What To Know About Moving Products of Animal Origin Between England and Northern Ireland

As of January 1st, 2021, there will be new guidelines to follow for the transfer of Products of Animal Origin (POAO), Animal By Products (ABP) and other controlled products (RG) out of Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI).

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) HPAI has been confirmed to be present in Northern Ireland. This could be a concern in the transport of animals as well as SPS products to Northern Ireland.

Defra has provided clarity for traders about the rules of the EU regarding the export of poultry products due to the current avian flu (AI) epidemic within Great Britain.

The products are:

Meat, meat products and other meat preparations,
Shellfish, fish, or even fish
Dairy products and milk,
Egg products, table eggs, and eggs
Composite products that contain milk, meat, eggs, dairy products, or fish
Honey
Blood products and Blood products
Animal casings
Fats from Rendered and Lard
Bones, Gelatine, Bone Products and Bone Products
Pet Food
Manure from the farmyard and chicken litter
Gene material (semen, embryos, ova)
Animal products used for research for education, diagnostic, or for exhibition to serve as exhibits, research, or education
Feathers, feathers treated, and down
Hay and Straw
Animal Feeding


Be aware that different arrangements govern the transportation of retail items through licensed retailers. This guide should be used to transport goods beyond those arrangements.

Before moving the regulated POAO, ABP and other RG from GB to NI the person or business responsible for the consignment must

Make sure they’re registered on TRACES.NT (the web-based EU system that allows for pre-notification of SPS products that are entering EU territories).

If needed, request copies of the export health certifications (EHCs) after they’ve been signed by the officials of Great Britain as well as any supporting documents, when required.

Make sure that the movement that is made of Prohibited or Restricted (P&R) frozen meat items is in accordance with the guidelines that are available.

In the event that it is required, ensure that the product meets the following standards in addition to ensuring that the organic products come with a certificate of inspection (COI).
Notify DAERA at least 24 hours ahead of the time of arrival of the shipment to Northern Ireland and by creating an Common Health Entry Form for Products (CHED P) using TRACES NT and uploading scans of colour copies of the EHCs along with any supporting documents like organic COIs, catch certificates and certifications of conformity from marketing standards. If documents are too big to be sent as a single file , it is possible to send it in two pieces.

If required, ensure that the product conforms to all Food Standards Agency labelling requirements.

Make sure the product is entered through a port or airport Check that the product is accessed through a Point of Entry (PoE) which is a EU certification for the product.

Check that all consignments are clearly identified with an official tamperproof seal that has been applied to the transportation and the seal number is noted in both the EHCs as well as CHEDs.

Check that any wooden packaging material that is moving from GB to the NI region is ISPM15 conforming (heat processed and then stamped).

Follow the groupage guidelines to move consignments under the scheme of groupage.

When you arrive at Northern Ireland – Checks and Compliance

Consignments must meet to the requirements in the Official Controls Regulation to enter Northern Ireland. Further information about the Official tests conducted at Points of Entry and compliance is contained inside the Compliance Protocol document.

When goods require physical inspection the driver is required to follow instructions to the designated inspection facilities in the port.

If all checks are successful the consignment will be cleared. The decision will be recorded in the 2nd Part of the CHED that will be sent directly to the recipient, you as the consignor electronically. Your consignment is now ready to be moved to its location.

Vehicles that haven’t been chosen to undergo physical inspections are believed to have passed the required health checks and are able to travel to their NI destination with no delay.

Products that are delivered to Northern Ireland but cannot be cleared due to non-compliance of import regulations are subject to enforcement procedures. The goods are not allowed to be allowed to enter Northern Ireland.

Transferring POAO, ABPs and other RG to NI from the EU through the GB landbridge

Consignments that comprise POAO, ABP and other RG that originate from the EU and only traveling through GB via landbridges, DAERA requires the importation of the consignment to be notified prior to the arrival via the TRACES NT in order to ensure that it is made sure that the NI point of Entry is aware of the arrival of the consignment.

Transferring POAO, ABPs and other RG into NI , originating from Rest of the World (RoW) countries

There are various requirements for the movement of POAO, ABPs and RG into Northern Ireland from RoW according to the type of commodity. But each consignment has to enter NI through an authorized Border Control Post either in NI or an EU member state.

Support Health Attestations (SHAs)

If POAO originates in NI and is intended for export out of GB towards the EU or re-export back in NI the NI to GB moves of POAO could require a Supplemental Health Attestation (SHA) or in certain cases, the support Attestation (SA). A SHA can provide the required phytosanitary and sanitary (SPS) assurances that will allow to complete an EHC within GB. The SHA isn’t required to be entered into GB so it should only be utilized when there is a compelling requirement for assurance as indicated by a certified officer in GB.

Additional information and guidelines on rules changes for POAO, ABP and other RG

The Composite Product – revised guidelines provided by the Food Standards Agency (FSA)

More information is available within the EU Exit Q&As.

If you are unable to locate the EHC you require, call for assistance from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Imports from personal accounts of POAO coming from GB-NI have to be in line with EU Regulations

Help with the relocation of Product of Animal Origin (POAO), Animal By-Products (ABP) and other controlled goods (RG) between GB to NI through the Movement Assistance Scheme