Rural Payments Agency
The government has introducednew legislation to make changes to how the Northern Ireland Protocol will apply. You should continue to use the guidance below for now.It will be updated in due course, giving you time to prepare for any new requirements.
This guidance applies to businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) exporting or moving food, drink and agricultural products to, or through:
- the EU
- non-EU countries
- Northern Ireland
You need an export health certificate (EHC) or other certificate to export or move:
- processed food and drink
- food or drink that contains products of animal origin (POAO)
- vegetables, fruit and other plants used as food
POAO means animal products for human consumption such as:
- meat
- fish
- eggs
- dairy
- honey
- gelatine
Some countries require another type of export certificate for certain products.
If your product was made in Great Britain, check with the food safety team in the local authority where your product was manufactured.
You can check each countrys rules by talking to your importer or getting help researching your export market.
Theres a ban on exporting caviar, caviar substitutes, truffles and goods containing truffles to Syria and North Korea.
Contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Centre for International Trade Carlisle for details.
Export or move processed food and drinks
You need an EHC to export or move most processed food and drink products that contain POAO to:
You do not usually need an EHC if your processed food and drink product does not contain POAO.
Examples of processed foods containing POAO include products such as:
- lasagne
- pork pie
You may also need a certificate of free sale to export processed food and drink to non-EU countries. The food authority in the country youre exporting to will tell you if you need one.
If you export any soft drinks with added sugar, you may need to register for the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. You can claim a credit for any exported drinks you pay the levy on.
Export or move food or drink that contains POAO to the EU or Northern Ireland
Youll need an export health certificate (EHC) to:
- export food or drink that contains POAO from Great Britain to the EU
- move them from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
- transit through the EU and Northern Ireland
If youre moving food or drink that contains POAO to Northern Ireland, you do not need to pay for them to be inspected and certified. The certifier invoices the government for these costs as part of the Movement Assistance Scheme.
Theres an arrangement for authorised traders moving food from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Youll also need to:
- get your goods checked at an EU border control post (BCP) or Northern Ireland point of entry in the first country you enter
- make sure your EU or Northern Ireland-based import agent has notified the BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry that your consignment is arriving - check with the BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry for how much notice needs to be given
- comply with wider HMRC guidance on customs requirements for exporting to the EU
- follow HMRC guidance for moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
There are different rules for exporting or moving:
You should read additional rules if you:
- export composite food products to the EU
- want to check if your product counts as a composite food product
Make sure you follow general guidance for businesses exporting to the EU.
Commercial samples containing POAO
Commercial samples of goods that contain POAO need an export health certificate to export or move them to the EU or Northern Ireland.
Before you export your samples,contact the veterinary BCPwhere the samples will enter the EU to check the export requirements.
EU listing for exporters and suppliers
You need to be listed as an approved business with the EU if you export food that contains POAO.
Use a logistics hub to export or move your products
You can use a logistics hub to export or move POAO.
Using a logistics hub can save you time by speeding up border processes. It does this by providing a central point for exports and expert staff in one location.
A logistics hub can:
- consolidate your batch of products with others from different suppliers into a single consignment
- collect your products and transport them to their destination in the EU or Northern Ireland
- complete and process the EHCs for your products - including access to a certifying officer
- provide a customs brokerage service
Not all logistics hubs offer the same services. Contact your logistics company or email: exports@apha.gov.uk to find out more about logistics hubs.
Your products need to be accompanied by the relevant supporting documents when they arrive at the logistics hub. For example, if youre exporting meat, you may need to provide evidence from the cutting plant or slaughte