Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS)
Use IPAFFS to notify enforcement authorities about imports toof live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin into Great Britain.
You
Import mustfrom usethe IPAFFsEU and European Economic Area (EEA)
Use IPAFFS to notify enforcement authorities beforeabout imports of the following goodsproducts arrivefrom inthe GreatEU Britain:and EEA:
- live animals
and - germinal products
- products
fromoftheanimalEUorigin (POAO) and- high risk food
andfeedfrom(HRFNAO)
The theEEA includes EU (exceptcountries, RepublicIceland, ofLiechtenstein Ireland)and Norway.
Find fromout 1more Januaryabout 2022
Import from the EU (exceptto RepublicNorthern Ireland
Notify the Department of Ireland)Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) fromif 1you’re Januaryimporting 2022
Import from non-EU countries
Use IPAFFS to notify border control posts (BCPs) about imports of Ireland)
- live
2022animals - POAO
- HRFNAO
Register andfor plantIPAFFS
If productsyou fromhave theregistered EUyour (exceptorganisation Republicfor ofanother Ireland)Defra fromservice, 1you Januarycan 2022register for IPAFFS by following these steps:
- Sign in to your service.
liveGoanimalstoandyouranimalmanageproductsaccountfromscreen.- Click
non-EUoncountriesthe ‘register for more services’ button.
Beforewho’s the responsible person to register the business or organisation before you start
register.
You can use an existing Government Gateway account or create a new one. Each person must have a Government Gateway account that’s personal to them. Do not share Gateway accounts.
If you’re the first person to register the business or organisation, you automatically become the organisation administrator for that business. You’ll then have permission to invite and remove other team members.
Make sure that you allocate at least one other team member to an administrator account role, so you can share the account management.
Find out how to register a business or organisation for the IPAFFS service (ODT, 11.9KB).
GetSubmit helpan import notification
IfYou must submit your notification in IPAFFS:
- one working day before your consignment is due to arrive, if it’s coming from a non-EU country
- 24 hours before your consignment is due to arrive, if it’s coming from the EU or EEA
Information you need helpfor withimports from the EU and EEA
You need to know:
- what you’re importing
- the date of import
notifications,into Great Britain - which country it’s being exported from
- the consignment’s destination
For imports of live animals, you canmust callattach all pages of the Animalissued andhealth Plantcertificate.
Information Healthyou Agencyneed (APHAfor imports from non-EU) helplineor onnon-EEA 03300countries
You 416need 999to orknow:
- what
emailyou’reAPHAServiceDesk@apha.gov.ukimporting - the date and the estimated time the consignment will arrive at the border control post
- which country it’s being exported from and the country it originates from if these are different
- the consignment’s destination
If you need help with your customs declaration
You can call the HMRC helpline 030000300 322 9434. Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm, and Saturday to Sunday 8am to 4pm.
Last updated
-
Added a 'If you need help with your customs declaration' section.
-
Removed the registration guides PDFs - you can now use the service to understand how to register.
-
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.
-
Added registration guides.
-
Updated information about IPAFFS and added a link to TRACES New Technology (NT), which must be used from 14 December 2019.
-
Edited call out to make it clearer how TRACES and IPAFFS can be used before and after Brexit.
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.