GovWire

Imports of most animals and animal products are covered by UK legislation. Check the Import information notes to find out if your import is covered.

If your import has an import information note, you must follow the conditions in the note.

If your import does not have an import information note you may need a general licence or authorisation.

You can use an existing general licence or authorisation to import:

• genetic material
• live animals
• products for human consumption
• products not for human consumption

If a general licence or authorisation for what you want to import does not exist, contact the APHA imports team.

Genetic material

Licences for semen, ova and embryos from:

• livestock
• canines
• felines
• rodents
• lagomorphs (hares, rabbits and pikas)
• equines

These are for products entering England from:

• the Channel Islands
• Northern Ireland
• Isle of Man

• countries outside the EU

• Bovine semen from the Channel Islands (IMP/GEN/2019/01) (PDF, 2.21 MB, 3 pages)
• Bovine ova and embryos from the Channel Islands (PDF, 1.75 MB, 2 pages)
• Bovine ova and embryos from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2016/05) (PDF, 64.1 KB, 2 pages)
• Bovine semen from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2008/01) (PDF, 469 KB, 4 pages)
• Equine semen from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2013/03) (PDF, 510 KB, 2 pages)
• Porcine semen from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2007/5) (PDF, 62.5 KB, 2 pages)
• Sheep and goat semen from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2014/10) (PDF, 587 KB, 2 pages)
• Red deer semen from New Zealand (IMP/GEN/2012/04) (PDF, 139 KB, 6 pages)
• Dog or cat semen from donors compliant with regulation 576/2013 or 998/2003 (PDF, 205 KB, 2 pages)
• Import of laboratory produced Rodent or Lagomorph Embryos/Ova/Semen to a research facility in Great Britain (IMP/GEN/RM37) (PDF, 195 KB, 2 pages)

Live animals

Licences and authorisations for:

• domestic and non-domestic livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats)
• poultry, birds and equidae (horses, ponies, donkeys)
• insects

These are for animals entering England from:

• the Channel Islands
• Northern Ireland
• Isle of Man
• non-EU countries

Captive or pet birds

• Captive or pet birds from Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2017/02) (PDF, 550 KB, 4 pages)

Cattle

• Cattle from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2016/03) (PDF, 120 KB, 3 pages)
• Cattle, breeding, production from Channel Islands (IMP/GEN/2014/09) (PDF, 180 KB, 3 pages), and amendment notice IMP/GEN/2014/09 - condition 4 amendment (PDF, 118 KB, 1 page)
• Cattle aged 15 days and over from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2016/01) (PDF, 135 KB, 