Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) trade assurance

Defra will coordinate SPS trade assurance in the UK to ensure trading partners meet import conditions for food and feed safety and standards and for animal health and welfare.

Trading partners can contact ukassurance@defra.gov.uk for information on:

• the UK SPS assurance system
• applications to export animals and animal products to the UK
• coordination of inspections following new applications, incidents or outbreaks
• updates to the UK’s database of establishments that are approved to export animal products to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)

Different procedures may apply in Northern Ireland to GB because NI is aligned with the EU through the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP) on SPS matters.

Existing approved countries and commodities

Existing EU rules will become UK law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 from 1 January 2021.

The UK will continue to recognise countries currently approved to export live animals and animal products to the UK.

GB will manage its lists of approved countries and commodities independently from the EU from 1 January 2021. NI will remain aligned with EU lists under the NIP.

Existing approved establishments

The UK will continue to recognise existing establishments that are approved to export animal products to the UK from 1 January 2021.

GB will manage its lists of establishments independently from the EU from 1 January 2021. If there are any additions, deletions or changes to your country’s approved establishments you should fill in the relevant form and email it to ukassurance@defra.gov.uk.

NI will remain aligned with EU lists under the NIP.

New market access applications to GB

If you want to export animals or animal products to GB that you are not currently approved to trade in, your competent authority must submit a market access application. The UK will only process applications sent from a competent authority.

If you need to apply to export to GB:

• live animals, products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products and hay and straw to the UK from 1 January 2021, email ukassurance@defra.gov.uk
• controlled plants and plant products, email the UK National Plant Protection Organisation at UKNPPO@defra.gov.uk

Requirements for trading partners approved to export to GB

Countries approved to export to GB must:

• comply with import conditions
• use health certificates

Use IPAFFS to pre-notify of your exports to GB

GB will no longer be using the EU’s TRACES system.

To import live animals, animal by-products, animal products, and high risk food not of animal origin, you should contact your GB importer. They will pre-notify the GB authorities using the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS).

You should continue to use the EU TRACES system to pre-notify NI of imports.

Veterinary residue results

If you have an approved veterinary residue control plan listed in Commission Decision 2011/163 you must submit results annually to ukassurance@defra.gov.uk.