Import live animals and germinal products to Great Britain under Balai rules
When to follow Balai rules to import animals and germinal products to Great Britain from EU and non-EU countries.
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You must follow Balai rules to import animals and germinal products (semen, ova and embryos) to Great Britain that are not covered by other rules that apply to importing live animals and germinal products from:
All animals and germinal products covered by Balai rules must be imported to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from premises that are either registered or approved by competent authorities in EU and non-EU countries.
Your premises in Great Britain may need to be approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) depending on:
- the animal or germinal product you want to import
- the reason you’re importing
Approved premises are usually zoos or laboratories.
Animals and germinal products covered by Balai rules
Animals and germinal products covered by Balai rules include:
- anteaters, sloths, armadillos
- bats, for example vampire bats, flying foxes, fruit bats, gliders
- bears, for example polar, black, brown, grizzly, pandas or giant pandas
- captive-bred birds for research, conservation or display
- dogs, cats and ferrets imported commercially
- flying lemurs and flying squirrels
- germinal products from certain animals such as horses, goats, sheep, deer, dogs, cats and zoo animals, such as elephants, bisons and bears
- jackals, foxes, wolves, African wild dogs, hyaenas
- marsupials, for example, koalas, kangaroos, wombats or wallabies
- non-domestic cats like pumas, cheetahs, lions, tigers and leopards
- otters, martens, polecats, badgers, skunks, wolverines
- possums, bandicoots, bilbys, quolls and Tasmanian devils
- pig embryos
- prosimian primates, for example lemurs, bushbabies, lorises, aye ayes and tarsiers
- racing pigeons
- rabbits and hares
- raccoons, coatis and other new world procyonids
- rodents, for example, gophers, squirrels, mice, rats, hamsters, voles, beavers, gerbils
- shrews, moles and hedgehogs
- simian primates, monkeys and apes
PetImport dogs, cats and ferrets: commercial importspets
ToDogs, commercially import dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania, you must have Approved Importer status. This includes rescue animals.
Pet dogs cats and ferrets are commercial imports if they’re brought to Great Britain for:
- rehoming
- sale
- transfer of ownership (including rescue cats and dogs brought to Great Britain to be rehomed)
Dogs, cats and ferrets brought to Great Britain as your own pets (they’ll live with you and will not be rehomed, sold or change ownership) are also commercial imports if:
- you’re bringing in more than 5 animals
- you cannot travel to accompany your pets 5 days before or after they arrive in Great Britain
Commercial imports of pet dogs, cats and ferrets must come from from:
You must follow Balai rules in this guidance and the following pet travel rules for commercial imports of pet cats, dogs and ferrets:
Dogs, cats and ferrets that do not meet pet travel rules must must be quarantined when they arrive in Great Britain.
Import
To non-commercialcommercially petimport dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania, you must have Approved Importer status. This includes rescue animals.
Import non-commercial pets
To non-commercialcommercially petimport dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania, you must have Approved Importer status. This includes rescue animals.
FollowIf differentthey guidanceare fornot bringingcommercial petimports, you should follow different guidance to bring:
Import from a registered or approved premises in EU and non-EU countries
The animals and germinal products you can import depends on whether the premises you’re importing from is registered or or approved with the competent authority in in the exporting country.
You can import:
You can import all animals and germinal products covered by Balai rules
exceptfrom:- a
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animalsimportandrequirements,germinalshownproductsoncoveredthebyhealthBalaicertificaterules,orincludingimportprimates,licence, will depend on whether the import is coming from a registered premises or an approvedpremises- a
Import to an approved premises in Great Britain
Your premises must be approvedon bythe APHAlist of approved premises to import:
- germinal products – your premises only needs to be approved if you plan to re-export germinal products after you’ve imported them
- captive-bred birds for research, display and conservation
- carnivores – your premises only needs to be approved if you plan to apply to waive quarantine rules
- primates
Apply to get your premises approved
Complete the application form.
Email the completed form to the imports team at the Centre for International Trade (CITAPHA), Carlisle.imports team.
