This guidance applies to businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) importing or moving live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin from:

• the EU
• Northern Ireland (NI)

You need to follow different guidance if you’re importing these goods from non-EU countries.

Check if your animal product import must come from an approved establishment

Imports of the following animal products must come from from an establishment that has been approved by the exporting country to trade with the UK:

• high risk animal by-products
• germinal products
• products of animal origin (POAO) under safeguard measures.

You can check if an establishment is approved on the EU lists of approved establishments for:

• animal by-products not for human consumption
• germplasm
• food

Each establishment will have an approval number.

You must pre-notify imports from EU countries, and certain countries in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), on the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS).

Read more guidance on the requirements for different animal products in the Border Operating Model.

Importing from approved establishments in EU countries

To import from EU member states, you need to manually enter details of the approved establishment in IPAFFS:

1. On the ‘Traders addresses’ page, select ‘Add a place of origin’, then select ‘Create a new place of origin’.
2. In the ‘Place of origin name’ field, enter the full name of the exporting establishment, then its authorisation number. You can check the name against the EU’s lists of approved establishments.
3. In the ‘Place of origin’ fields, enter the full address, telephone number, country and email address for the approved establishment where requested.
4. Save these details. Then you can add the approved establishment to your pre-notification. Details will be saved to your address book so that you can use them again.

Importing from approved establishments in Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, San Marino, Faroes or Greenland

If there is no option on IPAFFS to select the approved establishment from a drop-down menu, you need to enter details manually following the same process as for EU countries.

Check what documents you need

Imports need to come with one or all of the following documents:

• health certificate
• import licence
• commercial document

Find out what documents you need for your animal or product from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Vet Gateway.

Health certificate

You need a health certificate for:

• most live animals
• germinal products (semen, ova and embryos)
• animal products for human consumption if they’re coming from an area with safeguard restrictions on it – check APHA’s information notes on animal products for human consumption

Requirements for health certificates for imports of animal products into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) will be introduced in phases from April to July 2021.

• 1 April 2021
• 1 July 2021

You must make sure the person you’re importing from arranges the health certificate in their own country. The original certificate (not a copy) must travel with the consignment and they must give you an electronic copy to upload to the Import products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS).

Health certificates for animal by-products (ABP)

To import category 1 or 2 animal by-products from the EU to GB, you must get an authorisation document. Contact APHA if you’re not sure how to do this.

Import licence

Certain animals and animal products must have an import licence or authorisation to be imported into Great Britain.

Check the list of general licences to see if the licence you need already exists.

If it does, you do not need to apply for it but you must follow the conditions described in it (for example, it might need certain treatments or other documentation).

If the licence you need is not on the list, you might need to apply for an import licence for animal pathogens and products. Check with APHA’s Centre for International Trade first.

If you want to import rodents, lagomorphs (rabbits, hares and pikas) and most exotic mammals, you must apply for a licence to import live animals excluding pet dogs, cats and ferrets.

There are special rules if you want to import horses and ponies.

Commercial document

Make sure the person you’re importing your goods from completes a commercial document. It must include:

• details of what’s in the consignment
• the name of the person who sent it
• the name of the person it’s being sent to

Importing ABP and products of animal origin (POAO)

You must use IPAFFS to pre-notify the arrival of:

• high-risk ABP and category 3 processed animal protein (PAP)
• POAO under safeguard measures (where a commodity code is available)

Animal by-products imports

ABP are in either high risk or low risk categories.

In the majority of cases, you will not be able to import category 1 and 2 ABP.

If your category 1 or category 2 ABP can be imported you must get pre-authorisation from Defra before any imports take place.

ABP must be accompanied by a commercial document when you import them from the EU. Contact the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) if you’re unsure whether you need a commercial document.

POAO under safeguard measures imports

POAO which are under safeguard measures must be accompanied by a health certificate.

When you submit your import notification on IPAFFS you’ll get a unique notification number (UNN). The format of this number will be IMP.GB.2021.1XXXXXX.

You must give this UNN to the EU exporter or OV.

The EU exporter or the OV will add the UNN to the health certificate.

The EU exporter will then provide you with an electronic copy of the health certificate to upload on to IPAFFS.

For new and emerging disease outbreaks

Regulators in England, Scotland and Wales can take emergency safeguard action at short notice to prohibit or restrict the import of certain products from certain countries following an outbreak of disease or a public health issue. Check for updates on disease outbreaks which may affect imports into the UK.

If safeguard measures are in place because of a new or emerging disease and your commodity code is unavailable in IPAFFS, follow these steps to pre-notify:

1. Download and fill in the Import notification form for POAO under safeguard measures IV70. Send the IV70 form to the Centre for International Trade – Carlisle (APHA CIT) at APHAGBimports@apha.gov.uk. Use the email subject: ‘URGENT – POAO SAFEGUARDING UNN REQUIRED’.
2. APHA CIT will give you a UNN. Give this to the EU exporter or OV to add to the health certificate.
3. The EU exporter will give you an electronic copy of the health certificate.
4. Email the completed IV70 and health certificate to APHA CIT at APHAGBimports@apha.gov.uk. Include the UNN in the email subject heading. For example: ‘IMPORT NOTIFICATION – POAO UNDER SAFEGUARD MEASURES IMP.GB.2021.2000001’.
5. APHA CIT will email you with the updated form with the UNN and the health certificate.

New import requirements for other POAO will apply from 1 April 2021.

New import requirements for low-risk ABPs will apply from 1 July 2021.

