Animal Products: The Brexit Need-to-Know Guide to trading Products of Animal Origin and Animal By-Products

Brexit left traders in the UK facing a lot of uncertainty, but as the dust begins to settle, so do the compliance rules. For Animal Products , you need to follow a number of import and export regulations concerning “Products of Animal Origin (POAO)”, “Animal By-Products” and other animal-related products. For example seafish need catch certificates to varify their source and ivory needs to meet CITES rules and national legislation. Failure to follow these rules risks delays, extra cost, fines and even prosecution.

In this short blog, our industry experts here at clearBorder will take you through the key things you need to know before you start importing or exporting animal products in a post-Brexit economy. For more bespoke advice, clearBorder offers ongoing consultancy services. You can find out more about this with our import and export consultancy.

This blog refers only to trade to and from the UK mainland (England, Wales and Scotland). Rules for Northern Ireland are different. Contact us for more information.

What are Animal Products and POAO?

An animal product is any product that has been derived from an animal, including fish, birds and marine and terrestrial invertebrates.  An animal product intended for human consumption is known in EU and UK law as a Product of Animal Origin, or POAO for short. An animal product intended for some other use it is known as an Animal By-product, or ABP for short. Examples include meat and fish products, bristles, wool, hair and leathers. You can find a full list of animal products on the gov.uk site.

Let’s take a look at what’s required for POAO.

Rules for each product vary and so may the documentation and certificates required. You must check requirements before you start.

POAO: Brexit Requirements

As many traders in the UK will know, Brexit had a significant impact on the way imports and exports are handled, especially when it comes to POAO being imported and exported between Great Britain and the EU.

Below, we break down some of the main requirements depending on where you are moving products to and from.

Importing POAO Post-Brexit from outside the EU

What you will need:

• Your business must be registered with the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS).
• Your business must have a UK address.
• You must provide notification of the scheduled arrival of products by initiating  a CHED.
• You must have an Export Health Certificate (EHC) to accompany the goods.
• Products must enter the UK at an established point of entry and Border Control Post (BCP).
• You must also have a completed Common Health Entry Document (CHED) following the approval of the EHC.

What will be checked on arrival:

• Your documents, including EHC, CHED and any other relevant paperwork.
• Identity of the goods, ensuring the goods match those expected to arrive and match what is described in the documentation.
• In addition a physical check may occur, including the taking of samples,  to ensure the goods do not pose any risk or threat to animal or human health.

Importing POAO Post-Brexit from the EU into the UK

For imports to the UK from the EU there are some important differences in the requirements. Below we’ve crossed out the requirements that do not apply for most imports to UK mainland from the EU.

These rules will be reviewed in autumn 2023, and some products will almost certainly still require the full process, so you should check if you are in doubt.

What you will need:

• Your business must be registered with the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS).
• Your business must have a UK address.
• You must provide notification of the scheduled arrival of products by completing a simple notification form.

Your goods will not be checked on arrival, except in exceptional circumstances.

Exporting POAO Post-Brexit to the EU

What you will need:

• Your business must be registered on TRACES, the EU system for managing sanitary and phytosanitary controls.
• The receiving entity must have an EU address.
• You must provide notification of the scheduled arrival of products by initiating  a CHED.
• You must have an Export Health Certificate (EHC) to accompany the goods.
• Products must enter the EU at an established point of entry and Border Control Post (BCP).
• You must also have a completed Common Health Entry Document (CHED) following the approval of the EHC.

What will be checked on arrival:

• Your documents, including EHC, CHED and any other relevant paperwork.
• Identity of the goods, ensuring the goods match those expected to arrive and match what is described in the documentation.
• In addition a physical check may occur, including the taking of samples,  to ensure the goods do not pose any risk or threat to animal or human health.

When transporting goods within the EU, goods are free to travel between countries once they have been imported through one EU Border Control Post (BCP) . You must still make sure, however, that you have all the required documentation for your products to pass through specific countries, even if they are within the EU.

For the most up-to-date information regarding what will be required from you as a trader at each stage of the process post-Brexit, contact our specialists or get started with our ongoing import and export consultancy services.

Exporting POAO Post-Brexit (outside the EU)

What you will need:

• In addition to the standard export documentation, the most important thing to consider when exporting POAO outside of the EU is your Export Health Certificate. To avoid difficulties at the border, make sure you have the right Export Health Certificate for your consignment for that country of destination. As for exports to the EU most animal products require an Official Veterinarian to sign your EHC, but there is significant variation between countries on the process and requirements.
• Some documentation required in specific countries may not be covered by your EHC. Be sure that you are able to provide all the necessary documentation on arrival, or you risk your goods being denied entry.

What will be checked:

• Your documents, including EHC and other relevant paperwork specific to the country and your goods.
• Identity of the goods, ensuring the goods match those expected to arrive and match what is described in the documentation.
• In addition a physical check may occur, including the taking of samples,  to ensure the goods do not pose any risk or threat to animal or human health.

Reduce Import/Export Risk with clearBorder

If you are involved in the importing and exporting of Animal Products in a post-Brexit economy, ensure peace of mind by keeping your staff network in the loop with regards to changing regulations. At clearBorder, we’re passionate about helping companies like yours to save time and maintain a great reputation by streamlining the trading process. We do this by providing the most up-to-date, government-backed information through both our international trade and customs courses and consultancy offering.

Interested in regaining some clarity around post-Brexit import and export rules? Contact clearBorder today and you’ll soon make trade borders invisible.