Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS)
Use IPAFFS to notify enforcement authorities about imports to Great Britain.
You must use IPAFFs to notify authorities before the following goods arrive in Great Britain:
- live animals and germinal products from the EU
- animal by-products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin from the EU (except Republic of Ireland) from 1 January 2022
- products of animal origin from the EU (except Republic of Ireland) from 1 January 2022
- composite products from the EU (except Republic of Ireland) from 1 January 2022
- plants and plant products from the EU (except Republic of Ireland) from 1 January 2022
- live animals and animal products from non-EU countries
Before you start
You must register a business or organisation for the IPAFFS service (ODT, 11.9KB).
Get help
If you need help with import notifications, you can call the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) helpline on 03300 416 999 or email APHAServiceDesk@apha.gov.uk.
If you need help with your customs declaration
You can call the HMRC helpline 03000 322 9434. Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm, and Saturday to Sunday 8am to 4pm.
Last updated
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Added a 'If you need help with your customs declaration' section.
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Updated to include plants and show change in rules from 1 January 2022 for imports from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain.
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Updated with new dates for the introduction of controls on imports of products of animal origin, animal by-products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin.
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Explained what you need to submit a notification, when to submit it, and added a registration on IPAFFS guide.
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Explained that "from 7 September 2020, you must use IPAFFS to notify authorities of GB imports of products of animal origin (POAO) from non-EU countries." Clarified processes about importing from EU and non-EU countries.
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Added registration guides.
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Added information on how and when to submit and update a notification.
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Revised page to explain more about what IPAFFS is - page will be updated when IPAFFS is open for registration and when any new import processes are confirmed.
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Added note that IPAFFS is currently for testing and training only. Importers should continue to use TRACES to notify authorities of imports into the UK.
Update history
2024-04-30 00:01
The page has been updated with information about changes to imports in line with the Border Target Operating Model.
2024-01-31 00:15
Removed a section exempting certain products from the Republic of Ireland from import notifications on IPAFFS. From 31 January 2024, import notifications will be required. Added risk level for plants and plant products.
2024-01-05 16:25
A prompt has been added to prepare for new import controls which begin on 31 January 2024.
2023-06-12 12:21
Added a link to guidance on importing plants and plant products from non-EU third countries to Northern Ireland under ‘Check import rules’. Added a link to IPAFFS for plants guidance in the ‘Get help’ section.
2022-04-22 10:28
Added information for import agents acting on behalf of an importer.
2021-12-20 15:41
Updated the section ‘If you need help with your customs declaration’.
2021-12-17 09:56
Added a ‘If you need help with your customs declaration’ section.
2021-12-16 15:47
Updated to include plants and show change in rules from 1 January 2022 for imports from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain.
2021-09-14 15:24
Updated with new dates for the introduction of controls on imports of products of animal origin, animal by-products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin.
2020-09-30 11:57
Removed the registration guides PDFs – you can now use the service to understand how to register.
2020-09-04 16:39
Explained that you can enrol into IPAFFS if you have registered for another Defra service by signing into your service.
2020-08-27 09:12
The dates agreed with the EU commission for using IPAFFS (7 and 15 September 2020) are no longer valid – TRACES will still be the process to follow.
2020-08-26 09:24
Explained that “from 7 September 2020, you must use IPAFFS to notify authorities of GB imports of products of animal origin (POAO) from non-EU countries.” Clarified processes about importing from EU and non-EU countries.
2020-06-29 16:14
Added registration guides.
2020-06-29 12:03
Removed “If your notification is shown as 'in progress' you'll need to call the relevant border control post (BCP) to ask them for access to make your changes” because it only applies to non-EU imports.
2020-06-29 10:47
Added information on how and when to submit and update a notification.
2019-11-29 12:02
Updated information about IPAFFS and added a link to TRACES New Technology (NT), which must be used from 14 December 2019.
2019-10-02 11:43
IPAFFS is open for registration.
2019-09-16 14:01
Revised page to explain more about what IPAFFS is – page will be updated when IPAFFS is open for registration and when any new import processes are confirmed.
2019-08-23 16:05
Edited call out to make it clearer how TRACES and IPAFFS can be used before and after Brexit.
2019-04-17 11:16
Added note that IPAFFS is currently for testing and training only. Importers should continue to use TRACES to notify authorities of imports into the UK.