Guidance on importing and exporting live animals or animal products

Collection of guidance and forms for importing and exporting live animals or animal products.

Topical issues
Imports to the UK from non-EU countries
Exporting from the UK to all countries
Moving goods or animals between EU countries
Balai Directive: animals, semen and embryos for research, display and conservation
Circus and animal acts
Endangered species
Non-native animals
Poultry Health Scheme
Animal pathogens
Artificial breeding controls
Welfare of animals in transport
Importing and exporting from 1 January 2021

Guidance

This collection of guidance specifically covers importing and exporting live animals or animal products.

There’s also specific guidance on pet travel: entering/returning to the UK.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): send application by email

If possible, you should send any applications by email as staff may not be able to collect post during the coronavirus outbreak.

Please apply in advance to avoid delay - APHA is dealing with a high volume of applications.

Topical issues

Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues

15 June 2020 - Guidance

Current issues relating to imports and exports of animals and animal products.

Imports to the UK from non-EU countries

Importing live animals or animal products from non-EU countries

21 August 2019 - Guidance

Guidance on where you can import from, getting the right licence and the border checks your import must pass at border control posts (BCP).

Importing live animals or animal products from non-EU countries: general licences and authorisations

4 June 2020 - Guidance

List of general licences and authorisations which allow certain animals and products of animal origin to be imported into Great Britain.

Animal pathogens and products: import licence application

21 August 2020 - Form

Apply for a licence to import animal pathogens and animal products into Great Britain.

Live animals (not pet dogs, cats, ferrets): import licence application

25 June 2018 - Form

Apply for a licence to import live animals (not pet dogs, cats and ferrets).

Exporting from the UK to all countries

Export live animals

21 October 2019 - Guidance

What certificates you need to export live animals from the UK.

Export livestock and poultry

3 September 2019 - Guidance

Rules you need to follow to export cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and poultry.

Export animal bones, protein and other by-products

7 August 2019 - Guidance

What you need to do to export animal bones, protein and other by-products.

Export animal semen, ova and embryos

23 August 2019 - Guidance

What you need to do to export animal semen, ova, and embryos (germplasm).

Export food for animals

21 July 2020 - Guidance

Check if you need a certificate to export food for animals.

Export food, drink and agricultural products

24 March 2020 - Guidance

Check if you need a certificate to export food, drink and agricultural products.

Moving goods or animals between EU countries

Moving live animals or animal products as part of EU trade

29 June 2020 - Guidance

The countries that are part of EU trade, the certificates you need, and how to get consignments checked.

Assembly centre for EU trade of livestock: application

8 January 2019 - Form

Form for a premises to apply for approval as an assembly centre for EU trade of cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.

Dealer’s premises for EU trade in sheep and goats: application

8 January 2019 - Form

Form to apply for approval as a dealer’s premises for intra-Community trade in sheep and goats.

Balai Directive: animals, semen and embryos for research, display and conservation

Balai Directive: moving live animals, semen and embryos

17 February 2020 - Guidance

How to move animals for research, display and conservation.

Balai Directive and EU trade in animals: approved premises

25 August 2020 - Guidance

Details of institutes, centres and premises in Great Britain approved for EU trade in animals under Council Directive 92/65/EEC.

Balai Directive: application to import and export live animals

8 May 2019 - Form

Form for a premises to apply for approval to import and export animals under Council Directive 92/65/EEC (Balai Directive).

Circus and animal acts

Register a travelling circus or animal act to travel in the EU

1 October 2014 - Guidance

How to register: book a vet visit, get animal passports and health certificates.

Circus or animal act: registration

8 January 2019 - Form

Application form to register circus animals and animal acts so they can travel to EU countries.

Endangered species

Import or export endangered species: check if you need a CITES permit

10 June 2020 - Guidance

Check if your import, export or re-export needs a permit under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Endangered species: apply for an import and export permit

23 March 2020 - Form

Form to apply for a permit to import, export or re-export a CITES-listed specimen in or out of the UK.

Non-native animals

Importing non-native animals

17 August 2016 - Guidance

How to apply for a licence to import, release or keep non-native animals.

Poultry Health Scheme

Poultry Health Scheme: how to register

17 April 2019 - Guidance

Find out when you must register for the Poultry Health Scheme, who runs the scheme, and how much it costs to join.

Poultry Health Scheme: list of members

21 August 2020 - Guidance

Details of poultry establishments who are approved members of the Poultry Health Scheme (PHS).

Animal pathogens

Bringing non-specified animal pathogens or carriers into the UK

2 February 2015 - Guidance

The licences you must have and the transport conditions you must follow for bringing non-specified animal pathogens or carriers into the UK.

Artificial breeding controls

Bovine and boar semen collection and breeding: licence application

26 March 2019 - Form

How to apply for a licence to operate as a bovine semen collection centre and to use bovine animals and boars for artificial breeding and semen trade.