Email: imports@apha.gov.uk
A vet from APHA will inspect your premises to check it meets conditions for approval. APHA will send you a list of conditions when you apply for approval.
When your premises is approved, it will be added to the list of approved premises.premises.
Border officials will check if your premises is on the list when your import arrives in Great Britain.
Apply for a waiver for animals susceptible to rabies
If your premises is approved, you canmay be able to apply to waive quarantine rules for for animals susceptible to rabies you’re importing from EU and non-EU countries..
To apply for a waiver:
- complete the licence application form to import animals susceptible to rabies
- tick the box on the form to apply for the waiver
Notify APHA about imports from the EU
You must submit an import notification on the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) to notify APHA about imports of live animals and germinal products from the EU.
You must do this at least one working day before the expectedanimals timeor ofgerminal theproducts animals’are arrivalexpected to arrive at the point of entry in Great Britain.entry.
When you submit your import notification in IPAFFS, you’ll get a unique notification number (UNN) for the product. The format of this number will be IMP.GB.YYYY.1XXXXXX.
You must give the UNN to the EU exporter or official veterinarian (OV).
The exporter or OV must add the UNN to the health certificate and give you a copy.
Notify APHA about imports from non-EU countries
You must complete part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) on IPAFFS to notify APHA about imports of live animals and germinal products from non-EU countries.
You must do this at least one working day before the expectedanimals timeor ofgerminal theproducts animals’are arrivalexpected to arrive at the borderpoint controlof post (BCP) in Great Britain.entry.
If you do not notify APHA before your consignment arrives at the BCP, you may be charged an additional fee or your check could take longer.
Check what documents you need to import from EU and non-EU countries to Great Britain
Imports from EU and non-EU countries will need either one or both of the following documents, depending on the animal or germinal product you’re importing:
- health certificate
- import licence
Health certificatecertificates
ImportsThe ofexporter mostmust liveapply animalsfor andthe germinalGB productshealth fromcertificate EUin andtheir non-EUown countriescountry. mustCompetent haveauthorities ashould use model health certificate.
Thecertificates and exporterany supplementary inhealth certificates and declarations to create versions that exporters can apply for.
If the EU orexporter non-EUcreates countrya willGB health certificate using TRACES, they do not need to:
applytoforsend the original health certificateinwiththeirtheownconsignment. Theycountrymust–sendcompetentyouauthoritiestheshouldofficial,useverifiablemodelPDFhealthcertificatecertificatesfromtoTRACEScreateonceversionsitthathasexportersbeencansignedapplyby the competent authority. Use this for- your import notification in IPAFFS.
If the exporter does not use TRACES, the competent authority must send the original paper GB health certificate with the
consignment,consignment andgivesend you an electronic copy
You must attach all pages of the health certificate copy to your import notification in IPAFFS – you’ll need to go back into IPAFFS to do this..
Import licences
Imports of certain live animals and germinal products from non-EU countries must have an import licence or authorisation and a health certificate.
If you’re importing from the EU, you may need a licence as well as a health certificate.
You should check the list of general licences to see if there’s a licence for your animal or germinal product.
If a general licence for your import does not exist, you may need to apply for one.
You must apply for a licence to import animals susceptible to rabies.
You’ll need an additional licence or authorisation if you’re importing:
- non-native species
- dangerous wild animals
CITESpermitfor- captive-bred birds for research, display or conservation
Contact the APHA imports team at the Centre for International Trade (CIT), Carlisle if:
- there’s no licence for your animal or germinal product
- you’re not sure if you need a licence
Email: imports@apha.gov.uk
You must attach all pages of the healthimport certificatelicence copyor authorisation to your import notification in IPAFFS – you’ll need to go back into IPAFFS to do this..
Checks on imports of live animals and germinal products from the EU
Your live animal and germinal productproducts may have document, identity and physical checks, including tests, at thean placeapproved premises (a ‘place of destination.destination’). They must stay there for either:
- 48 hours
- the time indicated on the health certificate
Checks will depend on biosecuritypublic and publicanimal health risks.
