Export or move food, drink and agricultural products

This guidance applies to businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) exporting or moving food, drink and agricultural products to, or through:

• the EU
• non-EUnon-EU countries
• Northern Ireland through the ‘red lane’ (full customs requirements)

You need an export health certificate (EHC) or other certificate to export or move:

• processed food and drink
• food or drink that iscontains aproducts product of animal origin (POAO) or contains products of animal origin
• processed food and drink
• vegetables, fruit and other plants used as food

POAO means animal products for human consumption such as:

• meat
• fish
• eggs
• dairy
• honey
• gelatine

Some countries require another type of export certificate for certain products.

If your product was made in Great Britain, check with the food safety team in the local authority where your product was manufactured.

You can check each country’s rules by talking to your importer or getting help researching your export market.

There’s a ban on exporting caviar, caviar substitutes, truffles and goods containing truffles to Syria and North Korea.

Contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for details.

Export or move processed food and drinkdrinks

You need an EHC to export or move most processed food orand drink products that contain POAO to:

• the EU or Northern Ireland
• non-EUnon-EU countries
• Northern Ireland through the red lane

You do not usually need an EHC if your processed food orand drink product does not contain POAO.

Examples of processed foods containing POAO include: include products such as:

• lasagne
• pork piespie

You may also need a certificate of free sale to export processed food orand drink to non-EUnon-EU countries. The food authority in the country you’re exporting to will tell you if you need one.

If you export any soft drinks with added sugar, you may need to register for the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. IfYou youcan payclaim thea levycredit onfor theany exported drinks you export,pay youthe may be able to claim a levy credit.on.

Export or move food or drink that contains POAO to the EU or Northern Ireland

YouYou’ll need an export health certificate (EHC) forto:

• export food or drink that contains POAO to: 
  • export it from Great Britain to the EU
  • move itthem from Great Britain to Northern Ireland through the red lane
  • transit through the EU
  • transit throughand Northern Ireland

  If you’re moving food or drink that contains POAO to Northern Ireland, you do not need to pay for itthem to be inspected and certifiedcertified. whenThe you’re getting an EHC. The certifier invoices the government for these costs as part of the Movement Assistance Scheme.

  Read about labelling requirements under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.

  There’s an arrangement for authorised traders moving food from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

  You’ll also need to:

  • get your goods checked at an EU border control post (BCP) in the first country they enter or at a Northern Ireland point of entry in the first country you enter
  • make sure your EU or Northern Ireland-based import agent has notified the BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry that your consignment is arriving - check with the BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry for how much notice needs to be given
  • followcomply with wider HMRC guidance on customs requirements for exporting to the EU

  Read

• follow additionalHMRC guidance iffor you’re:
  • moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

  There are different rules for exporting or moving:

  • pet food or animal feed
  • live fish

  You should read exportingadditional rules if you:

  • export composite food products to the EU
  • want orto movingcheck themif toyour Northernproduct Irelandcounts throughas thea redcomposite lanefood product

  Make sure you follow general guidance for businesses exporting to the EU.

  Health visits from vets vets

  From 13 December 2023, farmers will need to provide evidence that animals used to make food, drink and agricultural products that may be exported to the EU hadthe EU had annual health visits by a vet.

  The food chain information (FCI)(FCI) documents for the animals will need to include either a:

  • qualifying qualifying farm assurance scheme membership membership number  
  • vet attestation number (VAN)(VAN) from an an annual health and welfare review (known (known as a pathway visit) or or vet attestation visit

  Maximum residue levels

  Food you export or move to the EU or move to Northern Ireland through the red lane must meet EU rules on maximum residue levels (MRLs). This includes food containing POAO. Check the rules for:

  • veterinary medicine MRLs
  • contaminant MRLS
  • pesticide MRLs

  The EU will reject consignments containing food that do not comply with EU MRLs.

  Commercial samples containing POAO

  Commercial samples of goods that contain POAO need an EHCexport health certificate to be exported or moved to the EU or moved to Northern Ireland through the red lane.Ireland.

  Before you export samplesyour to the EU, samples, contact the veterinary BCP where where the samples will enter the EU to check theirthe importexport requirements.

  Businesses EU approvedlisting for exportingexporters toand the EUsuppliers

  IfYou youneed export food or drink that contains POAO to thebe EU,listed oras movean itapproved tobusiness Northernwith Ireland through the redEU lane, youif needyou toexport befood listedthat ascontains an approved businessPOAO.

