Transiting animals and animal products through Great Britain
Rules to follow if you’re moving animals or animal products from one third country to another third country and transiting Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), known as ‘landbridge’ movements.
Import controls on EU goods to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) planned from July will not be introduced in 2022. The controls that have already been introduced remain in place. This page will be updated in autumn 2022 with new dates for import controls.2022.
EU to Great Britain to EU transits
This guidance covers the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for EU goods moving from:
- the EU to Great Britain to the EU
- the EU to Great Britain to Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland to Great Britain to the EU
Live animals
Live animals transiting through Great Britain must:
- be pre-notified on IPAFFS (Import of products, animals, food and feed system)
- have an Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC) created in TRACES (Trade Control and Export System)
You do not need a Great Britain transit health certificate.
You must attach a copy of the ITAHC to the IPAFFS notification. IPAFFS pre-notification will not replace your intra EU movement on TRACES.TRACES.
High health status horses moving between France and the Republic of Ireland will travel on a commercial document (DOCOM). Use(created TRACESin to create a DOCOM.TRACES).
Animals can enter and exit Great Britain through any port with no identity or physical inspections carried out at entry or exit to Great Britain.
You must email APHA at ImportsRiskManagement@apha.gov.uk to confirm that the consignment has left Great Britain territory. Use the subject line ‘Confirmation that a consignment has left Great Britain territory’.
The email needs to include the following information:
- IPAFFS notification reference number
- details of means of transport
- date the consignment has left Great Britain territory
- copy of commercial documents (bill of lading or airway bill)
You must follow animal welfare requirements for animals transiting Great Britain.
All live animals will need:
- transporter authorisation issued by APHA
- certificates of competence
- vehicle approval certificates from the relevant bodies in Great Britain 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 Great Britain to the EU
- from the EU to Great Britain
- if your journey is more than 8 hours
You cannot use EU-issued documents (which includes the Republic of Ireland) in Great Britain.
To apply for a transporter authorisation from APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency), the transporter must be represented in Great Britain. For more information,information contact:
- APHA in Great Britain: CITCarlisle@apha.gov.uk
- DAERA in Northern Ireland
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 (products of animal origin) subject to safeguard measures
Germinal products or POAO subject to safeguard measures transiting through Great Britain must:
You do not need a Great Britain transit health certificate.
You must attach a copy of the ITAHC to the IPAFFS notification. IPAFFS pre-notification will not replace your intra EU movement on TRACES.TRACES.
Goods can enter and exit Great Britain through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.
You must email APHA at ImportsRiskManagement@apha.gov.uk to confirm that the consignment has left Great Britain territory. Use the subject line ‘Confirmation that a consignment has left Great Britain territory’.
The email needs to include the following information:
- IPAFFS notification reference number
- details of means of transport
- date consignment has left Great Britain territory
- copy of commercial documents (bill of lading or airway bill)
High-riskHigh risk animal by-products only (Category 1 and 2 material and Category 3 processedProcessed animalAnimal protein)Protein)
High-riskHigh risk ABP (animal by-products) transiting through Great Britain must:
You do not need a GB transit health certificate.
You must attach a copy of the DOCOM to the IPAFFS notification.
IPAFFS pre-notification will not replace your intra EU movement on TRACES.TRACES.
Goods can enter and exit Great Britain through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.
You must email APHA at ImportsRiskManagement@apha.gov.uk to confirm that the consignment has left Great Britain territory. Use the subject line ‘Confirmation that a consignment has left Great Britain territory’.
The email needs to include the following information:
- IPAFFS notification reference number
- details of means of transport
- date the consignment has left Great Britain territory
- copy of commercial documents (bill of lading or airway bill)
EU to Great Britain to EU transits from 1 January 2022
POAO not subject to safeguard measures and low risk ABP
From 1 January 2022, all other POAO and ABP from the EU to the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland via Great Britain will need to be pre-notified on IPAFFS at least 24 hours before they arrive into Great Britain.
You must notify Defra when the consignment leaves Great Britain. Email: GBtransit-notification@defra.gov.uk.
Use the subject line ‘Confirmation‘confirmation that a consignment has left Great Britain territory’.
To find out how the information you send to the mailbox will be used, you can ask for a copy of the privacy notice.
Your email must include the following information:
- IPAFFS notification reference number
- details of means of transport
- date the consignment has left Great Britain territory
- copy of commercial documents (bill of lading or airway bill)
These goods can enter and exit Great Britain through any point of entry.entry until 30 June 2022.
From 1 January 2022, all other POAO and low-risklow risk ABP moving from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to EU countries via Great Britain do not need to be pre-notified.
EU to Great Britain to EU transits from July 2022
Guidance on transits from the EU to Great Britain to EU from July 2022 will be available in spring 2022.
EU to Great Britain to non-EU countries transits
The SPS requirements you must meet for EU goods moving from the EU to Great Britain to non-EU countries will depend on the products you’re sending.
Live animals
Live animals transiting through Great Britain must:
You do not need a Great Britain transit health certificate.
You must attach a copy of the ITAHC to the IPAFFS notification. IPAFFS pre-notification will not replace your intra EU movement on TRACES.TRACES.
High health status horses moving between France and the Republic of Ireland will travel on a DOCOM (created in TRACES).TRACES).
Animals can enter and exit Great Britain through any port with no identity or physical inspections carried out at entry or exit to Great Britain.
You must email APHA at ImportsRiskManagement@apha.gov.uk to confirm that the consignment has left Great Britain territory. Use the subject line ‘Confirmation that a consignment has left Great Britain territory’.
The email needs to include the following information:
- IPAFFS notification reference number
- details of means of transport
- date the consignment has left Great Britain territory
- copy of commercial documents (bill of lading or airway bill)
You must follow animal welfare requirements for animals transiting Great Britain.
All live animals will need:
- transporter authorisation issued by APHA
- certificates of competence
- vehicle approval certificates from the relevant bodies in Great Britain 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 Great Britain to the EU
- from the EU to Great Britain
- if your journey is more than 8 hours
You cannot use EU-issued documents (which includes the Republic of Ireland) in Great Britain.
To apply for a transporter authorisation from APHA, the transporter must be represented in Great Britain. For more information,information contact:
- APHA in Great Britain: CITCarlisle@apha.gov.uk
- DAERA in NI
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
Germinal products or POAO subject to safeguard measures transiting through Great Britain must:
- be pre-notified on IPAFFS
- have a Great Britain health certificate
Goods can enter and exit Great Britain through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.
High-riskHigh risk ABP only – (Category 1 and 2 material and Category 3 processed animal protein)
High-riskHigh risk ABP transiting through Great Britain must:
- be pre-notified on IPAFFS
- have a commercial document
You must notify Defra when the consignment leaves Great Britain, by emailing ImportsRiskManagement@apha.gov.uk. Use the subject line ‘Confirmation‘confirmation that a consignment has left Great Britain territory’.
Goods can enter and exit Great Britain through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.
Products with no requirements for EU to Great Britain to non-EU transits until 1 January 2022
There are no requirements for transit across Great Britain for POAO not subject to safeguard measures.
No notification is required and the goods can enter and exit Great Britain through any port, with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.
EU to Great Britain to non-EU countries transits from January 2022
POAO not subject to safeguard measures and ABP
POAO not subject to safeguard measures and low-risklow risk ABP transiting through Great Britain must be pre-notified on IPAFFS.
You must notify Defra when the consignment leaves Great Britain. Email GBtransit-notification@defra.gov.uk.
Use the subject line ‘Confirmation‘confirmation that a consignment has left Great Britain territory’.
To find out how the information you send to the mailbox will be used, you can ask for a copy of the privacy notice.
Goods can enter and exit Great Britain through any port with no physical or ID checks required on entry or exit.
EU to Great Britain to non-EU countries transits from July 2022
Guidance on transits from the EU to Great Britain to non-EU countries from July 2022 will be available in spring 2022.
