United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) – Export requirements for meat products and poultry meat products

1. Documentation

1.1 Basic requirements

All EU certification requirements apply. The certificates had to be adapted to show Great Britain as the destination of jurisdiction as a result of Brexit. UK authorities have also updated some reference to EU regulations in some public health attestations which continue to be certified on the basis of equivalence recognition.

1.2 Additional veterinary certification

Below are the additional veterinary certificates that must be issued along with form CFIA/ACIA 1454.

1. 1.2.1 For fresh bovine meat: Annex A – Health certificate for fresh meat, including minced meat derived from domestic bovine; and for high quality bovine when relevant: Annex B: Certificate of Authenticity Beef and Veal (Implementing Regulation 2020/761); or Annex C: Certificate of Authenticity Beef and Veal (Regulation (EC) No 481/2012), as applicable.
2. 1.2.2 For fresh pork: Annex D – Animal and public health certificate for fresh meat of domestic swine intended for export to Great Britain, Channel Islands and Isle of Man

Note: Deep-frozen minced meat is excluded.

1. 1.2.3 For horsemeat: Annex E – Health certificate for fresh meat, excluding minced meat, of domestic solipeds.
2. 1.2.4 For poultry meat: Annex F – Health certificate for meat of poultry.
3. 1.2.5 For ratites meat: Annex G – Health certificate for meat of farmed ratites for human consumption.
4. 1.2.6 For farmed meat: Annex H – Health for fresh meat, excluding offal and minced meat, of farmed game animals.
5. 1.2.7 For meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines: Annex I – Animal and public health certificate for certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines.
6. 1.2.8 For meat preparations: Annex J – Animal and Public Health Certificate for Meat Preparations.
7. 1.2.9 For animal casings: Annex K – Health certificate for animal casings.
8. 1.2.10 For wild game meat: Annex M – Health for fresh meat, excluding offal and minced meat, of wild animals.
9. 1.2.11 For exported meat in transit and/or storage in Great Britain, issue 1 of the following annexes, as applicable to the product:
   • Annex T – Veterinary certificate for fresh meat derived from domestic bovine, swine, sheep, goat and solipeds and farmed and wild game animals
   • Annex T-1- Veterinary certificate for animal casings
   • Annex T-2 – Veterinary certificate for transit/storage of specified pathogen-free eggs, meat, minced meat and mechanically separated meat of poultry, ratites and wild game birds, eggs and egg products
   • Annex T-3 – Veterinary certificate for meat preparations
   • Annex T-4 – Veterinary certificate for meat products and treated stomachs, bladder and intestines

Note: please refer to EU section for the transit certificate applicable to shipments intended for export to Great Britain that will transit in the EU.

2. Other information

2.1 Labelling

Specific labelling requirements for food imported to the UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) apply as of January 2021 and are as follows:

2.1.1 Food placed on the market in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Packaging will need to display an address for both Great Britain and the EU, or a single address in Northern Ireland. A single address in Great Britain will not be sufficient.

2.1.2 Food placed on the market in Great Britain only (England, Wales and Scotland)

The packaging must display the name and address of the UK Food Business Operator (FBO) responsible for the information presented on the label. If the FBO is not established in the UK, the name and UK address of the importer into the UK will need to be provided.

2.1.3 Food placed on the market in Northern Ireland only

The packaging will need an address in either Northern Ireland or the EU. A single address in Great Britain will not be sufficient.

2.1.4 Period of transition for imports into Great Britain currently using an EU address

For importers currently importing into Great Britain using an EU FBO or importer address, packaging can continue to use this until 30 September 2022 in order to allow for supply chains to deplete. Where necessary, over-stickering may be used to make corrections for placing food on the UK market. This can take place after importation of the food, but must be before the food is placed on the market. Over-stickers must be designed and applied in such a way as to maintain compliance with all other food labelling rules.

2.2 Samples of animal products

(can include meat, dairy products and research samples) may be exported to this country provided the following conditions are being met:

1. 2.2.1 The shipment must be of a non-commercial nature.
2. 2.2.2 A permit has been issued by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in England, the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Executive, Environment and Rural Affairs Department or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland authorizing the entry of the product.
3. 2.2.3 Importation would be permitted for laboratory or research purposes. It would normally be permitted for animal or human consumption. Once the testing is complete, residue of the product and packaging must be destroyed at a named incineration plant.
4. 2.2.4 The permit must be presented to HQ's in Ottawa for their information and so that the shipment information and any appropriate guidance can be relayed to the Regional Office concerned.
5. 2.2.5 The following information must be provided with the permit:
   • name and address of the consignee
   • name and address of the consignor
   • name, address and number of the originating establishment
   • flight number or vessel identification
   • date, place of departure and arrival
   • nature and weight of products
   • reason for the request

2.3 Imports of other animal products

For the importation into the UK of products not covered by paragraph (a) above and for which there is no EU legislation in place, an animal health import licence may be required. In some cases, a "general licence" may already be in place. These are valid indefinitely and are sent to importers on request.

Where a general licence does not exist, the importer should apply for a "specific licence". If granted, a licence would be issued to a named applicant. The validity period of the licence and quantity permitted may vary depending on the nature of the product and country from which it is imported. Both General and Specific licences set out the conditions under which the product can be imported. This may include a requirement for a veterinary certificate to accompany each consignment.

For details on Licences that are available please contact the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

2.4 Border control post

Products of Animal Origin (POAO) for human consumption exported to Great Britain are required to arrive at a point of entry with a with a designated Border Control Post (BCP) for that commodity. This includes POAO goods that have moved in transit across the EU, as Defra will not recognize EU BCP checks on those consignments.

This will apply to consignments dispatched on or after April 8. Consignments that have left the point of origin prior to this date can continue to arrive at any point of entry in to GB, provided they have been subject to checks at their first point of entry to the EU and can provide evidence of clearance. You can find a BCP that is designated for your commodity on the UK border control posts: animal and animal product imports website. Please ensure that the importer has informed the relevant BCP of the arrival of these goods using the IPAFFS pre-notification system.