General licences and authorisations to import live animals or animal products
Licences youand needauthorisations to import genetic material, research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items, and some live animals and animal products.
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ThereYou arecan use an existing general importlicence licencesor andauthorisation authorisationsto for:import:
- genetic material
- live animals
- products for human consumption
- products not for human consumption
- research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items
You do not need to apply for one of these licences but you must follow its conditions.
If you cannot find a general licence or authorisation for what you want to import,import youdoes mustnot applyexist, forcontact athe licenceAPHA imports team.
Genetic material
Licences for semen, ova and embryos from:
- livestock
- canines
- felines
- rodents
- lagomorphs (hares, rabbits and pikas)
- equines
These are for products entering England from:
- the Channel Islands
- Northern Ireland
- Isle of Man
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countries outside the EU
Live animals
Licences and authorisations for:
- domestic and non-domestic livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats)
- poultry, birds and equidae (horses, ponies, donkeys)
- insects
These are for animals entering England from:
- the Channel Islands
- Northern Ireland
- Isle of Man
- non-EU countries
Captive or pet birds
Cattle
Insects
Sheep and goats
Poultry
Pigs
Other non-domestic hoofed animals
Products for human consumption
Licences and authorisations for animal products entering England from EU and non-EU countries.
- Glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan-livestock, poultry, fish (IMP/GEN/2015/05) - This authorisation has been revoked as the import conditions are now provided for in EU legislation and an authorisation is no longer required. A summary of the import conditions are available in Import Information Note IIN GCC/1.
- Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Chitosan derived from bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine animals, swine, poultry and fishery products. Country of origin: Certain EU approved third countries
- Certain products not subject to veterinary checks (IMP/GEN/2007/01) – This licence has been revoked due to amendments to Annex II of Commission Decision 2007/275/EC. An import licence is no longer required. Guidance on the relevant import conditions for the revised Annex II products is available in our Composite products for human consumption from Third Countries (IIN CP/1) Import Information Note. All products must meet the relevant requirements of this legislation
- Various finished products for human consumption (check licence for full list). Country of origin: All non-EU countries
Products not for human consumption
Licences and authorisations for animal by-products not for human consumption entering England from EU and non-EU countries.
Research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items
Import conditions for research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items are provided for in the animal by-product legislation. They must be authorised before they are imported.
Some general licences and authorisations may need to be read together with a separate amendment notice, listed alongside it in the list below.
Research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items coming from member states do not need to be licenced or authorised, but must comply with EU rules on animal by-products.
You may wish to include a copy of the facilitation letter with any consignments from EU countries.
Research and diagnostic samples
Heat treated animal products
Other products
Last updated
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Licence for category 3 animal by-products (IMP/GEN/2009/03): The country of origin is EU countries, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
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Added authorisation IMP/GEN/2023/01 for drosophila melanogaster to the live animals section.
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Updated amendment notice IMPGEN/2014/09 for import of cattle from the Channel Islands with a further change to condition 4.
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Revoked licence number L/96/2 for sheep and goats and added a new general licence IMP/GEN/2022/01 for sheep and goats in Northern Ireland.
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Removed the Embryos, ova and semen from third countries (IMP/GEN/2012/03) general licence as it is out of date.
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Removed the 'Hay and straw from EU and certain other European countries (IMP/GEN/2011/08)' and 'Hay and straw from third countries (IMP/GEN/2020/01)' licences. These are being reviewed due to the risk of African swine fever entering the UK.
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Updated general licence for genetic material - added IMP/GEN/2021/01 which replaces IMP/GEN/2012/06.
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Updated hay and straw from third countries licence to IMP/GEN/2020/01.
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Added bovine ova and embryos from the Channel Islands general licence
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Updated the samples from EU countries: facilitation letter
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Updated dog or cat semen from donors compliant with regulation 576/2013 or 998/2003
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Added IMP/GEN/2019/01 (for import of bovine semen from the Channel Island).
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Updated general licences for research and diagnostic samples - added IMP/GEN/18/03 and IMP/GEN/18/04 which replaces IMP/GEN/14/03 and IMP/GEN/14/04.
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Amendment notice about Jersey being declared officially free of EBL disease for IMP/GEN/2014/09 (cattle) added.
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Updated the licence for "Imports of pearls in oyster shells (containing oyster flesh) in ready to sell containers not for human consumption".
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Removed the 'Certain finished manufactured products general licence (TAY/GEN/94/1144)' as it is out of date.
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Updated to reflect that the 'Certain products not subject to veterinary checks (IMP/GEN/2007/01)' licence has been revoked.
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Captive or pet birds general licences - added IMP/GEN/2017/02 which replaces general licences IMP/GEN/2011/07 and IMP/GEN/2004/7
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Updated IMP/GEN/2016/12 to version including signature, date of issue and stamp.
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Added general licence for the import of meat extracts or meat concentrates (IMP/GEN/2017/01).
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Updated to reflect that the 'Glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan-livestock, poultry, fish (IMP/GEN/2015/05)' authorisation has been revoked.
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Added general authorisations for gelatine capsules for human consumption: IMP/GEN/2016/07, IMP/GEN/2016/08, IMP/GEN/2016/09, IMP/GEN/2016/10, IMP/GEN/2016/11 and IMP/GEN/2016/12.
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Removed the Pet health feed and supplements (TAY/GEN/2005/912) licence as it is out of date.
