Requirements for landbridge transits moving between EU countries or NI will be introduced in 3 stages:

• January to July 2021
• April 2021
• July 2021 onwards

EU to GB to EU transits from January 2021

This guidance covers the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for EU goods moving:

• from EU to GB to EU
• from EU to GB to Northern Ireland (NI)
• from NI to GB to EU

Live animals

To transit live animals through GB they must:

• be pre-notified on TRACES
• have an Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC)

High health status horses moving between France and the Republic of Ireland will travel on a DOCOM (created in TRACES).

Animals can enter and exit GB through any port with no identity or physical inspections carried out at entry or exit to GB.

APHA will carry out remote documentary checks.

The EU member state receiving the goods must email APHA at APHAGBimports@apha.gov.uk to confirm that the consignment has left GB territory, with the subject line ‘Confirmation that a consignment has left GB territory’.

You must follow animal welfare requirements for animals transiting GB.

All live animals will need:

• transporter authorisation issued by APHA
• certificates of competence
• vehicle approval certificates from the relevant bodies in GB or Northern Ireland

You need an EU and UK journey log if you’re moving cattle, sheep, pigs, goats or unregistered horses for trade:

• from GB to the EU
• from the EU to GB
• if your journey is more than 8 hours

You cannot use EU issued documents (which includes Republic of Ireland) in GB.

To apply for a transporter authorisation from APHA, the transporter must be represented in GB. For more information contact:

• APHA in GB: CITCarlisle@apha.gov.uk
• DAERA in NI:https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/contact

The maximum permitted journey time varies by species and life stage. A consignment of animals may need to be rested for 24 hours. There are approved control posts where animals can be unloaded.

Germinal products and POAO subject to safeguard measures

To transit germinal products through GB they must:

• be pre-notified on TRACES
• have an ITAHC

Goods can enter and exit GB through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.

The EU member state receiving the goods must email APHA at APHAGBimports@apha.gov.uk to confirm that the consignment has left GB territory, with the subject line ‘Confirmation that a consignment has left GB territory’.

High risk ABP only (Category 1 and 2 material and Category 3 Processed Animal Protein)

To transit high risk ABP through GB they must:

• be pre-notified on TRACES
• have a DOCOM

Goods can enter and exit GB through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.

The EU member state receiving the goods must email APHA at APHAGBimports@apha.gov.uk to confirm that the consignment has left GB territory, with the subject line ‘Confirmation that a consignment has left GB territory’.

Products with no requirements for EU to GB to EU transits from January to April 2021

There are no requirements for transit across GB for POAO not subject to safeguard measures.

No notification is required and the goods can enter and exit GB through any port, with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.

Products with no requirements for EU to GB to EU transits from January to July 2021

There are no requirements for transit across GB for:

• low risk APB
• regulated plants and plant products

No notification is required and the goods can enter and exit GB through any port, with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.

EU to GB to EU transits from April 2021

POAO not subject to safeguard measures

To transit POAO not subject to safeguard measures they must:

• be pre-notified on IPAFFS
• have a GB health certificate

Goods can enter and exit GB through any port with no physical or ID checks on entry or exit.

EU to GB to EU transits from July 2021

Guidance on transits from the EU to GB to EU from July 2021 will be available in spring 2021.

EU to GB to non-EU countries transits from January 2021

The SPS requirements you must meet for EU goods moving from the EU to GB to non-EU countries will depend on the products you’re sending.

Live animals

Live animals must:

• be pre-notified on IPAFFS at least one working day before the expected time of arrival at the point of entry
• have a GB health certificate

You’ll need to give the EU exporter or official veterinarian (OV) the unique notification number (UNN) produced by IPAFFS when you pre-notify APHA about the transit.

Your exporter must add the UNN to the health certificate.

Animals can enter and exit GB through any port without any identity or physical inspections.

You must follow animal welfare requirements for animals transiting GB.

All live animals will need:

• transporter authorisation issued by APHA
• certificates of competence
• vehicle approval certificates from the relevant bodies in GB or Northern Ireland

You need an EU and UK journey log if you’re moving cattle, sheep, pigs, goats or unregistered horses for trade:

• from GB to the EU
• from the EU to GB
• if your journey is more than 8 hours

You can no longer use EU-issued documents (which includes the Republic of Ireland) in GB.

To apply for a transporter authorisation from APHA, you must be represented in GB. For more information contact:

• APHA in GB: CITCarlisle@apha.gov.uk
• DAERA in NI:https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/contact

The maximum permitted journey time varies by species and life stage. A consignment of animals may need to be rested for 24 hours. There are approved control posts where animals can be unloaded.

Germinal products and POAO subject to safeguard measures

To transit germinal products they must:

• be pre-notified on IPAFFS
• have a GB health certificate

You’ll need to give the EU exporter or OV the unique notification number (UNN) that is produced on IPAFFS when you pre-notify APHA of the import. The EU exporter must add the UNN to the health certificate.

