Legislation and advice for veterinary checks

The principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the EU from third countries is set out in the Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 which is implemented in the UK by The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 011 (SI 2011 No. 1197).

Guidance from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency on importing products of animal origin can be found on GOV.UK's guidance for imports page and further advice on the Association of Port Health Authorities website.

Information and advice on importing fishery products is on the Food Standards Agency website.

The person responsible for the consignment must ensure that all products of animal origin from third countries are presented at a Border Control Post (BCP) approved to carry out veterinary checks on that category of product. The current list of BCPs and categories they are approved for can be found on GOV.UK's Border Control pages.

If a Product of Animal Origin (POAO) for human consumption from a non-EU country transits the EU, it must enter the UK at a BCP and will be subject to full checks unless it has been fully checked when it entered the EU. POAOs not for human consumption do not have to enter via a BCP as animal health checks would had been done before transit across the EU.