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Added general licence for import of bovine ova and embryos from Northern Ireland (IMP-GEN-2016-05).
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Updated the licence: Import of laboratory produced Rodent or Lagomorph Embryos/Ova/Semen to a research facility in Great Britain (IMP/GEN/RM37).
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Added general licence for import of laboratory produced Rodent or Lagomorph Embryos/Ova/Semen to a research facility in Great Britain (IMP/GEN/RM37).
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Added licence for fresh or chilled hides and skins from ungulates for further processing from The Channel Islands and Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2016/04).
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Replaced Cattle from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/01) with Cattle from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2016/03).
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Added licence for imports of pearls in oyster shells (containing oyster flesh) in ready to sell containers not for human consumption (IMP/GEN/2016/02).
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Added 'Dog or cat semen from donors compliant with regulation 576/2013 or 998/2003' to genetic material
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Replaced licence: IMP/GEN/2010/13 with IMP/GEN/2016/01 (Cattle aged 15 days and over from Northern Ireland)
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IMP-GEN-2015-07 licence has been revoked and replaced with IMP-GEN-2015-09
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Uploaded Non-domestic ungulates from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2015/08) which replaces the revoked licence IMP/GEN/2013/02.
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Added licence for non domestic ungulates from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/07).
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Added the licence "certain products for in vitro use with 10% or less animal by-product carrier/stabilizer" under 'Products not for human consumption'
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Updated Glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan-livestock, poultry, fish due to an amendment to EU legislation.
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Replaced Sheep and goats from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/02) with Sheep and goats from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/04) as there was an error in original licence (missing conditions).
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Added the general licences for Cattle from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/01), Sheep and goats from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/02) and Pigs for slaughter from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/03).
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First published.
Update history
2025-03-07 16:49
Replaced 2 authorisations in response to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Hungary:• replaced ‘EU non-harmonised animal by-products (IMP/GEN/2025/01)’ with ‘EU non-harmonised animal by-products (IMP/GEN/2025/03)’• replaced ‘EU display items (IMP/GEN/2025/02)’ with ‘EU display items (IMP/GEN/2025/04)’
2025-01-14 17:39
Replaced authorisation ‘EU display items IMP/GEN/2024/06’ with ‘EU display items IMP/GEN/2025/02’, and authorisation ‘EU non-harmonised animal by-products IMP/GEN/2024/08’ with ‘EU non-harmonised animal by-products IMP/GEN/2025/01’. This is in response to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Germany.
2024-12-20 14:09
Added a new import authorisation for:- Research and diagnostic samples from EU and EFTA member states (IMP/GEN/2024/13) – this is required from 1 February 2025Updated the following import authorisations: Certain products in 3% or less animal by-product carrier/stabilizer (IMP/GEN/14/02)Certain products for in vitro use with 10% or less animal by-product carrier/stabilizer (IMP/GEN/2015/06)EU trade samples (IMP/GEN/2024/05)EU display items (IMP/GEN/2024/06) Certain materials for purposes other than feeding to farmed land animals (IMP/GEN/2024/07)EU non-harmonised animal by-products (IMP/GEN/2024/08)
2024-10-31 14:33
Added a new general licence (IMP/GEN/2024/12) for movements of ovine and caprine ova and embryos from Northern Ireland.
2024-08-19 14:42
Updated 2 licences:- General licence to import certain products for in vitro use with 10% or less animal by-product carrier or stabilizer (IMP/GEN/2015/06)- General licence to import certain products in 3% or less animal by-product carrier or stabiliser (IMP/GEN/14/02).
2024-06-18 14:22
Updated 2 general licences: – Dog or cat semen from donors compliant with regulation 576/2013 or 998/2003 (IMP/GEN/2024/10)- Import of laboratory produced rodent or lagomorph embryos, ova and semen to a research facility in Great Britain (IMP/GEN/2024/11)
2024-06-05 13:22
The authorisation for ‘Treated milk and milk-based products and treated blood products, for use as a stabiliser or carrier (not exceeding 3% concentration)’ has been replaced with an amended version.
2024-04-30 00:01
Updated information about products not for human consumption, including licences and authorisations.
2024-03-01 16:53
Updated the document ‘Authorisation for dairy products and raw milk for human consumption that have undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation (IMP/GEN/2024/01)’ under ‘Products for human consumption’. The document now includes a link to a model health certificate.
2024-02-01 16:48
A document about authorisation for products under Trade in Animals and Related Products (TARP) has been added to products for human consumption.
2023-12-01 10:27
Removed ‘Hay and straw from third countries (IMP/GEN/2020/01)’, which has been revoked. Added ‘Hay and straw from third countries (IMP/GEN/2023/02)’.
2023-07-18 17:37
Licence for category 3 animal by-products (IMP/GEN/2009/03): The country of origin is EU countries, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
2023-03-09 15:55
Added authorisation IMP/GEN/2023/01 for drosophila melanogaster to the live animals section.
2023-03-06 15:38
Updated amendment notice IMPGEN/2014/09 for import of cattle from the Channel Islands with a further change to condition 4.
2022-07-12 10:34
Revoked licence number L/96/2 for sheep and goats and added a new general licence IMP/GEN/2022/01 for sheep and goats in Northern Ireland.
2022-02-18 14:01
Removed the Embryos, ova and semen from third countries (IMP/GEN/2012/03) general licence as it is out of date.