Food safety advice

If you wish to import food into GB as part of a commercial business, you will also need to register with the Local Authority where you either store the foods once imported, or where the company is based should food be directly sent to customers.

When certain food products are imported into the UK from a third country, they may be subjected to special checks and controls at the port where they enter the UK. This is to make sure that the food is safe to eat and it meets with GB standards.

There are certain products that need extra checks as they are deemed a risk to human or animal health and you will need to check that the food you are importing does not fall into one of these categories.

When your consignment of imported food arrives into the UK it will be checked by Port Health Officers and Official Veterinary Surgeons to ensure it is safe to eat and complies with the import conditions.

Additionally, the products may also be subjected to official controls by inland authorities to verify that they have been legally imported.

You must import your products into a designated Border Control Point (BCP). Find out which ports are approved to handle which products.

Once you have decided where to import the product, you will then need to complete the relevant paperwork. There are different type of paperwork for different products but in all cases, you will need to notify the BCP in advance (normally at least one working day) and pay for the relevant checks using a computer system called IPAFF.

Products of Animal Origin (POAO)

This includes:

• Red meat, game or poultry
• Fish and shell fish
• Dairy products
• Honey

The Food Standards Agency have produced more information on importing POAO and Fishery Products.

POAO must:

• Enter GB through an officially designated Border Control Post (BCP) where veterinary/hygiene checks are carried out
• Be imported from an approved country. The products must also come from an approved or registered premises within that country. Take a look at the most up to date list.
• Be accompanied by appropriate signed health certification with a Common Health Entry Document (CHED-P) which would be generated when you used the IPAFF system.
• You must notify the BCP at least one working day in advance of your consignment entering the port

Foods not of Animal Origin (FNAO)

Includes:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Herbs and spices
• Nuts and dried fruit

Generally most FNAO are not subject to the same high level of import controls as Products of Animal Origin (POAO). The Food Standards Agency have produced more information on importing high risk FNAO.

Certain “High Risk” FNAO from third countries are subject to increased official controls due to known or emerging problems such as aflatoxin or pesticide contamination. This list provides you with the countries and associated products with current import restrictions.

High Risk FNAO:

• Must be imported into the UK via an approved BCP
• Must be accompanied by a CHED-D (Common Health Entry Document) which is submitted via the computer system IPAFF.
• You must notify the BCP at least one working day in advance of the consignment arriving in the UK
• The consignment must only be delivered to the destination declared on the CHED
• The product may be subjected to various checks at port such as identity and physical checks including looking for microbiological organisms or contamination with pesticides, heavy metals or process contaminants
• If your product fails these tests and is deemed to be a risk to human or animal health, it will be destroyed at a cost to the importer

Advisory service

For more in-depth advice regarding imports, please take a look at our paid for advisory service.