Guidance

Guidance

Export or move live animals

What certificates you need to do to export live animals from the UK, and what you'll need to do in a no-deal Brexit.UK.

Published
From:
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Published
9 November 2016

Last updated
13 21June October 2019 2022 — see See all updates
From:
Animal and Plant Health Agency

Stay

This upguidance applies to date

Abusinesses Brexitin dealGreat hasBritain been(England, agreedScotland butand needsWales) toexporting beor ratified.moving Thelive UKanimals couldto, stillor leave through:

  • the EU
  • non-EU withcountries
  • Northern noIreland

You dealneed onan 31export Octoberhealth ifcertificate the(EHC) UKto andexport EUlive doanimals.

Follow notthe approverules andin signthis theguidance withdrawalto agreement.



Thisfind pageout tellswhat you howneed to preparedo.

You forneed Brexit.to Itfollow willdifferent beguidance updatedfor:

General upexporting forrules

Make Defrasure alertsyou aboutfollow Brexitwider andbusiness theguidance tradefor sector.exporting to the EU.

What

Export you’llor needmove live animals to dothe inEU aor no-dealNorthern BrexitIreland

You may need to apply for an EHC to:

ThereYou arealso separateneed rules for:to:

Within theor EU:Northern currentIreland rules

Topoint moveof animalsentry withinin the EU,first country you must:

Apply

Check forif you need an ITAHCEHC

  1. Nominate

    Check anthe officialexport vethealth tocertificate inspect(EHC) yourfinder animals.to Tosee findif one,a askcertificate atexists for your localanimal.

    If vetyou orfind emailan ovteam@apha.gov.uk.

  2. RegisterEHC, withfollow the TradeEHC Controlprocess andto Expertexport.

    If Systemyou (TRACEScannot find an EHC), systemyou’ll ifneed you’veto notcontact usedthe itcompetent before.

  3. Signauthority in toNorthern TRACESIreland or the EU andcountry fillyou’re exporting to, in theadvance, detailsto offind theout livewhat:

    The Agencycompetent (APHA)authority ormeans the equivalent of the Department of Agriculture,the EnvironmentEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs (in the EU country you’re exporting to. DAERA) is the competent authority in Northern Ireland.

    If Tellthe themcompetent authority says that theyou ITAHCneed an EHC, hasyou’ll beenneed createdto andget givetheir themimport detailsconditions. ofEmail yourthe officialconditions vet.

  4. to APHA willat sendexports@apha.gov.uk yourwho’ll arrange an EHC for you.

    If you’re moving live animals to yourNorthern officialIreland, vetyou withindo 7not workingneed daysto ofpay thefor datethem ofto export,be orinspected withinand onecertified. workingThe daycertifier ofinvoices receiptthe ifgovernment youfor planthese tocosts exportas inpart of the nextMovement 7Assistance workingScheme.

    Checks days. Ifat EU BCPs or point(s) of entry in Northern Ireland

    You must get your officialanimals vetand doesn’tanimal receiveproducts thechecked certificate,at contactan theEU APHABCP Centreor forpoint Internationalof Tradeentry Carlisle.

  5. Includein theNorthern certificateIreland.

    These whenchecks youare exportmade yourto consignment.protect:

    • animal health and welfare
    • public health

InsteadYour ofgoods usingmay TRACES, yoube canrefused completeentry, Applicationseized, fordestroyed Veterinaryor Healthreturned Certificationto (EXA31)Great Britain if they arrive at:

    (PDF
  • a port in the EU, 829KB,without 7a pages) usingBCP theor guidancewhere noteschecks cannot be carried out
    • (PDF
  • an EU, 104KB,BCP 6that pages) tocannot helpcheck you.your Sendtype theof completedanimal
  • an formEU toBCP without the APHAcorrect Centredocumentation

Find forthe Internationalcorrect TradeBCP Carlisle.

for your goods

YourYou ITAHCmust find a BCP willthat beaccepts validthe forlive 10animal daysyou’re afterexporting, theas inspection.not There’sall noBCPs feeaccept forall thelive certificate,animals. butYou’ll yourneed vetto willconsider chargehow youto forredirect theiryour time.trade route if needed.

IfThere thereare isn’tmore anthan ITAHC400 BCPs forin yourthe speciesEU ofand animal,they’re contactusually APHAat (or DAERAEU inports Northernand Ireland).airports.

Check ifthe yourfull animallist holdingof needsEU BCPs.

Give advance notice to beEU registeredBCPs or approved

Aspoint(s) wellof asentry anin ITAHC,Northern youIreland

You’ll mustneed registerto yourgive holdingEU BCPs or getpoints itof approvedentry beforein youNorthern canIreland moveadvance certainnotice animalsof ingoods arriving.