  Use a logistics hub to export or move your products

  You can use a logistics hub to export food or drinkmove that contains POAO to the EU or move it to Northern Ireland through the red lane. .

  AUsing a logistics hub can save you time by speeding up border processes,processes. asIt itdoes providesthis by providing a central point for exports and expert staff in one location.

  A logistics hub can:

  • groupconsolidate your batch of products with others from different suppliers into a single consignment
  • collect your products and transport them to their destination in the EU or Northern Ireland
  • complete and process the EHCs for your products - including access to a certifying officer
  • provide a customs brokerage service

  Not all logistics hubs offer the same services. Contact your logistics company or emailemail: exports@apha.gov.uk to find out more about logistics hubs.

  Your products need to be accompanied by the relevant supporting documents when they arrive at the logistics hub. For example, if you’re exporting meat, you may need to provide evidence from the cutting plant or slaughterhouse that shows the geographical origin of the animal.

  The certifying officer will need to check these documents before they can certify the EHC.

  Contact the logistics hub to find out what information you need to send with your products, and when you need to send it.

  Prohibited and restricted goods

  EU rules mean you cannot export or move the following goods to the EU or Northern Ireland through the red lane:  :

  • chilled minced meat (red meat)
  • chilled meat preparations (for example, raw sausages)
  • minced poultry meat
  • mechanically separated meat from poultry, ratite and game birds
  • raw milk from TB (tuberculosis) herds
  • ungraded eggs
  • composite products containing dairy products made from unpasteurised milk (for example, a ready meal topped with unpasteurised cheese)

  IfYou youcannot planre-export tocertain re-exportanimal orand moveanimal importedproducts foodincluding:

  • fresh meat originally from the EU or drinknon-EU countries
  • milk not from the UK
  • products using products of animal origin from non-EU countries that containsare POAOnot listed by the EU tofor the purpose of imports into the EU

  Movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

  You can move the following prohibited and restricted meat products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland:

  • frozen or chilled minced meat of poultry, ratites and wild game birds
  • chilled minced meat from animals other than poultry
  • chilled meat preparations
  • any unprocessed meat produced from meat initially imported into Great Britain from the EU

  You must make sure the meat products:

  • enter Northern Ireland through a designated point of entry as directed by the redpoint lane,of followentry guidanceauthority
  • are sold exclusively to end consumers in supermarkets located in Northern Ireland - they must not be sold to other operators in the food chain
  • are packed for end consumers and have a label reading “These products from the United Kingdom may not be sold outside Northern Ireland”
  • are accompanied by a prohibited and restricted export health certificate
  • meet EU standards (for example, the meat product must be from the UK or an approved non-EU third country)

  You need:

  • to complete a Common Health Entry Document (CHED) on what’sTraces to pre-notify the point of entry
  • a prohibited and restricted (P and R) EHC for each consignment of these goods

  Check the export health certificate (EHC) finder and apply for a certificate for your product.

  You’ll need a certificate for each product type, rather than for each lorry.

  Each certificate must be signed by an official veterinarian (OV).

  You’ll be eligible for re-exportingfinancial support toward the cost of P and R EHC certificates. Your OV can invoice the government for costs up to £150.00 (+ VAT) per EHC, as part of the Movement Assistance Scheme (MAS).

  Checks at EU Border Control Posts (BCPs) or points of entry in Northern Ireland

  IfYou you’remust exportingget food orand drink that contains POAO to the EU or moving it to Northern Ireland, you must get it checked at an EU BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry.entry in NI.

  These checks are made to protect:

  • animal health and welfare
  • public health

  Your goods may be refused entry, seized, destroyed or returned to GreatGB Britain if they arrive at:

  • a port or airport in the EU thatwithout does not have a BCP thatwhere canchecks carrycannot outbe checkscarried out
  • an EU BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry that cannot check your type of product
  • an EU BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry without the correct documentation

  Find the correct EU BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry for your goods  

  You must find ana EU BCP  or Northern Ireland point of entry that accepts your type of goods as not all ofBCPs them accept all goods. goods.

  You’ll need to consider how to redirect your trade route if needed. needed.

  There are more than 400 EU BCPs andin Northernthe IrelandEU pointsand ofthey’re entry. 

  Findusually aat suitable EU BCP orports Northernand Irelandairports.

  Check pointthe full list of entryEU BCPs.