Checks on live animal and germinal product imports from non-EU countries
Imports of live animals and germinal products from non-EU countries must be checked by an OV or inspector at a a BCP in in Great Britain.
Find aan approved BCP that’sfor approved to check the animals or germinal products you’re importing.
The OVThe BCP or inspector will:
recordcarrytheoutresultofchecksrelevantonIPAFFS- complete
andpartvalidate2theof the CHED which records the results on IPAFFS
Fees
You must pay a fee to have your consignment from non-EU countries checked at a a BCP. To find out what fees you’ll have to pay, you can:
seereadtheabout BCPfeesinspectiontablefees- contact
theyou
Leaving the BCP
You must not remove your consignment from the BCP or customs clearance area until official inspectors have completed and validated the CHED.
After your consignment leaves the BCP, you must:
- make sure your consignment goes directly to the destination named on the CHED
- make sure the original CHED goes with your consignment to its final destination
- comply with any movement restrictions associated with your import
Importing live animals and germinal products under Balai rules from 31 January 2024
From 31 January 2024, live animals and germinal products from the EU will be categorised as high risk under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).
You’ll need to follow the current process to:
- notify APHA
- check what documents you need
Importing live animals and germinal products from non-EU countries under Balai rules from 30 April 2024
From 30 April 2024, live animals and germinal products from non-EU countries will be categorised as high risk under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).
You’ll need to follow the current process to:
- notify APHA
- check what documents you need
Importing germinal products from the EU under Balai rules from 30 April 2024
From 30 April 2024, new checks at the border on germinal products from the EU will be introduced.
Most imports will need to enter through a point of entry with the relevant approved BCP. Under Balai rules you may still be able to use an approved premises as a place of destination for these checks.
Importing live animals from the EU under Balai rules from late 2024
From late 2024, new checks at the border on live animals from the EU will be introduced.
Most imports will need to enter through a point of entry with the relevant approved BCP. Under Balai rules you may still be able to use an approved premises as a place of destination for these checks.
Last updated
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Improved readability throughout. Clarified what's required for health certificates and import licences. Improved 'checks on imports' sections, including factual corrections. Added new sections with information about changes under the border target operating model. Minor language corrections and clarifications.
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To commercially import dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania, you must have Approved Importer status.
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Updated the suspension date for commercially importing dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania to 29 October 2022.
-
Updated the suspension date for commercially importing dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania to 3 September 2022.
-
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.
-
Updated the suspension date for commercially importing dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania to 9 July 2022.
-
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.
-
England has temporarily suspended the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania, until 14 May 2022.
Update history
2024-02-15 14:00
Information about cloning CHEDA notifications has been added.
2024-01-31 00:15
The guidance has been updated to include current information about the border target operating model risk categories and common health entry documents.
2024-01-05 16:16
A prompt has been added to prepare for new import controls which begin on 31 January 2024.
2023-11-02 00:15
Changed ‘notify APHA’ section to separate new CHED-A notifications for live animals from the EU and IMP notifications for germinal products from the EU.
2023-10-24 17:11
Corrected ‘Import to an approved premises in Great Britain’ section with information to check with APHA about importing germinal products. Removed inaccuracy in ‘carnivores’ bullet point.
2023-10-12 16:58
Improved readability throughout. Clarified what’s required for health certificates and import licences. Improved ‘checks on imports’ sections, including factual corrections. Added new sections with information about changes under the border target operating model. Minor language corrections and clarifications.
2022-10-29 00:15
To commercially import dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania, you must have Approved Importer status.
2022-09-02 17:00
Updated the suspension date for commercially importing dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania to 29 October 2022.
2022-08-17 15:28
Updated the suspension date for commercially importing dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania to 3 September 2022.
2022-07-01 14:46
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.
2022-05-27 14:45
Updated the suspension date for commercially importing dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania to 9 July 2022.
2022-04-28 16:36
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.
2022-04-14 15:25
England has temporarily suspended the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania, until 14 May 2022.