Check with the EU.BCP Youror holdingpoint isof theentry placeyou’re youplanning keepto youruse animalsfor inhow themuch UK.notice is needed.

YouContact mustyour registerimport youragent holdingin the EU or Northern Ireland to move:

  • hoofedmake animalssure (ungulates)they thatnotify aren’tthe livestock
  • birdsBCP thatthrough aren’tthe commercialTrade poultry
  • rabbitsControl and hares
  • dogs,Expert catsSystem and(TRACES) ferretsof thatthe arrival of the consignment.

    They must do notthis meetwithin the usualtime ruleslimits forset petout travelby (forthe exampleBCP rescueor point of entry.

    What happens if your live animals beingfail rehomedinspection abroad)

    • at a BCP

YouIf mustyour getanimal yourfails holdinginspection approvedbecause of risks to move:animal or public health, it will be destroyed immediately. If the animals fail for other reasons, the BCP will:

  • anynotify animalyour toimporter anotheror approved holdingagent
  • carnivoresask orthem primates,to fordecide examplewhether monkeys,your apes,goods lemurs
  • semenshould be destroyed or embryosreturned to the UK

YouThe doBCP will not needusually tocontact registeryou ordirectly.

Rejected getlive approvalanimals

Live animals rejected at EU BCPs may, subject to movea otherrisk typesassessment, re-enter Great Britain through any point of animal.entry.

There’sRejected agoods differentare processconsignments forrejected animalby holdingsthe competent authority in Northernan IrelandEU -country. contactConsignments yourrejected localfor DAERAcommercial office.

Applyreasons tocannot registerbe yourreturned holding

as rejected goods.

CompleteThere theare Applicationcertain fromdocumentary therequirements Ownerto orreturn Managerrejected ofgoods ato PremisesGreat forBritain Registrationfrom (formthe EC3163) (PDFEU,. 62KB,The 3Animal pages) .and SendPlant itHealth toAgency the (APHA) Centrewill fornotify Internationalyou Tradeif Carlisle.

You’llthe getreturned aconsignment registrationneeds number to useenter onthrough youra exportBCP healthor certificates.

Youcan mustenter getthrough yourany holdingpoint approvedof beforeentry.

Document yourequirements canfor moverejected live animals

To toreturn ana approvedconsignment, holding.

Applysubmit toan getimport yournotification holdingon approved

Completethe Applicationimport of anproducts, Establishmentanimals, forfood Approvaland (formfeed EC3164) system (PDFIPAFFS, 66.8KB, 3 pages) .

If you’reyour consignment is rejected at a point of entry in England,Northern sendIreland itand does not include cattle from Northern Ireland, you do not need to thesubmit a notification on IPAFFS. You should instead email APHA’s Centre for International Trade Carlisle(CIT) at imports@apha.gov.uk.

If you’reYou must state in Scotlandyour oremail Wales,that sendyou itwish to thereturn Veterinaryyour Leadconsignment Scotlandto orGreat VeterinaryBritain.

If Leadyour Walesconsignment is rejected at youra localpoint APHAof office.entry Toin findNorthern these,Ireland contactand APHA.

Formincludes EC3164cattle isfrom alsoNorthern availableIreland, inyou Welshmust (Cymraeg) (PDF,submit 116KB,a 3notification pages) on IPAFFS.

AnAttach inspectorthese willdocuments arrangeto athe visitIPAFFS notification (or to your holdingemail toif checkyour thatconsignment itis has:rejected at a point of entry in Northern Ireland and does not include cattle):

  • walls,the fencesoriginal orexport othercertificate barriersand separatingrelated itdocumentation
  • statement from the surroundingEU area
  • equipment,BCP facilitiesof andthe staffreasons towhy catch,the confinereturned andanimals isolatewere animalsrefused by the EU BCP
  • quarantinestatement facilitiesfrom tothe isolateEU andBCP testwith animalsdetails fromof non-approvedthe holdings
  • apremises surveillancein programmewhich forthe incoming animals agreedwere withkept yoursince vet
  • aleaving cleanGreat andBritain, separatedfor facilityexample forin carryingquarantine outor post-mortemsin isolation
  • adeclaration systemby forthe disposingperson ofresponsible carcassesfor agreedthe withreturned youranimals vet

Youthat alsothe mustimport makeconditions surerelating you:

  • keepto recordstransport ofhave animals’been age,complied sex,with species,in bloodrelation teststo andthe diseases
  • employreturned ananimals, officialsuch vetas -animal youwelfare canrequirements
  • declaration find one by askingthe atperson yourresponsible localfor vet,the oranimals bythat emailingthey ovteam@apha.gov.uk

Oncehave yournot holdingbeen isin approved

Contactcontact APHAwith toany moveother animalsanimal fromof youra holding.lesser You’llhealth getstatus an(an approvalanimal numberwith toa usepotentially onlower yourlevel exportof health certificates.

