Publication
Exporting to the UK from Ireland
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
On 11 March, the UK Government revised the timelines on which it will introduce new controls on imports from the EU. These new UK import controls will impact on exporters of all products of animal origin, including all meat, dairy, fish and composite products incorporating products of animal origin, certain animal by-products, high risk food not of animal origin as well as regulated plants and plant products. No new procedures apply to goods moving between Ireland and Northern Ireland because of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland.
In addition to the necessary customs formalities, Irish exporters exporting to, or through the UK, excluding Northern Ireland need to comply with a number of new UK requirements. All businesses wishing to export to the UK must be listed as an “approved establishment” on the EU TRACES system. In addition, your UK importer will have to pre-notify the UK authorities of the goods being imported and you will have to get the appropriate health certificate(s) from the Irish authorities which must accompany the goods when they are being exported.
Please note that the type of health certificate required for individual categories of products may differ and therefore consignments with different products may require a number of health certificates.
For further information on how to apply for an Export Health Certificate (EHC), please contact your competent authority:
A range of Government supports are available, including training and grants, to help your business deal with these changes. However, you will also need to engage with your UK importer and with the UK authorities.
Click here for more information.
Since 1 January EU exporters have been required to pre-notify exports to the UK authorities using the Good Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) or to avail of temporary storage at the point of import while import formalities are completed. Certain limited categories of plant and animal products, which the UK considers to be high risk (e.g. live animals, germinal products and high risk plants and plant products), also already require pre-notification to the UK authorities (using its Imports of Products, Animal, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS- the UK equivalent to the EU's TRACES)) by the UK importer and an Export Certificate which must accompany the consignment being exported.
From the 1 October 2021, the UK will introduce import requirements on imports of:
• Products of Animal Origin (POAO) for human consumption, including meat and meat products, dairy products, fish products, honey, table eggs, composite products, certain animal by-products and high-risk food not of animal origin.
These requirements include pre-notification on IPAFFS - and the provision of relevant export health certificates.
From the 1 January 2022 these sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements will apply to:
• Low risk plants and plant products.
These requirements include pre-notification on the PEACH system and the need to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.
The UK will also begin to carry out physical and identity controls on certain categories of plant and animal products (i.e. all products of animal origin, certain animal by-products, high risk food not of animal origin, as well as high risk plants) at UK Border Control Posts (BCPs) from 1 January 2022.
From 1 March 2022, the UK will introduce physical and identity controls on live animals, and low risk plants and plant products at UK BCPs.
From 1 October 2021, consignments of meat, meat products and composite products exported to Great Britain (GB) must be pre-notified on IPAFFS and also accompanied by an export health certificate (EHC).
• Exporting businesses must ensure that they are registered on TRACES to ensure they are listed on the “approved list of establishments allowed to export to the UK” and to apply to DAFM for an Export Health Certificate.
• The GB-based importer will need to register with IPAFFS and submit advance notification of import to IPAFFS .
• Staff in the relevant Veterinary Office will review the application and issue the EHC if requirements are met.
• The EHC is generated, signed, and stamped by certifying Official Veterinarian (OV) and the original EHC is made available to the exporter.
• The Irish exporter will email a scanned copy of the signed EHC to the GB importer.
• The GB importer will upload the EHC onto IPAFFS . This must happen before the consignment arrives in GB.
• GB import documentary checks will occur remotely, with identity and physical checks undertaken at the point of destination on a risk basis until 1 January 2022 when these checks will take place at UK BCPs.
• Information on TRACES can be accessed here
• Watch our TRACES webinar below
Frequently asked questions Meat and Meat Products
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If you have further queries on meat and meat product exports, please contact: Brexitcall@agriculture.gov.ie
From 1 January 2022 EU exports of regulated plants including fruit and vegetables must comply with new UK import requirements, including pre-notification and phytosanitary certification. If you export regulated plants, fruit and vegetables to the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, you should:
• Register with the Department to receive a Plant Health registration number
• Check whether a phytosanitary certificate is required by checking on our website and reading our Trader Notices .
