Introduction
If you’re looking to import any food or drink that includes animal ingredients (often called POAO), this guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from checking whether you can import certain goods to completing the necessary documentation and submitting notifications. It covers:
- Meat, eggs, and dairy
- Honey
- Gelatine
- Composite or compound products (those that contain multiple ingredients, including both animal and plant products)
The rules apply to products that:
- Originated in the EU, or
- Originated outside the EU but were either processed in the EU or passed sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import controls in the EU.
“Processing” refers to any action that substantially alters the initial product—such as heating, smoking, curing, maturing, drying, marinating, extraction, or extrusion.
2. Scope of This Guidance
This guidance specifically covers the import of products of animal origin (POAO). If you’re importing fish for human consumption or animal products from non-EU countries directly, separate guidance may apply.
2.1 Products with Multiple Ingredients
If your product contains multiple ingredients—both animal and plant—check whether it is classified as:
- Composite product: A processed animal product combined with plant ingredients, where the plant ingredients are integral.
- Example: Lasagne (with mince meat, tomato sauce, and pasta).
- Compound product: Contains more than one type of animal product, processed or unprocessed.
- Example: Sausages containing cheese.
3. Approved Establishments and Countries
Before importing, ensure:
- The country you’re importing from is on the list of approved countries. Check for any disease-related restrictions that could affect your import.
- Your supplier (the establishment that manufactures or processes the goods) appears on the list of approved establishments.
4. Required Import Conditions and Documentation
4.1 Import Information Notes (IINs)
Import information notes set out specific conditions for importing different POAO product types (e.g., meat, dairy). They contain:
- Statutory guidance for importers
- Vets’ and border control officials’ responsibilities
- Requirements specific to each product type
Read the general import information note for products of animal origin. Locate the specific import information note relevant to your product type (e.g., meat, dairy, eggs).
4.2 Determining Product Risk: Low vs. Medium
POAO imports are categorized as low risk or medium risk, which dictates the documents you’ll need:
4.2.1 Medium Risk Imports
- Must have a health certificate from the country of export.
- If the product was processed in the EU or passed SPS import controls in the EU (but originated outside the EU), the certificate must be from the EU member state that exported the product.
- The health certificate may also indicate whether you need an official importer declaration.
- If no health certificate exists for your specific product, you may need an import licence or authorisation.
4.2.2 Low Risk Imports
- Must travel with a commercial document.
- No health certificate
- You may still need an import licence or authorisation if none exists for the product or specific circumstances apply.
5. Health Certificates
5.1 How They’re Issued
- The exporter must apply for a Great Britain (GB) health certificate in their own country.
- The competent authority (for example, the government in the exporting country) creates the certificate, usually based on GB model health certificates.
5.2 Original Certificates vs. Verifiable PDFs
- If the exporter can create a verifiable PDF certificate, the original does not need to travel with the consignment. The signed PDF must be sent to you electronically to attach to your import notification in IPAFFS.
- If a verifiable PDF is not available, the original paper health certificate must travel with the goods, and an electronic copy must be sent to you to attach to your IPAFFS notification.
6. Import Licences
If no health certificate exists for your product, you may need an import licence or authorisation. In some cases, you could need both a health certificate and a licence. Check the list of general licences to see if one exists that covers your scenario. If not, you may need to apply for a new licence.
7. Commercial Documents for Low-Risk POAO
For low risk POAO, the exporter must provide a commercial document, which includes:
- Description of the consignment (e.g., “cooked meat”)
- Volume or quantity, or a copy of the food label
- Name of the person or organization who sent it
- Name of the person or organization to whom it is being sent
- Address of the premises of origin
- Address of the destination premises
- Reference number identifying the lot, batch, or consignment
- Date the consignment was sent
- Name and address of the transporter, plus details on how the consignment will be transported
8. Notifying Authorities in Great Britain: IPAFFS
You must notify authorities in Great Britain about your POAO import using the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS). This notification is called a common health entry document (CHED).
- Submit your IPAFFS notification at least one working day before the goods arrive at the point of entry.
- Once submitted, you’ll receive a Unique Notification Number (UNN) in the format:
GB.YYYY.XXXXXXX - You do not need to add the UNN to the health certificate.
8.1 Selecting the Correct Country of Origin
- Non-EU origin, processed in or passed SPS checks in the EU: Select the EU country of export as both the country of origin and the country of dispatch.