Transits from non-EU countries
You’ll need to meet specific requirements for SPS goods transiting:
- from a non-EU country to Great Britain to a non-EU country
- from a non-EU country to Great Britain to the EU
- POAO, ABP and germinal products
POAO, ABP and germinal products from a non-EU country transiting through Great Britain must:
- be pre-notified on IPAFFS at least one working day before your consignment is due to arrive
- have a Great Britain health certificate
The goods must enter and exit Great Britain at an established point of entry with an authorised BCP (border control post) for documentary and identity checks. Physical checks are only carried out in cases of suspected non-compliance.
Live animals
Live animals transiting through Great Britain must:
- be pre-notified on IPAFFS at least one working day before your consignment is due to arrive
- have a Great Britain health certificate
The goods must enter Great Britain at an established point of entry with an authorised BCP for document, ID and physical checks.
You must follow animal welfare requirements for animals transiting Great Britain.
Imports from non-EU countries to Great Britain that travel through the EU
This guidance covers the requirements for imports of live animals, germinal products and ABP, that originate in a non-EU country and transit the EU before being imported into Great Britain.
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 Great Britain do not need to enter Great Britain at an established point of entry with an authorised BCP if:
- the goods have a Great Britain health certificate certified in the third country of origin
- a Great Britain 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 common health entry document (CHED) to the IPAFFS notification
On IPAFFS, select the EU member state the goods are travelling from as the ‘country of origin’.
If the goods have not met these criteria then they must:
- be pre-notified 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 Great Britain export health certificate
- enter Great Britain at an established point of entry with an authorised BCP so they’re available for document, identity and physical checks
High-riskHigh risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)
HRFNAO are goods which have specific import conditions on entry into Great Britain. See a list of goods with restrictions.
HRFNAO from a non-EU country that transitstransit the EU before import into Great Britain will need to enter Great Britain through an established point of entry with an authorised BCP 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 Great Britain at an established point of entry with an authorised 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 Combined Nomenclature (CN) code for the product in the following regulations:
- Regulation
regulation2019/1793 - Temporary
temporaryincrease of official controls and emergency measures regulation2020/1158 (Chernobyl affected products)- Regulation (EU) 2016/6 (Fukushima affected products)
-
Decision 2011/884/EU (GMO
(GMOriceRicefrom China)
Products of animal origin (POAO)
Consignments of POAO originating from a non-EU country, transiting EU territory, before being imported to Great Britain must enter Great Britain at an established point of entry with an authorised BCP.
Check if your product must be imported through a point of entry with an authorised BCP by looking for the CN code for the product in Regulationregulation 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 Great Britain health certificate
- enter Great Britain 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 undergone full animal and public health checks and has been cleared for circulation on the EU market, follow the guidance for importing POAO to Great Britain from the EU.
If you need help with import notifications
Call the APHA helpline on 03300 416 999,999 or email APHAServiceDesk@apha.gov.uk.
If you need help with your customs declaration
Call the HMRC helpline on 0300 322 9434
Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm
Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm
Last updated 1
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Removed references to changes to import controls previously due to come into effect on 1 July 2022, as these have been postponed. The page will be updated in autumn 2022 with new dates for import controls.
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Import controls on EU goods to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) planned from July will not be introduced in 2022. The controls that have already been introduced remain in place. This page will be updated in autumn 2022.
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Updated the section 'If you need help with your customs declaration'.
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Guidance updated to show change in rules from 1 January 2022 for imports from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain.
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Added a 'If you need help with your customs declaration' section to the bottom of the page.
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Updated the guidance with new dates for the introduction of controls on transit goods.
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Removed references to unique notification numbers (UNN) for health certificates as they do not apply to imports from non-EU countries transiting the EU to Great Britain.
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Updated to reflect the new timetable for the introduction of the next stage of UK import requirements for transit goods.
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Added the email address for receiving countries to notify APHA when a consignment has left GB.
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First published.