• Apply for a phytosanitary certificate via the online Export Certification System (ECS) here
• The Department requires at least 14-days notice prior to export to enable inspectors to arrange an inspection to see if your plants require laboratory testing of samples to ensure they are free from pests and diseases or inspections during the growing season.
• When you receive original phytosanitary certificate in the post, retain the duplicate for records and post the original to your UK customer who will send it to UK NPPO (DEFRA).
• The importer in GB must provide advance notification on the PEACH system of at least 4 working hours prior to arrival for roll-on-roll-off consignments
Watch our webinar on the Export Certification System below
If you have any queries, please email plantandpests@agriculture.gov.ie or call (01) 505 8885 .
From 1 January 2021, in terms of anti-illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) fishing, most wild-caught fin fish travelling to the UK will require a Catch Certificate and potentially other commercial and supporting documents – see our website for details.
If you export fish or fish products to the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, these are the changes:
• From 1 October 2021, consignments of fish as products of animal origin for human consumption exported to GB must be pre-notified to the new UK IT system - Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS ) and accompanied by an Export Health Certificate (EHC). Please note that some such consignments already require Catch Certificate since 1 January and this requirement continues after 1 October along with the health certificate requirement.
• Exporting businesses must ensure that they are registered on TRACES to ensure they are listed on the “approved list of establishments allowed to export to the UK” and to apply to DAFM for an Export Health Certificate.
• The GB importer will need to register with IPAFFS and submit advance notification of import to IPAFFS.
• Irish exporters with fish consignments for export should apply through a SFPA regional port office for an EHC.
• SFPA staff will review the consignment details provided by the exporter.
• The SFPA Certifying Officer will verify if requirements of the certificate are met through documentary and potentially Physical Consignment Controls.
• Once the EHC is generated, signed, and stamped by the SFPA Certifying Officer the original EHC will be made available in hard copy to the exporter. This EHC should physically accompany the consignment.
• A scanned copy of the signed EHC is provided by the exporter to the GB importer.
• The GB importer will need to upload EHC onto IPAFFS. This must happen before consignment arrives in GB.
• GB documentary checks will occur remotely, with identity and physical checks undertaken at the point of destination on a risk basis until 1 January 2022 when these checks will take place at UK BCPs..
• Irish exporters, who have previously exported primary products to GB, should be aware that the UK EHC does not provide for such exports from registered establishments. This means that exports of live bivalve molluscs going from an aquaculture farm or fishing vessel accompanied by a registration document, or gutted iced finfish from a fishing vessel, cannot occur after 1 October 2021. Instead such products will need to be exported from an approved establishment in Ireland having met any human consumption criteria, in order to reach the UK certification requirements.
• Exports of fish to UK by direct landing of Irish fishing vessels are not covered by this guidance, and when fresh do not require EHC. Please see the SFPA website.
For further information on fish and fish product exports, visit here .
For any queries in relation to this, please email brexitfisheriesgroup@agriculture.gov.ie or sfpabrexit@sfpa.ie
From 1 October 2021, consignments of dairy products exported to GB must be pre-notified to the new UK IT system - Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS ) and accompanied by an Export Health Certificate (EHC). If you export dairy products to the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, these are the changes:
• Exporting businesses must ensure that they are registered on TRACES to ensure they are listed on the “approved list of establishments allowed to export to the UK” .
• The GB importer will need to register with IPAFFS and submit advance notification of import to IPAFFS.
• Exporters will need to apply for an Export Health Certificate (EHC) through the Department's Dairy Products Certification System (DPCS).
• Once the EHC process is completed, the original EHC is made available in hard copy to the exporter.
• The IE exporter will email a scanned copy of the signed EHC to the GB importer.
• The GB importer will upload the EHC onto IPAFFS . This must happen before consignment arrives in GB.