  Give advance notice to the EU BCP BCPs or Northernpoint(s) Ireland point of entry in NI

  You’ll need to give the EU BCP BCPs or Northernpoints Ireland point of entry in NI advance notice of goods arriving.

  Check with the BCP or point of entry you’re planning to use aboutfor how much notice is needed.

  YourContact your import agent shouldin usethe TRACESEU  toor NI to make sure they notify the BCP orthrough pointTRACES of entry about the arrival of the consignment. Theyconsignment.

  They must do this within the time limits set out by the BCP or point of entry.

  What happens if your goods fail inspection at an EU BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry

  If your goods fail inspection because of risks to animal or public health, they will be destroyed immediately. If the goods fail for other reasons, the BCP or point of entry will:

  • notify your importer or agent
  • ask them to decide whether your goods should be destroyed or returned to Great Britain

  The BCP or point of entry will not usually contact you directly.

  Return food products containing POAO rejected at an EU BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry BCPs

  Consignments of food products containingthat contain POAO that are rejected at an EU BCP orBCPs Northern Ireland point of entry may, subject to a risk assessment, re-enter Great Britain. Britain through any point of entry.

  You’ll need to provide certain documents to return your rejected goods.

  Officials from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will carry out the risk assessment and notify you if the returned consignment needs to enter through a Great Britain BCP or can enter through any point of entry.

  Documents you need to return your rejected food products containing POAO

  Email APHA Centre for International Trade (CIT) at imports@apha.gov.uk to return a consignment. State that the message relates to the return of a consignment.

  Attach these documents to the email:

  • a declaration from the EU BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry describing the reason for refusal of entry
  • full details of the destination in Great Britain and the intended use or destruction of the returned consignment from the person responsible for the consignment
  • the original export health certificate for the returned product

  You’ll need to provide a commercial invoice,invoice or similar,similar to verify that the returned consignment is the one that was exported, if the consignment did not:

  • require a veterinary certificate
  • have a certificate for export

  If the consignment was not originally exported in a sealed container,container or ifwhere the seal wasis broken for official control purposes, you must have an official declaration from the EU BCP orstating point of entry stating:the:

  • the place and date of unloading and reloading of the consignment
  • that the consignment did not undergo any handling other than unloading, storage and reloading
  • that the products were handled only to the extent necessary for the purposes of official controls at the appropriate temperature
  • that the unloading and reloading of the consignment werewas handled hygienically to avoid cross contaminationcross-contamination
  • that the consignment was stored under hygienic conditions at the required temperature and not at risk of cross contamination
  • that effective measures were put in place to avoid the contamination of the POAO with disease agents thatwhich cause transmissible animal diseases during the unloading, storage and reloadingre-loading in the EU country or Northern Ireland
  • that the place of any unloading, storage and reloadingre-loading in the EU country or Northern Ireland was not subject to animal health movement restrictions due to transmissible animal diseases during the unloading, storage and reloadingre-loading

  If the rejected product was originally exported in a sealed container and maintained an intact original seal, you must have a declaration by the person responsible for the consignment stating that:stating:

  • since the product was originally exported, the storage and transport conditions have been followedcomplied with
  • that the content of the consignment has not been altered

  APHA will assess this information to decide the conditions of import and if the consignment can be returned through any point of entry or will have to enter through a BCP in Great Britain.

  APHA will issue you with a written authorisation. The consignment cannot be returned until you have received this authorisation. You must comply with the conditions of the authorisation.

  The imports@apha.gov.uk email address is monitored Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm (excluding public holidays).

  Export or move vegetables, fruit and other plants used as food food

  You may need a phytosanitary certificate (PC) to export fruit, vegetables, plants and plant products used as food.

  ExportArrangements for authorised traders moving food andfrom drinkGreat Britain to non-EUNorthern countriesIreland

  YouAn usuallyarrangement needis toin completeplace anwhich EHCallows andauthorised sometraders supportingsuch documentsas tosupermarkets exportand foodtheir ortrusted drinksuppliers that contains POAO to non-EUmove countries.some Yougoods maywithout alsothe need afor certificateofficial ofcertification.

  If free sale if you’re exportingan processedauthorised foodtrader ormoving drink.products Theof foodanimal authorityorigin infrom theGreat countryBritain you’re exporting to willNorthern tellIreland, you ifdo younot need one.

  Checkofficial thecertification, such as export health certificatecertificates, (EHC)phytosanitary findercertificates toor seemarketing ifstandards acertification. certificateHowever, existsif foryou’re yourmoving animalprohibited product.

