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

This guidance applies to businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) importing or moving HRFNAO from the EUEU. Imports from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and NorthernSwitzerland Ireland.should follow this guidance.

It also applies to goods imported for commercial purposes by post or courier. Contact your post or courier service to find out if they offer an import service for commercial imports and for more information about the process.

HRFNAO includes: 

• food and feed not of animalnon-animal origin (FNAO) with known or emerging risks to public health  
• unauthorised genetically modified rice in rice products originating from China

IfUnless HRFNAO has been cleared for the EUgoods market,are youfrom canIreland:

• all currentlyHRFNAO importmust itenter to Great Britain withoutthrough bordera checks.point You’llof needentry tothat followhas the processrelevant to:
  • notifyborder authoritiescontrol inpost Great Britain(BCP)
  • checkthere whatare documentschecks youat needthe border on all HRFNAO imported from the EU

  ImportsGoods canmoving directly from the Republic of Ireland must enter GreatEngland Britainor atScotland through a point of entry with a relevant BCP, or through Heysham. Goods from Ireland can enter Wales through any named point of entry. entry.

  There are separate rules for qualifying Northern Ireland goods.

  If HRFNAO has been processedimported into the EU,EU and then processed, it becomesis ano productlonger ofconsidered thehigh EUrisk. andYou youshould dofollow notspecific needimport toguidance followfor thisthe process.commodity.

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

  • HRFNAO from non-EU countries
  • animal by-products (ABP) from the EU
  • food and drink that are products of animal origin (POAO) from the EU
  • composite products from the EU

  NotifyCheck authoritieswhat indocuments Greatyou Britainneed

  You mustneed submita laboratory report and a health certificate (also called an ‘official certificate’) if you import notificationthe following HRFNAO:   

  • rice products from China listed in Annex 1 of 2011/844
  • products listed in Annex 2 of 2019/1793
  • Chernobyl affected products listed in Annex 2 of 2020/1158

  All HRFNAO imports must be accompanied by commercial documents.

  Laboratory reports

  Full laboratory analyses must be provided for HRFNAO products to screen for various contaminants. The screening process and what to screen for depends on the your product.

  Laboratory analyses must be dated no more than 6 months before the health certificate for your product. They must be accompanied by a declaration from the competent authority where the sample was tested.

  Health certificates

  These are also referred to as ‘official certificates’.

  The EU exporter must:

  • apply for the export health certificate (EHC) in their own country – competent authorities should use model health certificates to create versions that exporters  can apply for
  • give you an electronic copy to upload to the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) to

  Health certificates specify on them how long they are valid for. Most health certificates are valid for 4 months from the date of issue but no longer than 6 months from the date of the results of the last laboratory analysis.

  The original certificate (not a copy) must travel with the consignment.

  Commercial documents

  You must upload any accompanying documents to your IPAFFS notification. These could be: 

  • an invoice
  • the packing list
  • the bill of lading or airway bill

  The document must travel with the consignment.

  Notify authorities in Great Britain

  You must submit an import notification on IPAFFS to notify authorities in Great Britain about all imports of HRFNAO from the EU. This is also known as a common health entry document (CHED).

  You must do this at least one working day before the HRFNAO is expected to arrive at the point of entry.

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

  Add information about the business you’re importing from

  You need to add information to IPAFFS about the business you’re importing from, if the consignment is coming from:

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

  Follow these steps to add the 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.
  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 notification.

  If you need help with import notifications

  ForIf you need technical help withwith IPAFFS, yourcall the Animal and Plant Health Authority (APHA) helpline on 03300 416 999 or email APHAServiceDesk@apha.gov.uk.

  If you need help completing import notification,notifications, email the Food Standards Agency (FSA):) at imported.food@food.gov.uk.

  CheckMoving HRFNAO from whatNorthern documentsIreland youto needGreat Britain

  You needcan amove HRFNAO from laboratoryNorthern reportIreland andto aGreat healthBritain certificateif (alsothey’re qualifying calledNorthern anIreland ‘officialgoods.

  Find certificate’)out if youyour importconsignment theneeds followingsanitary HRFNAO:   

  • riceand productsphytosanitary from(SPS) Chinachecks 

  If listedyou’re inimporting AnnexHRFNAO 1from ofthe 2011/844

• productsEU listedto inGreat AnnexBritain, 2you ofmust 2019/1793
• Chernobylpresent affectedthe productsconsignment listedat inthe Annexrelevant 2 of 2020/1158

All HRFNAOBCP importsif mustit beis accompaniedcalled byfor commercialSPS documents.checks.  

Laboratory reports

FullIf laboratoryyou’re analysesimporting mustthe begoods providedthrough foran HRFNAOairport, productsthe toauthorities screenwill forcarry variousout contaminants.any Thenecessary screeningchecks processbefore andthey whatrelease tothe screenconsignment for dependscollection onby your product.transporter.  

LaboratoryIf analysesyou’re mustimporting bethe datedgoods nothrough morea thanport, 6the monthsway beforeto thefind healthout certificateif for your product.consignment Theyneeds mustSPS bechecks accompaniedwill bydepend aon declarationwhether fromyour thetransporter competentis authorityusing where the sampleGoods wasVehicle tested.

TheseService are(GVMS) also referred to asclear ‘official certificates’.customs.  

TheIf EUyour exportertransporter must:

• applyis forusing theGVMS, exportthey healthshould certificateuse (EHC)the check inif theiryou ownneed countryto –report competentfor authoritiesan shouldinspection use model health certificatesservice to createto versionsfind thatout exporterswhat  canthey applyneed for
• giveto youdo.  

  If anyour electronictransporter copyis tonot uploadusing toGVMS, IPAFFS

The healthwill certificateprovide isan validinitial forrisk 4assessment monthstelling fromyou theif dateyour ofconsignment issueneeds butSPS nochecks longerwhen thanyou 6submit monthsyour fromimport thenotification. dateIf ofyour theconsignment resultsdoes ofneed thechecks, lastyou’ll laboratoryalso analysis.

Thereceive original certificate (not a copy)text mustand travelemail withmessage the2 consignment.

Commercialhours documents

Youbefore must upload any accompanying documents to your IPAFFStransporter’s notification.estimated Thesetime could be: 

• an invoice
• the packing list
• the bill of ladingarrival orin airwayGreat bill

Britain. The documentmessage mustwill travelconfirm withwhat theyou consignment.

Moving HRFNAO fromneed Northern Ireland to Great Britain

YouIf can move HRFNAOIPAFFS from Northerntells Irelandyou toyour Greatconsignment Britainhas ifnot they’re qualifyingbeen Northernselected Irelandfor goods.

Importing HRFNAOSPS fromchecks, theyou EUshould fromstill 30check Aprilfor 2024 

Frommessages 30until Aprilyour 2024,consignment newhas checkscleared at the borderport, onbecause all HRFNAO imported from the EUauthorities willmay bestill introduced.call Allyou HRFNAOfor mustchecks enterbased throughon atheir pointfinal ofrisk entryassessment. 

Find thatout haswhat thehappens relevantat border control postBCPs.

If you need help

Contact the FSA if you’re not sure about anything in this guide.guide, Email:email imported.food@food.gov.uk.

If you need help with your customs declaration

Contact HMRC for help.