Food Standards Agency
This guidance applies to businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) that import or move live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed of non-animal origin (HRFNAO) from non-EU countries to Great Britain.
You should follow different rules for personal imports of animals and animal products into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
You should check the current topical issues, such as diseases, that would affect your import.
Live animals, germinal products, animal by-products not intended for human consumption (ABP) and products of animal origin (POAO) from non-EU countries are categorised as low, medium or high risk under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). HRFNAO is not included in the risk categorisation under the BTOM.
Where you can import from
You can only bring live animals, POAO and ABP into Great Britain from approved non-EU countries.
Some animals and animal products must also come from establishments approved to export to Great Britain.
Check what documents you need
You need a health certificate, sometimes called an official certificate, for medium and high risk imports. For medium or high risk animals and products you need an export health certificate (EHC) or importer declaration where one is available. Competent authorities should use model health certificates to create versions that exporters can apply for.
For low risk imports of ABP and POAO you need a commercial document. The goods must meet the relevant import conditions to be considered low risk.
The commercial document must be from the supplier and travel with your consignment.
Suppliers can use the template commercial document for imports of ABP.
In some cases, you may also need:
- an import licence or authorisation
- permits to meet other legal requirements, for example those controlling the trade in endangered species (CITES)
Read guidance below specific to your import to find out more about what documents you need.
Check if you need a specific licence or authorisation
For medium or high risk animals and products, if there is no export health certificate (EHC) or importer declaration for your goods, you need an import licence or authorisation.
For some low risk ABP and POAO products, a specific licence or authorisation may also be required prior to import.
Check the list of general licences to see if the licence you need already exists.
You must follow the conditions in the licence and check your licence to see if it must also travel with the consignment.
If the licence you need does not exist, you must either:
- complete form RM01 to apply for a specific rabies licence for animals (excluding pet dogs, cats or ferrets)
- complete form IV58 to apply for a specific licence or authorisation for animal pathogens and some POAO or ABP
High risk food and feed of non-animal origin (HRFNAO)
You do not need any licences, authorisations or permits for HRFNAO imports.
You will need official documents if you import HRFNAO under emergency controls:
- rice products from China listed in Annex 1 of 2011/844
- nuts and nut products, fruit and fruit products, seeds and seed products, dried spices and guar gum listed in Annex 2 of 2019/1793
- Chernobyl affected products
You will need:
- laboratory analyses
- health certificates (official certificates)
- commercial documents
Laboratory analyses
You must provide full laboratory analyses for HRFNAO products to screen for various contaminants. The screening process and what to screen for depends on your product.
Laboratory analyses from the competent authority where the sample was tested are valid for 6 months. They must be accompanied by an official certificate.
Official certificates
The EU exporter must:
- apply for the official certificate in their own country competent authorities should usemodel official 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)
The certificate is valid for 4 months. The original certificate (not a copy) must travel with the consignment.
Commercial documents
The commercial document for your HRFNAO will usually be from the haulage company or its airway bill. It should include the:
- description of whats in the consignment
- name of the person or organisation who sent it
- name of the person or organisation its being sent to
- address of the premises of origin
- address of the destination premises
- reference identifying the lot, batch or consignment
- date the consignment was sent
- name and address of the transporter and details on how the consignment will be transported
The document must travel with the consignment.