Import live animals and germinal products

Live animals, including equines and germinal products must be:

• accompanied by a health certificate
• pre-notified by the importer using IPAFFS at least one working day before the expected time of arrival at the point of entry

You’ll need to give the EU exporter or OV the unique notification number (UNN) automatically produced by IPAFFS when you submit your import notification. The format of this number will be IMP.GB.2021.1XXXXXX.

The OV must add the UNN to the health certificate. A copy of the health certificate must be attached to the import notification.

APHA will carry out identity and physical checks on imports of live animals from the EU at their destination, based on a risk assessment until July 2021.

Import non-harmonized animals such as reptiles, amphibians (except salamanders) and invertebrates (except bees, molluscs and crustaceans)

Imports of non-harmonized animals such as reptiles, amphibians (except salamanders) and invertebrates (except bees, molluscs and crustaceans) must be:

• pre-notified by the importer using IPAFFS one working day in advance of arrival at the point of entry
• accompanied by the relevant commercial documents – including an invoice and packing list containing details of species, number of animals, premises of origin and premises of destination
• accompanied by an exporter declaration that the animals are ‘fit to travel’ for commercial moves

Import from an EU country from 1 April 2021

There are new rules for importing animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin into GB from the EU from 1 April 2021.

Animal products (POAO): imports from 1 April 2021

From 1 April 2021, POAO imports must be:

• accompanied by a health certificate so they can have remote documentary checks
• pre-notified by the importer using IPAFFS

Import requirements for high-risk ABPs and POAO under safeguard measures introduced on 1 January 2021 will continue to apply.

New import requirements for low-risk ABPs will not apply until 1 July 2021.

High-risk food and feed not of animal origin: imports from April 2021

From 1 April 2021, anyone importing high-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO) must use IPAFFS to submit import pre-notifications.

Import from an EU country from 1 July 2021

There are new rules for importing animal products, live animals and germinal products, and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin into GB from the EU from 1 July 2021.

Animal products (POAO and ABPs): imports from July 2021

All POAOs and certain ABPs must enter GB at an established point of entry with an appropriate BCP from 1 July 2021.

Check if your product must be imported through a point of entry with an appropriate BCP by looking for the CN code for your product in:

• Annex I to Regulation 2019/2007
• Decision 2007/275/EC

Certain ABP goods must:

• be accompanied by a health certificate if available – if there is no health certificate for your commodity, contact APHA as goods may be able to travel under licence and a commercial document
• be pre-notified by the importer using IPAFFS
• enter at an established point of entry with an appropriate BCP so they’re available for documentary, identity and physical checks

Live animals and germinal products: imports from July 2021

New import requirements will apply to live animals, including equines and germinal products from the EU from 1 July 2021.

Goods must:

• be accompanied by a health certificate so they can have documentary checks
• be pre-notified by the importer using IPAFFS
• enter at an established point of entry with an appropriate BCP so they’re available for documentary, identity and physical checks

The level of physical and identity checks from 1 July 2021 will be based on assessments of biosecurity and public health risks.

All high-risk live animals imported from the EU will continue to be checked. The UK will review controls on goods following existing and new trade agreements and any changes in risk status during 2021. Any changes to controls on EU live animals and germinal products will be introduced after January 2022.

High-risk food and feed not of animal origin: imports from July 2021

From 1 July 2021, anyone importing high-risk food and feed not of animal origin must:

• submit import pre-notifications at least one working day in advance of the goods’ arrival
• enter them through a BCP so they can have documentary checks, and if necessary identity and physical checks

Find a full list of UK BCPs.

Check if you need to notify APHA

You need to notify APHA if you plan to import live animals that do not need a health certificate or official documentation, but do have to be notified under Trade in Animals and Related Products regulations (TARP). For example, insects, reptiles and amphibians.

If you’re importing to Northern Ireland, contact DAERA for advice about what you need to do.

When your consignment arrives

Animals must be taken directly to the destination premises listed in the documentation. Depending on the species imported, animals may need to stay at the destination premises for 48 hours.

Consignments may need a post-import check. APHA will contact you to arrange a visit if they do.

Documents to transport live animals from EU to GB

To transport live animals from the EU to GB, or to NI via GB, transporters must apply for GB-issued:

• transporter authorisation
• certificate of competence
• vehicle approval certificate

GB does not accept EU-issued versions of these documents. You can use EU versions in NI.

Journey logs

You must apply for 2 journey logs for live animal movements from the EU to, or through, GB:

• one approved by APHA
• one approved by the EU member state of origin

For more information contact CITCarlisle@apha.gov.uk.

Documents to transport live animals from NI to GB

Transporter authorisation, certificates of competence and vehicle approval certificates issued in NI are valid for use in GB.

For further information on documents to transport live animals email APHA: CITCarlisle@apha.gov.uk or DAERA.

Transiting live animals through GB

Read guidance about moving food containing animal products from one third country to another third country and transiting GB, known as ‘landbridge’ movements.

Animal welfare when importing live animals

You must make sure you meet animal welfare standards when importing live animals.

Imports from the EU to NI

There will be no changes to the way live animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin are imported from the EU into NI.

Movements from NI to GB

You can move animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin from NI to GB if they are qualifying NI goods.

Qualifying NI goods are goods:

• in free circulation in NI – which means they are not under customs supervision (except when that supervision arises from the goods being taken out of NI or the EU)
• which have undergone processing operations in NI under the inward processing procedure, and only incorporate inputs which were in free circulation in the UK

These arrangements will not apply to goods covered by specific rules such as Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

If you need help

Contact APHA’s Centre for International Trade Carlisle if you’re not sure about anything.