UK food and animal product imports from non-EU countries: BTOM and IPAFFS

Before shipping

Live animals, products of animal origin and animal by-products may only come from approved non-EU countries, and some must also come from establishments approved to export to Great Britain. Under the BTOM, they are rated low, medium or high risk. Medium and high risk goods need a health certificate, using an export health certificate or importer declaration where one exists, or an import licence or authorisation where neither exists. Low risk goods need a commercial document from the supplier that travels with the consignment.

High-risk food and feed of non-animal origin generally needs no licence, but products under emergency controls, such as certain rice products from China and certain nuts, fruit, seeds, dried spices and guar gum, need laboratory analysis valid for 6 months and an official certificate valid for 4 months, with the original travelling with the goods and a copy uploaded to IPAFFS.

Pre-notification and customs

• Pre-notify the border control post in IPAFFS at least one working day before the goods arrive; notifications on arrival are not accepted.
• Make a separate notification for each commodity type: CHED-P for animal products and CHED-D for HRFNAO, and cross-reference the CHED numbers in the commercial documents.
• Enter the CHED reference in data element 2/3 on the Customs Declaration Service, in the format GBCHDyyyy.nnnnnnn, with document code N853 (CHED-P) or C678 (CHED-D); missing references can cause goods to be held.
• Import through a point of entry with a border control post (BCP) designated for your goods.
• Do not move the consignment until officials have completed and validated the CHED, then send it directly to the destination on the CHED.

Checks and charges

Medium and high risk consignments are checked at the border with documentary, identity and physical checks. Low risk consignments must still enter through a BCP but may not get physical or identity checks. Fees apply at border control posts.

Through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, the Common User Charge applies per commodity line in a CHED: GBP 29 for medium or high risk animal products, HRFNAO and higher-risk plants, and GBP 10 for low risk animal products, capped at 5 lines, so at most GBP 145 for medium and high risk CHEDs. The importer that raises the IPAFFS notification pays unless it agrees otherwise with its agent, and invoices are due within 30 days.