Youras holdinga mustresult beof inspectedspecific annually.diseases) You’llsince normallyleaving beGreat contactedBritain

For bythe an APHAIPAFFS vet,notification, butthe it’s‘country yourof responsibilityorigin’ tois makethe surecountry thatwhere the inspectionrejecting takesBCP place.is located.

YourEmail approvalAPHA willCentre befor suspendedInternational ifTrade your(CIT) holdingat breaksimports@apha.gov.uk anyto oftell thethem approvalthat conditionsyou’ve orsubmitted ifan IPAFFS notification.

In the APHAtitle vetof finds:the email:

  • anystate notifiablethat disease
  • viralthe enteritismessage oris aleutianabout diseasean inIPAFFS mink
  • tuberculosisnotification infor apesthe andreturn non-domesticof catsa consignment
  • Europeaninclude foulbrood,the varroasisUnique orNotification acariasisNumber inthat bees
  • myxomatosis,IPAFFS viralgenerates haemorraghicwhen disease,the tularaemianotification inis rabbits and haressubmitted

You’llAPHA bewill givenassess timethis information to fixdecide the problem,conditions butof import and if the APHAconsignment vetwill canhave withdrawto yourbe approvalreturned ifthrough youany dopoint not.

Outsideof theentry EU:or currenta rules

BCP.

YouAPHA will usuallyissue needyou towith completea anwritten exportauthorisation. healthThe certificateconsignment (EHC)cannot andbe somereturned supportinguntil documentsyou tohave exportreceived athis liveauthorisation. animal.

ThereYou aremust somecomply typeswith the conditions of livethe animalsauthorisation.

Documents youto cannottransport export,live andanimals

You casesneed whereEU-issued youdocuments doto nottransport needlive aanimals:

  • direct certificate. Iffrom youGreat cannotBritain findto the EHCEU
  • through youthe need,EU contactto APHAa non-EU.

    country

TheYou EHCshould isapply to an officialEU documentmember thatstate confirmswhere youryou exporthave meetsrepresentation theto healthget requirementsa:

  • transport authorisation
  • certificate of thecompetence
  • vehicle destinationapproval country.

    certificate

AnThe officialEU vetwill orno inspectorlonger willrecognise checkUK-issued thatversions yourof exportthese meetsdocuments.

You thecan healthuse requirementsGreat ofBritain-issued thetransporter destinationauthorisations, country.certificates They’llof completecompetence, and signvehicle theapproval certificate,certificates andin giveNorthern it to you.Ireland.

FindYou outcan howuse toNorthern applyIreland-issued fortransporter anauthorisations, EHCcertificates of competence, and downloadvehicle theapproval forms.

Usecertificates thein mostGreat up-to-dateBritain.

Journey EHC logs

EHCsTo aretransport sometimeslive updatedanimals whenfrom, exportor agreementsthrough, areGreat changedBritain soto makethe sureEU youyou’ll areneed usingto theapply latestfor version2 ofjourney alogs:

  • one certificate.approved Theby EHCthe EU formmember finderstate willwhich alwaysis have the latestfirst version.

    Outpoint of dateentry formsinto willthe beEU

  • one rejectedapproved andby causeAPHA delays(or toDAERA, yourif exports.

    the journey originates in Northern Ireland)

YouFor canfurther signinformation upon fordocuments alertsto bytransport subscribinglive toanimals, thecontact feedAPHA: onCITCarlisle@apha.gov.uk theor EHCDAERA.

Export formto finder.non-EU countries

You’ll thenusually getneed to complete an emailEHC whenand asome formsupporting isdocuments updated.to export a live animal.

Transporting animals

YouCheck mustthe makeEHC surefinder youto meetsee animalif welfarea standardscertificate whenexists transportingfor animals.

Endangeredyour animals

Findanimal outor howproduct. If toyou importfind oran exportEHC, endangeredfollow animalsthe EHC process. to export.

YouIf shouldyou alsocannot checkfind whatan youEHC for your product, you’ll need to whencontact tradingthe andcompetent movingauthority endangeredin animalsthe ifEU there’scountry ayou’re no-dealexporting Brexit.to, in advance, to find out what:

Circuses

Within

  • paperwork theyou’ll EU,need to fill in
  • rules you mustneed registerto thecomply circuswith

If andthe itscompetent animalsauthority ifsays that you takeneed theman outsideEHC, theyou’ll UK.need Theto rulesget alsotheir applyimport toconditions. anyEmail birds,the bees,conditions salmonto orAPHA troutat keptexports@apha.gov.uk forwho’ll exhibitionarrange oran entertainment.EHC for you.