• GB import documentary checks will occur remotely, with identity and physical checks undertaken at the point of destination on a risk basis until 1 January 2022 when these checks will take place at UK BCPs..
In the event that you have further queries in relation dairy exports, please contact dairycertshelpdesk@agriculture.gov.ie or dpihq@agriculture.gov.ie
• From 1 October 2021, consignments of honey products exported to GB must be pre-notified on the new UK IT system - Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS ) and also accompanied by an export health certificate (EHC). Exporting businesses must also ensure that they are registered on TRACES to ensure they are listed on the “approved list of establishments allowed to export to the UK”. If you export honey products to the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, these are the changes:
• Exporting businesses must ensure that they are registered with the Department and on TRACES to apply to Department for an EHC.
• The GB importer will need to register with IPAFFS and submit advance notification of import to IPAFFS.
• The exporter will make the application for an EHC in TRACES and also alert the Honey Inspectorate @ beekeeping@agriculture.gov.ie , located in the Department's laboratory in Backweston, of the upcoming export via email. Applications for EHC should be made three workings days before export date.
• Department staff will review the application and issue the EHC if requirements are met.
• The EHC is generated, signed, and stamped by the Certifying Officer and the original EHC is made available to the exporter.
• The Irish exporter will email a scanned copy of the signed EHC to the GB importer.
• The GB importer will upload the EHC onto IPAFFS . This must happen before consignment arrives in GB.
• GB import documentary checks will occur remotely, with identity and physical checks undertaken at the point of destination on a risk basis.
Watch our webinar on TRACES below
If you have further queries on honey exports, please contact: beekeeping@agriculture.gov.ie
From 1 October 2021, consignments of table eggs exported to the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, must be pre-notified on the new UK IT system - Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS ) and also accompanied by an export health certificate (EHC) issued by the Department. Exporting businesses must also ensure that they are registered on TRACES to ensure they are listed on the “approved list of establishments allowed to export to the UK”. If you export table eggs to the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, these are the changes:
• Exporting businesses must ensure that they are registered on TRACES to apply to the Department for an Export Health Certificate.
• The GB importer will need to register with IPAFFS and submit advance notification of import to IPAFFS.
• The application and supporting documentation will be reviewed and if in order the EHC can be issued.
• If supporting documentation is not in order, the exporter will be notified.
• The EHC is generated, signed, and stamped by the certifying Official Veterinarian and the original EHC is made available to the exporter.
• The Irish exporter will email a scanned copy of the signed EHC to the GB importer.
• The GB importer will upload EHC onto IPAFFS . This must happen before the consignment arrives in GB.
• GB import documentary checks will occur remotely, with identity and physical checks undertaken at the point of destination on a risk basis.
Watch our webinar on TRACES below
If you have further queries on table egg exports, please email feedenquiries@agriculture.gov.ie or egghealthcerts@agriculture.gov.ie
See full information on each individual commodity on our Trading in animals and animal products page.
See full information on exporting forestry plants, wood and wood products on our Trading in animals and animal products page
From 1 October 2021, EU-GB-EU consignments transiting the Landbridge will need to meet similar import control requirements as EU exports to GB including:
• Pre-notification on IPAFFS system; and
• Requirement to provide GB transit health certificates
To apply for a transit health certificate the exporter can make an application in the same way as for a regular export health certificate. Please see links at the top of this page for details.
For more detail on Landbridge movements, please see here .
The UK Government has set out its general guidance for EU businesses wishing to export goods into the UK on the following website. Additional information on the UK import certification requirements is provided on the following webpage. The responsible UK authority is the Animal and Plant Health Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This webpage will be updated as further guidance is issued by the UK authorities.
The UK Customs Authorities have also provided a number of online videos to assist businesses with UK customs clearance and importing into the UK.
Watch our latest Brexit webinars and presentations on our YouTube video series .
Registration with the Department to import or export
Further details for registering with the Department are available here