Goods can enter and exit GB through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.

High risk ABP only – (Category 1 and 2 material and Category 3 Processed Animal Protein)

To transit high risk ABP they must:

• be pre-notified on IPAFFS
• have a commercial document

Goods can enter and exit GB through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.

Products with no requirements for EU to GB to non-EU transits from January to April 2021

There are no requirements for transit across GB for POAO not subject to safeguard measures.

No notification is required and the goods can enter and exit GB through any port, with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.

Products with no requirements for EU to GB to non-EU transits from January to July 2021

There are no requirements for transit across GB for:

• low risk APB
• regulated plants and plant products

No notification is required and the goods can enter and exit GB through any port, with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.

EU to GB to non-EU countries transits from April 2021

POAO not subject to safeguard measures

To transit POAO subject to safeguard measures they must:

• be pre-notified on IPAFFS
• have a GB health certificate

Goods can enter and exit GB through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.

You’ll need to give the EU exporter or OV the unique notification number (UNN) that is produced on IPAFFS when you pre-notify APHA of the import. The EU exporter must add the UNN to the health certificate.

EU to GB to non-EU countries transits from July 2021

Guidance on transits from EU to GB to non-EU countries from July 2021 will be available in spring 2021.

Transits from non-EU countries

You’ll need to meet specific requirements for SPS goods transiting:

• from a non-EU country to GB to a non-EU country
• from a non-EU country to GB to the EU

POAO, ABP and germinal products

To transit POAO, ABP and germinal products from a non-EU country through GB they must:

• be pre-notified on IPAFFS at least one working day before your consignment is due to arrive
• have a GB health certificate

The goods must enter and exit GB at an appropriate BCP for documentary and identity checks. Physical checks are only carried out in cases of suspected non-compliance.

Live animals

To transit live animals they must:

• be pre-notified on IPAFFS at least one working day before your consignment is due to arrive
• have a GB health certificate

The goods must enter GB at an appropriate BCP for document, ID and physical checks.

You must follow animal welfare requirements for animals transiting GB.

Imports from non-EU countries to GB that travel through the EU

Requirements for imports of live animals, germinal products and ABP, that originate in a third country and transit the EU before being imported into GB, will be introduced in 2 stages:

• January to July 2021
• July 2021 onwards

Live animals, germinal products and ABP

Live animals, germinal products and ABP subject to veterinary checks that originate in a non-EU country and transit EU territory before arriving in GB do not need to enter GB at a BCP if:

• the goods have a GB health certificate certified in the third country of origin
• a GB importer has pre-notified on IPAFFS at least one working day before the expected time of arrival at the point of entry
• you can show proof of a successful health inspection – you can upload the CHED to the IPAFFS notification

On IPAFFS, select the EU member state the goods are travelling from as the ‘country of origin’.

You’ll need to give the EU exporter or OV the unique notification number (UNN) produced by IPAFFS when you pre-notify APHA about the transit. The exporter must add the UNN to the health certificate

If the goods have not met these criteria then they must:

• be pre-notifed 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 export health certificate
• enter GB at an established point of entry with an appropriate BCP so they’re available for document, identity and physical checks

High risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)

HRFNAO are goods which have specific import conditions on entry into GB. See a list of goods with restrictions.

From 1 January 2021 any HRFNAO that transits the EU from a third country, before import into GB will need to enter GB through a BCP approved for those HRFNAO goods.

HRFNAO must:

• be pre-notified on IPAFFS at least one working day in advance of the goods’ arrival – select the non-EU country the consignment originated from as the ‘country of origin’
• enter GB at an established point of entry with an appropriate BCP so they’re available for document, identity and physical checks

HRFNAO listed in Annex 2 of 2019/1793 will need to be accompanied by:

• an official certificate from the country of origin
• laboratory analysis from the country of origin

Check if your product must be checked at a BCP by looking for the CN code for the product in:

• Regulation 2019/1793.
• Temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures
• Regulation 2020/1158 (Chernobyl affected products)
• Regulation (EU) 2016/6 (Fukushima affected products)
• Decision 2011/884/EU (GMO Rice from China)

POAO

From 1 January 2021, consignments of POAO originating from a third country, transiting EU territory, before being imported to GB must enter GB via a BCP with the appropriate designation if they have not had successful full animal and public health checks on entry to the EU.

Check if your product must be imported through a point of entry with an appropriate BCP by looking for the CN code for the product in regulation 2019/2007.

POAO must:

• be pre-notified using IPAFFS at least one working day in advance of arrival – select the non-EU country the consignment originated from as the ‘country of origin’
• have a GB health certificate
• enter GB at an established point of entry with an appropriate BCP so they’re available for documentary, identity and physical checks

If your consignment of POAO has successful public and animal health checks on entry into the EU, follow the guidance for importing POAO to GB from the EU.

From April, you’ll need to upload a copy of the CHED to the IPAFFS notification as proof of successful public and animal health checks.