

Farming method marks are:

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

Chilling method marks

Chilling method marks are:

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

Poultry meat optional indications certificates

Poultry meat optional indications certificates for poultry meat reared and processed in GB will be issued by:

• the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in England and Wales
• the Scottish government in Scotland

Guidance about this certification process will be published on this page when available.

Checks and controls

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 (BIPs).

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

Goods moved from GB to NI will need to enter through designated points of entry. Further information on these checks and controls, and their frequency, will provided when available.

For more information read guidance on Moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.

Importing poultry meat from the EU to the UK

Marketing standards for poultry meat imported into the UK will not change on 1 January 2021.

Importing poultry meat from the EU to GB

Marketing standards for poultry meat imported into GB from the EU will not change straight away.

EU poultry meat with farming or chilling methods will not need third country listing or an EU competent authority certificate until 1 January 2022.

The process for EU member states to apply for third country listing will be published in 2021.

Importing poultry meat from the EU to NI

There will be no change to the requirements for importing poultry meat from the EU to NI.

Moving poultry meat from NI to GB

There will be no change to the requirements for moving poultry meat to GB from NI.

Importing poultry meat from non-EU countries to the UK

There will be no change to the import requirements from non-EU countries.

Exporting poultry meat from the UK to non-EU countries

Poultry meat for export to non-EU 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 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.

This guidance is subject to Parliamentary process and agreement with the devolved administrations.