Outside

Welfare thestandards EU,for youtransporting dolive notanimals

You needmust tomake registersure youryou circusmeet oranimal itswelfare animals.standards Youwhen alsotransporting doanimals.

Endangered notanimals

You need to registerfollow circusessome withinadditional therules Channelwhen Islandsexporting orendangered the Isle of Man.animals.

YouUse needthe aSpecies+ licencetool to search for wildyour animalsanimal,. evenCheck ifwhich yourannex circus(A, staysB, withinC theor UK.D) it’s classified as under EU wildlife trade regulations.

GetIf aSpecies+ licencesays forthe aanimal travellingis circusbanned, withyou wildcannot animals.export it.

FindIf outthe howspecies tois registerlisted, ayou travellingmay circusneed orConvention animalon actInternational Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permits to travelexport inthe animal from the EUUK. Follow the advice on exporting endangered species.

Regular exports for public exhibition

If you regularly take endangered circus animals abroad, you could completeuse a travelling exhibition certificatecertificate, (formas FED0173) (PDFdescribed in this EU, 64.4KB,wildlife 2trade pages) regulations guide (PDF, 2.7MB) instead of a CITES permit or Article 10 certificate.permit.

You can use the certificate within or outside the EU.EU. It’s valid for 3 years and means you do not need to apply for permission each time.

Before you apply, you should contact APHA.

To apply, fill in travelling exhibition certificate (form FED0173).

Email or post the completed form to the APHA Centre for International Trade Bristol.

The fee is £74 and APHA aims to process your application in 15 working days.

Published 9 November 2016

Last updated 2113 OctoberJune 20192022 + show all updates

    1. Removed guidance on import controls that are no longer being introduced in July 2022

    2. Updated some of the dates for when post EU-exit rules that apply to live animals that have failed inspection at a BCP.

    3. Added information to the 'Document requirements for rejected live animals from 1 January 2021' section on what to do if your live animals are rejected at a point of entry in Northern Ireland.

    4. Updated dates in section on live animals rejected from an EU Border Control Post (BCP).

    5. Updated list of EU BCPs as existing links were broken.

    6. Updated section on rejected live animals from 1 Jan to 30 June 2021 to include NI points of entry.

    7. Updated with guidance on how to comply with rules from 1 January.

    8. Content added to explain new export process from 1 January 2021.

    9. Updated information on Brexit deal.

    10. Replaced information about endangered animals with links to pages with more comprehensive information on CITES and what to do if there's a no-deal Brexit.

    11. Forms EC3163 and EC3164 updated

    12. Added information for exporters about how to get an export health certificate if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

    13. EHC list updated

    14. Export Health Certificate list updated

    15. EHC List updated

    16. Forms updated due to Data Protections statement change

    17. Updated EC3163 form

    18. Updated EC3163 form

    19. First published.

Contents

Part

  1. Step 1 Make sure your business has an EORI number that starts with GB page

    You'll need an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number starting with GB to continue exporting goods.

    1. Get an EORI number

  2. and Check your importer has an EU EORI number

    Your importer will need an EU EORI number.

    You'll need to get an EU EORI number if you're exporting to your own business within the EU. You can get one from the customs authority in any EU country.

  3. Step

    You can hire someone to deal with customs for you, or you can do it yourself.

    1. Find out how to hire someone to make customs declarations for you
    2. Find out how to make customs declarations yourself

  4. and Decide ifdoing youbusiness want to export your goods using transit

    You may be able to use the Common Transit Convention (CTC) to simplify how your goods pass through customs and when your importer pays customs duties.

    1. Find out if you can use the CTC abroad

  5. Step 3 Check the rate of tax and duty for your goods

    Your importer will need to pay tax and duty on your goods after Brexit. This will depend on the classification of the goods.

  6. Step 4 Check what you need to do for the type of goods you export

    There might be other things you need to do, depending on what you're exporting.

    1. Check if you'll need to apply for an export licence
    2. Check the rules for exporting alcohol, tobacco and certain oils
    3. Check the rules for exporting controlled goods like firearms

  7. Step 5 Find out how changes to VAT will affect you

    1. Find out how you'll claim VAT refunds from EU countries
    2. Find out how you'll pay VAT if you sell digital services to EU customers

  8. Step 6 Decide who will transport your goods outside the UK

    You can hire someone to transport your goods, or you can do it yourself.

    1. Find out how to transport goods outside the UK yourself

  9. Step 7 Get help and support

    1. Get more information about importing and exporting goods after Brexit
    2. Get general help and support for your business