Beginning January 1, 2021, there will be new rules to be followed for the transfer of Products of Animal Origin (POAO), Animal By Products (ABP) and other controlled products (RG) to Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI).
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) HPAI has been confirmed to be present in Northern Ireland. This could have implications regarding the movement of animals and SPS products to Northern Ireland.
Defra has provided clarity for traders regarding the EU’s regulations regarding the export of poultry products due to the current avian flu (AI) epidemic within Great Britain.
The products are:
Meat products, meat and meat preparations,
Shellfish, fish, or even fish
Dairy products and milk,
Egg products, table eggs, and eggs
Composition products that include milk, meat, eggs, dairy products or fish
Honey
Blood products and Blood products
Animal casings
The Rendered Fat and the Lard
Bones, Gelatine, Bone Products and Bone Products
Pet Food
Chicken manure and farmyard manure
Gene material (semen, embryos, ova)
Animal products used for research for education, diagnostic, or display to serve as exhibits, research, or education
Feathers, feathers treated, and down
Hay and Straw
Animal Feeding
Be aware that different arrangements are in place for the transportation of retail items by licensed traders. This guide should be used in connection with goods that are moving beyond those arrangements.
Before transferring regulated Product of Animal Origin, 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 is used to notify SPS products that are that are entering EU territories).
If needed, request copies of the export health certifications (EHCs) after they have been approved by official officials in Great Britain as well as any supporting documents, when they are required.
Make sure the transportation in the movement of Prohibited or Restricted (P&R) chilling meat product complies with the guidelines that are available.
If applicable, make sure the shipment meets marketing standards, as well as that organic items 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 Document (CHED P) for Products (CHED P) using TRACES NT and uploading color copies of scanned EHCs as well as any other supporting documents, such as organic COIs, catch certificates and certificates of conformity to marketing standards. When it is big to upload as one document, it is acceptable to make it two separate files.
If required, ensure that the product is in compliance with all Food Standards Agency labelling requirements.
Make sure the product is entered through a port or airport The point of Entry (PoE) which is a EU designation for the product.
Make sure that all cargoes are clearly identified with an official tamperproof seal that has been applied to the transportation and this seal’s number is recorded in both the EHCs along with CHEDs.
Check that any wooden packaging material that is moving from GB to Northern Ireland is ISPM15 compatible (heat treatment and stamping).
Follow the groupage guidelines when moving consignments in the program of groupage.
Arriving to 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 inspections conducted at the Points of Entry and compliance can be found within the Compliance Protocol document.
If the goods need physical inspection, the driver must follow directions to the appropriate inspection facilities in the port.
If all checks are successful the consignment will be cleared. The decision will be registered in the second part of the CHED that will be sent for you to be the consignee electronically. Your consignment will now be free to be moved to its your destination.
Vehicles that haven’t been identified for physical inspection are considered to have passed the necessary health checks and can be driven to their destination with no delay.
Products that are delivered to Northern Ireland but cannot be cleared because of non-compliance with import regulations are subject to enforcement procedures. The goods are not allowed to into Northern Ireland.
Transferring POAO, ABPs and other RG to NI from the EU using the GB landbridge
Consignments that comprise POAO, ABP and other RG that originate from the EU and only passing through GB via landbridges DAERA requires the importation of the consignment to be alerted via the TRACES NT so 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 in another EU member state.
Support Health Attestations (SHAs)
If POAO originates in NI and is intended to be exported out of GB towards the EU or re-export back in NI any NI to GB moves of POAO could require a Supplemental Health Attestation (SHA) or in some instances, an supporting Attestation (SA). A SHA will give the required phytosanitary and sanitary (SPS) assurances that will allow the completion of the ultimate EHC within GB. This is not required to be entered into GB so it should only be used when there is a compelling requirement for assurance as indicated by a certified officer in GB.
More information and advice on rules changes for POAO, ABP and other RG
composite products – updated guidelines by 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 to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Individual imports for POAO coming from GB-NI have to be in line with EU Regulations
Help with the relocation of Products of Animal Origin (POAO), Animal By-Products (ABP) and other controlled goods (RG) to and from GB to NI through the Movement Assistance Scheme
The Little Red Journal Business Pages