Publication
Trading in animals and animal products
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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If you want to import or export animals or products of animal origin (including fish) from or to the UK (excluding Norther Ireland) from 1 January 2021 you must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Furthermore, importers will also need to be registered on TRACES (an EU Commission system for the electronic completion of documentation required for imports of certain consignments from third countries).
To protect human health, animal health and the environment, EU rules restrict the import of certain goods from third countries – for example, live animals and products of animal origin. Therefore, you should undertake the following:
- The operator responsible for importing the consignment must register with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as well as on the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). You can register on TRACES by applying through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
- Check on TRACES that the exporter is approved by the EU to export the category of product required by you.
- Make sure your transporter or haulier is in possession of the required EU authorisations.
- Ensure pre-notification of imports of live animals and animal products are submitted at least 24 hours before the consignment arrives at the point of entry.
- The person responsible for importing the consignment is also required to submit copies of the relevant health certificates and any other documentation required by EU legislation to an electronic mailbox at the same time as the TRACES document is completed.
- If you are importing wild caught fish or fishery products, you must have a Catch Certificate – see the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority for further information. Where a Catch Certificate is required, you must give the SFPA at least 24 hours advance notice.
Further information is available here:
In order to protect the safety and health of EU citizens and preserve the integrity of the internal market, controls are carried out on food entering the EU market to ensure they meet the requirements of EU food law. The controls carried out are dependent on the food type and can vary from a documentary check to an identity or a physical check or any combination of these checks. Some foods are considered to pose a higher risk to public health, animal health or to the environment in terms of diseases, pests or contaminants, and additional requirements are in place for these foods to control those risks. These additional requirements can include prenotification of arrival at the point of entry, specific accompanying documents and full physical checks. In most cases these foods may only enter the EU market through a specific entry point.
EU food legislation splits foods into the following broad categories:
- Foods of animal origin such as meat, dairy, fish, honey, eggs.
- Foods of non-animal origin such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, confectionery, food additives (e.g. colours and preservatives).
- Composite products – food products that contains both processed products of animal origin and products of plant origin e.g. ham and spinach quiche, pepperoni pizza, chocolate mousse, beef sandwich, duck spring roll. However, not all foods containing processed products of animal origin and plant material are composite products.
- Food contact materials
Foods of animal origin are considered ‘high risk’ by the EU as they can transmit serious human and animal diseases. They must enter the EU through a listed Border Control Post (BCP). The list of BCPs in Ireland and their designations can be found here . Their entry onto the EU market is subject to specific requirements such as an obligation on the importer (i.e. the operator responsible for the consignment) to be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) , notification of the food through the EU online system TRACES NT (New Technology) , and use of specific certificates that must accompany the food. Entry onto the EU market is controlled at the port of entry in Ireland by the Department. For direct landings of fish from a fishing vessel of a third country, controls are carried out by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority . For further information on the requirements view our guidance on importing foods of animal origin and for additional requirements regarding fish or fishery products see Sea Fisheries Protection Authority
Composite products are foodstuffs that contain both processed products of animal origin and products of plant origin. Specific requirements are set out in legislation for composite products particularly in regard to use of ingredients of animal origin with many composite products subject to veterinary checks on import. For further information on the requirements regarding these foods see
Before the end of the transition period, the UK will determine its requirements for export certification in relation to animals, animal products, plants and/or plant products, and food.
The EU requires all Wood Packaging Material (WPM) from third countries entering the Union territory to be ISPM 15 compliant:
