Import animal by-products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin from the EU to Great Britain

This guidance applies to businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) importing or moving the following goods from the EU and Northern Ireland:

• animal by-products (ABP)
• high-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)

You need to follow different guidance if you’re importing:

• food and drink that are products of animal origin (POAO)(POAO)
• composite products from the EU and Northern Ireland
• live animals and germinal products
• live animals, including equines and animal products,products from non-EU countries

ABP are either:

• highhigh-risk risk (category 1 and 2)
• lowlow-risk risk (category 3)

In most cases, you cannot import high-risk ABP.

HRFNAO can present risks to human health because of aflatoxins, pesticides, salmonella or dioxins.

Import ABP from approved businesses in the EU

You can only import ABP from businesses approved by the EU to trade with the UK.

Notify authorities in Great Britain about imports from the EU from 1 January 2022

From 1 January 2022,2022 you must notify authorities in Great Britain about imports of low-risk ABP and HRFNAO from the EU, except the Republic of Ireland.

You must submit your notification about EU imports of:

• low-risk ABP, at least 4 hours before the goods arrive
• HRFNAO, at least 4 hours before the goods arrivearrive, until 30 June 2022

You’ll get a notification reference number when you submit your import notification. The format of this number will be IMP.GB.YYYY.1XXXXXX.

Add information about the approved business you’re importing from

You need to add information to IPAFFS about the approved business you’re importing from, if it’s coming from:

• the EU
• Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Faroes or Greenland

Follow these steps to add the approved business:

1. Sign in or register to use IPAFFS.
2. On the ‘Traders addresses’ page, select ‘Add a place of origin’, then select ‘Create a new place of origin’.
3. In the ‘Place of origin name’ field, enter the full name of the exporting business, then its authorisation number.
4. In the ‘Place of origin’ fields, enter the full address, telephone number, country and email address for the business.
5. Save these details. Details will be saved to your address book so that you can use them again.
6. Add the approved business to your pre-notification.

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.

Check what documents you need

From 1 July 2022 you’ll need a health certificate to import low-risk ABP and HRFNAO.

The EU exporter must:

• apply for the health certificate in their own country - competent authorities should use model health certificates to create versions that exporters can apply for
• send the original health certificate with the consignment, and give you an electronic copy

If there’s no health certificate for your product you may need an import licence or commercial document.

Import licence

If a health certificate does not exist for the product you want to import, you may need an import licence or authorisation to import from the EU.

In some cases, you may need an import licence as well as a health certificate.

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

Contact the imports team at the Centre for International Trade (CIT),(CIT), Carlisle imports@apha.gov.uk if:

• there’s no licence for your animal or germinal product
• you’re not sure what licence you need

Commercial documents for high-risk ABP

High-risk ABP must come with a commercial document from the supplier. 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

Checks on imports of low-risk ABP and HRFNAO from 1 July 2022

From 1 July 2022 imports of low-risk or HRFNAO must enter Great Britain through a UK border control post (BCP) for document, identity and physical checks.

Moving ABP and HRFNAO from Northern Ireland to Great Britain

You can move ABP and HRFNAO from Northern Ireland to Great Britain if they’re qualifying Northern Ireland goods.

If you need help

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

If you need help with your customs declaration

You can call the HMRC helpline on 0300 322 9434,9434. Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm, and Saturday to Sunday 8am to 4pm.