Animal Plant Health Agency
To import live animals or animal products from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein into Great Britain, youll need to:
- find the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) risk category for the commodity youre importing
- follow the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules for that import risk category
The BTOM categorises live animals, germinal products, products of animal origin (POAO) and animal by-products (ABPs) as high risk, medium risk or low risk. Each category has different requirements.
This guidance applies to animals and animal products imported from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein only. Read separate guidance on:
How to find the BTOM risk category for animals and animal products
You can use the 2 documents on this page to help you find the risk category for a commodity youre importing.
1. BTOM risk categories: summary tables
Use the summary tables to find out about BTOM risk categories for imports of live animals, POAO and ABPs from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to Great Britain.
The tables give a summary of how different types of animals and animal products will be categorised. They do not provide the risk categories for specific commodity codes - for that, you will need to use the searchable list with commodity codes (see below).
2. BTOM risk categories: searchable list with commodity codes
Use the spreadsheet on this page (Import risk categories for animal and animal product imports from the EU to Great Britain: searchable list with commodity codes) to find the risk category for a specific commodity youre importing. You can search using a commodity code or browse a list of commodities.
The list includes live animals and POAO. It does not include all ABPs and composite products. (See next section if you cant find the risk category for your commodity.)
What to do if you cant find your commodity risk category
If the list does not give the risk category for the commodity youre importing, or indicates that it could be either medium or low risk, refer to the summary tables for more information about how that type of commodity will be categorised.
Updates to commodity risk categories
Risk factors will be reviewed regularly. Commodities may be moved into higher or lower BTOM risk categories in future to reflect changing levels of risk.
Youll be notified in advance if there is a change to the BTOM risk category of a commodity you have imported.
Composite products
All composite products from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are either:
- in the low BTOM risk category
- not placed in a BTOM risk category because it is exempt from official import controls
Some composite products may become medium risk following future risk assessments.
Find out if your product is a composite, and if it is exempt from import controls.
Rules for each BTOM risk category
There are 3 BTOM risk categories:
- low risk
- medium risk
- high risk
If your consignment is in the low BTOM risk category
Use the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) to notify authorities before the goods arrive in Great Britain.
You will need the IPAFFS commodity code, rather than the Trade Tariff commodity code, to enter your details into IPAFFS. You can get the IPAFFS code from the spreadsheet on this page (BTOM risk categories for animal and animal product imports from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to Great Britain: searchable list with commodity codes).
You do not need a health certificate.
Low BTOM risk category consignments must come with a commercial document from the supplier.
Low risk consignments will not be subject to routine documentary, identity and physical checks. However, checks may still be undertaken where intelligence indicates a specific risk.
Your goods must enter Great Britain through a point of entry with a border control post (BCP) that is designated to check your commodity.
For EU goods entering Great Britain through west coast ports, there will be a different implementation date for intelligence-led checks and for the requirement to enter through a port with a BCP. There is more detail in the Border Target Operating Model.
If your consignment is in the medium BTOM risk category
Use IPAFFS to notify authorities before the goods arrive in Great Britain.
You will need the IPAFFS commodity code, rather than the Trade Tariff commodity code, to enter your details into IPAFFS. You can get the IPAFFS code from the spreadsheet on this page (BTOM risk categories for animal and animal product imports from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to Great Britain: searchable list with commodity codes).
Your consignment must have a health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country where the goods originate.
Products in the medium BTOM risk category:
- will need to enter Great Britain through a point of entry with a BCP that is designated to check them
- may be subject to documentary, identity and physical import checks
For EU goods entering Great Britain through west coast ports, there will be a different implementation date for identity and physical checks and for the requirement to enter through a port with a BCP. There is more detail in