EU export health cert/ UK IPAFFS
EU export health cert/ UK IPAFFS
New UK import requirements
Starting 31st January 2024 a New Veterinary Border will be implemented between the EU and the UK. From 31st January EU/EFTA SPS documentary checks will commence, and from 30th April physical controls and checks will happen at the border control posts.
Importers and import agents must use IPAFFS to notify authorities in Great Britain before the following goods arrive from EU and non-EU countries:
- live animals
- germinal products
- animal by-products (ABP)
- high-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)
- products of animal origin (POAO)
- composite food products
- plants and plant products
You do not need to notify authorities about imports from the Republic of Ireland of: - ABP and HRFNAO
- POAO
- composite products
- plants and plant products
Controls will take place based on a ‘Risk’ categorisation:
- High Risk
- Medium Risk
- Low Risk
The low risk products will not be subject to regular checks at the border and will not require health certificates, they will only require pre-notification on IPAFFS
| Consignment Risk | Example Animal Products | Health Certificates | Pre- notification requirements | Indicative check % | Indicative check % | Indicative check % | Indicative check % |
| High Risk | Live animals and commodities covered under safeguard measure | Export Health Certificate required | Full Pre- notification requirements | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% identify 100% physical |
| Medium Risk | Raw, chilled, frozen meat/ meat products/ ABP for use in animal feed. Medium risk fishery products imported as products of animal origin | Export Health Certificate required | Full Pre- notification requirements | 100% | 1%-30% | 1%-30% | 100% identify 15-30% physical |
| Low Risk | Processed, shelf stable products such as certain composites and canned meat products, certain animal by products for technical use and certain fish products | No Export Health Certificate required | Full Pre- notification data to allow traceability | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% identify 1-5% physical |
New UK import requirements
Medium Risk animal or plant product will be subject to some level of physical and ID checks. Medium and High Risk commodities including composite products (High Risk Products of Non-Animal Origin (HRFNAO) will also need Export Health certificates or Phytosanitary certs, issued by competent authority in the country of export.
Regardless of the risk of the product, all imports will need to be pre-notified before the arrival of goods. To help speed this process up and reduce delays at port the UK importer should have the following information available.
- Commodity Information Including species, description, gross and net weight
- Origin including the country of consignment and the GB port of entry as well as the destination address.
- The date and estimated time of arrival at the UK port of entry
- Transport info including mode of travel, and registrations, IMO, etc
- Supporting documentation when required such as EHC and invoice.
POAO - Products of Animal Origin
A POAO product will be in the Low TOM risk category if it meets all of the following Criteria:
- Shelf Stable at Ambient Temp.
- Has undergone a treatment or other processing in manufacturing. Clearly identified as intended for human consumption.
- It is securely packaged or sealed in visible clean containers.
- It is labelled in English and accompanied by a commercial document with info of commodity.
- It is not infant formula or follow-on formula, baby food or food for special medical purposes
Which goods are qualifying Northern Ireland goods?
Your goods will be qualifying Northern Ireland goods if they are in free circulation in Northern Ireland - that means not under a customs procedure or in an authorized temporary storage facility - before you move them from Northern Ireland to Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales).
This qualifying goods regime forms part of a phased approach to the implementation of the unfettered access designed to:
- Avoid disruption
- Ensure maximum continuity after the transition period
A loner-term qualifying regime will be brought forward in due course, with only businesses established in Northern Ireland benefitting from unfettered access. This guidance will apply until longer-term regime is in place.
Goods processed in Northern Ireland
If your goods were processed in Northern Ireland, they’ll still qualify if all the components were in free-circulation in the UK.