- EU origin or last processed in the EU: Select the relevant EU country where processing last occurred.
8.2 Adding the Approved Business in IPAFFS
- Sign in or register on IPAFFS.
- On “Traders addresses,” select “Add a place of origin.” Then “Create a new place of origin.”
- Enter the full name of the exporting business and its authorisation number in the “Place of origin name.”
- Enter the full address, telephone, country, and email in the relevant fields.
- Save these details. You can reuse them for future imports.
- Add the approved business to your import notification. If multiple businesses are involved, repeat these steps in “additional details.”
9. Special Situations
9.1 New or Emerging Disease Outbreaks (Safeguard Measures)
If there’s a disease outbreak and no commodity code exists for your product:
- Download the import notification form for POAO under safeguard measures.
- Email the completed form to APHA ([email protected]) using subject: “Urgent – POAO safeguarding UNN required.”
- APHA will give you a UNN to add to the health certificate.
- Once the exporter provides the signed health certificate, email both the form and certificate to APHA, including the UNN in your subject line:
“Import notification – POAO under safeguard measures CHEDP.GB.YYYY.XXXXXXX.” - APHA will return an updated form with the UNN and the health certificate attached.
9.2 Products Containing Multiple Commodity Types
If your product contains both animal and non-animal components with different import requirements (e.g., plant products or high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin – HRFNAO), you must submit separate import notifications in IPAFFS:
- D for HRFNAO
- P for the animal product
Include both CHED reference numbers in all relevant commercial documentation. On your customs declaration, enter the CHED reference number using the format GBCHDyyyy.nnnnnnn and the appropriate document codes:
- C678 for CHED-D
- N853 for CHED-P
10. Checks at the UK Border
10.1 General Overview
- Most POAO may be subject to border checks (except certain movements from Ireland under specific conditions).
- All goods must enter Great Britain through a point of entry that has a relevant Border Control Post (BCP).
- Goods moving directly from the Republic of Ireland can enter England through Heysham and Wales through any named point of entry.
- Different rules apply for qualifying Northern Ireland goods.
10.2 Arriving by Airport
- Any required checks take place before the consignment is released for collection.
- Border officials will inform you or your transporter if further checks are necessary.
10.3 Arriving by Port
- You may be required to use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) for customs clearance.
- If GVMS applies, your transporter can use its “check if you need to report for an inspection” service.
- If GVMS does not apply, IPAFFS will conduct an initial risk assessment upon submitting your notification.
- You’ll receive a text/email alert 2 hours before the estimated arrival, indicating if checks are needed.
- Even if IPAFFS initially indicates no checks, continue to check for messages until goods clear the port because final risk assessments may still require an inspection.
Note: For goods transiting Great Britain under the Common Transit Convention, separate transit guidance applies.
11. Specific Guidance for Minced Meats, Meat Preparations, or Mechanically Separated Meat (MSM)
- EU countries (plus Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the Faroe Islands) can export these goods chilled to a temperature no greater than +4°C.
- All other countries approved to export minced meat or MSM must deep freeze it to -18°C.
- These products must meet health certificate requirements and GB labelling and hygiene rules.
How Customs Declarations UK Can Help
Navigating the complexities of customs declarations for products of animal origin can be challenging. Customs Declarations UK streamlines this process via the intuitive platform—from verifying approved countries and establishments to completing the correct declarations and ensuring full compliance with border control regulations. The platform helps you avoid delays, additional costs, and potential compliance issues. By leveraging the Customs Declarations platform, you can submit your customs declarations accurately and confidently, making the entire POAO import process smoother and more efficient.
Conclusion
Importing products of animal origin into Great Britain can involve multiple steps—understanding the product category (low or medium risk), verifying approved countries and establishments, getting the right documentation (health certificates, commercial documents, licences), and making timely IPAFFS notifications. By following the outlined procedures, you’ll streamline your import process and help ensure that your consignment meets all regulatory standards at the border.
Key Takeaways
- Always check that your exporter and country of origin are approved.
- Determine if your product is low or medium risk (the required documents differ).
- Use IPAFFS to notify authorities at least one working day before arrival.
- Watch for potential checks at the border, even if initially flagged as no checks required.
- Maintain records of all commercial documents, health certificates, or licences for compliance.
By following this guide carefully, you’ll be on track for a compliant and efficient import process. If in doubt, reach out to the relevant authorities or seek professional advice to avoid any pitfalls.