  Ifor yourestricted findgoods an EHC, follow the EHC process to export.

  IfNorthern Ireland you cannot find an EHC for your product, you’ll need to contactapply thefor competentan authorityexport inhealth thecertificate.

  The EUfollowing countryconditions you’rewill exportingbe to,attached in advance, to findthese out what:arrangements:

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  • rulesend youconsumers needand tothey complybear with

  Ifa thelabel competentreading authority“These saysproducts thatfrom youthe needUnited anKingdom EHC,may you’llnot needbe tomarketed getoutside theirNorthern importIreland”

• they conditions.are Emaildestined thesolely conditions to APHA at exports@apha.gov.uk who’ll arrange an EHC for you.

  Applysale forto aend certificateconsumers ofin freesupermarkets sale

  Tolocated applyin forNorthern aIreland, certificateand ofthey freecannot sale,be yousold should:

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  • fillthey inare allaccompanied relevantby parts,a thensimplified emailofficial itcertificate toglobally trader@rpa.gov.uk.stating Validthe formsproducts aremeet processedall withinthe 5import workingrequirements days of receivingEU them.legislation

  You

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  Re-exportof POAOitems importedin tothe Greatmeans Britain

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Re-exportAuthorised ortraders

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• removed

  Export fromfood itsand originaldrink packaging

• handledto beyondnon-EU unloading, reloading, transporting and storage

You cannotusually re-exportneed orto movecomplete productsan using POAOEHC fromand non-EUsome countriessupporting thatdocuments areto notexport listedfood bythat thecontains EUPOAO forto thenon-EU purposecountries. You ofmay importsalso intoneed thea EU.

Re-exportcertificate POAOof tofree non-EUsale countries 

Theif rulesyou’re forexporting re-exportingprocessed POAOfood imported from an EU or non-EUdrink. countryThe tofood aauthority non-EUin the country dependyou’re on:

• Greatexporting Britain’sto marketwill accesstell arrangementsyou withif thatyou country
• theneed conditionsone.

  Check of the relevant export health certificate (EHC) finder

Check duties,to rulessee andif restrictionsa certificate exists for your goodsanimal inor the destination country.product.

Re-exporting POAO from 30 April 2024 

FromIf 30you Aprilfind 2024,an underEHC, follow the BorderEHC Targetprocess Operatingto Model (BTOM)export,.

If you’llyou nocannot longerfind needan aEHC healthfor certificateyour toproduct, importyou’ll someneed low-risk POAO from non-EU countries to Greatcontact Britain.the Wherecompetent thisauthority isin the case,country ayou’re certifyingexporting officerto, willin noadvance, longer be able to relyfind onout awhat:

• paperwork mandatoryyou’ll healthneed certificateto forfill thein
• rules informationyou they need to certifycomply the goods for re-export.
  with

If the goodscompetent authority says that you need an EHC, toyou’ll beneed re-exported, it is your responsibility to provideget thetheir certifyingimport officerconditions. withEmail the necessaryconditions supporting evidence. You’ll need to planAPHA wellat inexports@apha.gov.uk advance,who’ll asarrange itan mayEHC notfor beyou.

Apply possiblefor toa getcertificate the supporting evidence after the goods have left the country of origin.

free sale

BeforeTo theapply goodsfor leavea thecertificate country of origin,free sale you should:

• checksave ifa you’recopy allowedof to re-export the goodsapplication form to theyour destination countrycomputer
• checkfill within theall certifyingrelevant officerparts, whatthen supportingemail evidenceit you’llto needtrader@rpa.gov.uk. toValid provide
• askforms theare exporterprocessed towithin provide5 theworking necessarydays evidenceof receiving them.

SourcesYou ofshould supportingallow evidence10 canworking include:

• adays certificate from ansending officialyour orapplication authorisedto vetreceiving inyour thecertificate countryback. ofIt’s origin
• thefree Commonto Healthapply Entryand Document (CHED) created when the goodscertificates enterdo Greatnot Britain

Forexpire moreunless information:

• check with the certifyingcountry officer
• referyou’re exporting to thespecifies officiala guidancetime notes published with the EHC

If you need help

Contact APHAthe Rural Payments Agency (RPA) Rural CentrePayments forAgency Telephone: International03300 Trade416 in500 Monday Carlisle.

Email:to exports@apha.gov.uk

Telephone:Friday: 030008:30am 200to 3015pm

Find out about call charges.