Food Imports
Health, phytosanitary and conformity certificates
Some fruit, vegetables and products of animal origin imported to the UK need to go through health controls, which are managed by:
APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) in England and Wales.
SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) in Scotland.
DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) in Northern Ireland.
Often, this requires the provision of a health or phytosanitary certificate.
All fruit and vegetables imported to the UK should meet relevant quality and labelling requirements. On occasions, the importer must provide a suitable conformity certificate.
Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS)
Depending on import requirements, shipments may need to be declared in one of Defra’s (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) import IT systems.
With regard to fruit and vegetables, in 2024, Defra’s import IT system is changing from PEACH (procedure for electronic application for certificates from the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate) to IPAFFS (import of products, animals, food and feed system).
Those importing goods for the first time must register to use IPAFFS. For those already using PEACH, this can continue until 8 April 2024. From this date, imports that require pre-notification must be reported using IPAFFS. The arrival of products of animal origin must be registered via IPAFFS.
Current arrangements
EU Goods
Fruit and vegetables grown in the EU do not need to go through UK marketing standards controls or plant health controls. Therefore, phytosanitary and conformity certificates are not required.
Marketing standards controls for fruit and vegetables imported from the EU are not expected to be introduced before at least 1 February 2025.
Products of animal origin must be pre-notified via IPAFFS, however, there is currently no health certificate requirement.
Changes to health controls for fruit, vegetables and products of animal origin imported from the EU will be introduced in two stages on 31 January and 30 April 2024.
Non-EU Goods
Imported fruit, vegetables and products of animal origin from a non-EU country that arrive via the EU are treated as an EU import if they have:
Entered into “free circulation” (customs cleared and any duty or VAT paid).
Passed EU health checks.
Imported fruit, vegetables and products of animal origin from non-EU countries that pass through the EU using transit are subject to full control. They must be accompanied by the required health, phytosanitary and conformity certificates.
Arrangements after 31 January and 30 April 2024
A new regime will begin from 31 January, with its full implementation from 30 April.
After January, importers will need to be able to provide health and phytosanitary certificates as required.
After April, the new arrangements for physical examinations will be introduced.
EU Goods
Controls will be based on the risk allocated to the goods, i.e. low, medium and high.
For fruit and vegetables imported from the EU, the following will apply:
In the case of products of animal origin imported from the EU, the following will apply:
Non-EU Goods
Different levels of control will be exercised between EU and non-EU goods.
Imported fruit, vegetables and products of animal origin from a non-EU country that arrive via the EU will continue to be treated as an EU import if they have:
Entered into “free circulation” (customs cleared and any duty or VAT paid).
Passed EU health checks.
From 30 April 2024, imports of low-risk fruit and vegetables from non-EU countries will no longer need to go through plant health controls. They will no longer need a phytosanitary certificate or pre-notification.
Imports of medium-risk fruit and vegetables, all high-risk plants/products and all products of animal from non-EU countries will need to go through health controls. They will need a health or phytosanitary certificate and pre-notification in IPAFFS.
Key considerations
For fruit and vegetables from the EU, almost no health controls will exist. Shippers should consult the following webpage to determine if any of their goods will be controlled:
In the case of products of animal origin, the position is clear, pre-notification will be standard. More importantly, health certificates will be required for meat products and any raw milk-based products.
It follows that importers will need to know how the cheeses, yogurts, etc. that they ship are manufactured.
If health certificates for dairy products are not provided, written confirmation that heat treated milk had been used in manufacture must be provided.
Shippers should consult the following webpage to determine if any of their goods will be controlled: