General licences and authorisations to import live animals or animal products
Licences and authorisations to import genetic material, research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items, and some live animals and animal products.
Imports of most animals and animal products are covered by UK legislation. Check the Import information notes to find out if your import is covered.
If your import has an import information note, you must follow the conditions in the note.
If your import does not have an import information note you may need a general licence or authorisation.
You can use an existing general licence or authorisation to import:
- genetic material
- live animals
- products for human consumption
- products not for human consumption
researchanddiagnosticsamples,tradesamplesanddisplayitems
If a general licence or authorisation for what you want to import does not exist, contact the APHA 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
-
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
- , and amendment notice
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.
- - Animal derived dairy starter cultures/cheese making kits/enzymes/media cultures for the manufacture of certain food products. Country of origin: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA
- Glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan-livestock, poultry, fish (IMP/GEN/2015/05) - This authorisation has been revoked as the import conditions are now provided for in EU legislation and an authorisation is no longer required.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
- - Composite products for human consumption, containing no meat/unprocessed animal products (must not contain more than 50% of any other animal products). Country of origin: All non-EU countries, except when the composite product contains dairy products the dairy product must come from an EU approved country.
- 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
LicencesLicenses and authorisations for animal by-products not for human consumption entering England from EU and non-EU countries.for:
-Countryoforigin:allcountriessamples-Countryoforigin:allcountriesborder-andCountrydiagnosticofsamples)
Research origin:and Fromdiagnostic thirdsamples
Research countriesand listeddiagnostic assamples aare Memberanimal ofby-products theor Worldderived Organisationproducts forthat Animalwill Healthbe (OIE)either:
- examined in the
OIEcontextbulletinof diagnostic activities
If thirdyou countriesare (IMP/GEN/2023/02) (,importing ,and )
- 2025
If hidesthere andis skinsno -appropriate allgeneral countriesimport (IMP/GEN/2004/02) (,authorisation ,your )you -must Hidesapply andto skinsAPHA offor ungulatesa thatspecific haveimport undergoneauthorisation.
You themust completeinclude processthe ofimport tanning,authorisation wetwith bluethe hidesconsignment.
Research and skinsdiagnostic ofsamples ungulates,are picklednot peltssubject andto limedrisk hides.
- - Country of origin: all 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
- - Country of origin: all third countries
- - Country of origin: all third countries
- - Country of origin: all third countries
- - Country of origin: all third countries
-
-Researchanddiagnosticsamples,tradesamples,displayitems.Countryoforigin:EUmemberstates,Switzerland,Norway.Iceland,Liechtenstein,theIsleofManandtheChannelIslands
Heat treated animal products
- - Heat treated organs, glands, blood, other tissues from domestic, zoo and laboratory mammals born and bred in captivity excl ungulates and primates. Country of origin: all non-EU countries.
-
- Heat treated eggs and egg product samples from certain Third countries. Country of origin: Third countries in Part 1, Annex II to Reg (EU) 206/2010 and third countries or parts thereof authorised for imports of fresh poultry meat (Reg (EC) No
798/2008)798/2008 (as amended ) -
- Ultra heat treated (UHT) milk samples from certain third countries. Country of origin: Countries listed in column B of Regulation (EU) No 605/2010 (as amended
Other products
-Countryoforigin:allcountries- - Samples of products from mammals or birds for research and diagnostic purposes and not intended for resale. Country of origin: Channel Islands
-
- Animal tissue derived from mammals and birds fixed in formalin intended
asforaresearchdisplayuse.item. -
-
AnimalAnytissueproduct derived frommammalsfish, reptiles andbirdsinvertebratesfixedfromincertainformalinThirdintendedcountries.forresearchuse.ThirdAustralia,countriesCanada,orIceland,partsNorway,thereofSwitzerland,authorisedNewforZealandimportsandofUSA.]fresh(asbovineamendedmeat) -
-
AnimalProcessedproductsfeatherderivedsamples fromreptiles,Thirdamphibians,Countries.fish,Countryinvertebratesofororigin:honey.AllCountrynon-EUofcountries.origin: -
-
AnyWholeproductcarcases,derivedor parts thereof and certain other materials fromfish,animalsreptilesof the Family Canidae, Family Felidae. Order Rodentia andinvertebratesOrderfromLagomorphacertainbornThirdandcountries.bred in captivity. Country of origin: Australia, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, New Zealand and USA. -
-
ProcessedHoneyfeatherintendedsamplesforfromeducational,ThirdresearchCountries.and diagnostic purposes. Country of origin: Allnon-EUthird countries.
Animal by-products with official controls at a border control post (BCP)
Import authorisations for animal by-products not for human consumption that must enter England through a designated BCP.
The following import authorisations are for animal by products coming from non-EU countries. They will also be for animal by products coming from EU countries from 1 February 2025.
-
Order-rodentiaCountryandoforderorigin:lagomorphaallborncountries -
-
WholeCountrycarcases,ofororigin:partsFromthereofthird countries listed as a Member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in the OIE bulletin -
- Animal tissue derived from mammals and
bredbirds fixed incaptivity.Australia,ThirdCanada,countriesIceland,orNorway,partsSwitzerland,thereofNewauthorisedZealandforandimportsUSA.of fresh bovine meat listed in Part I of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 206/2010
The following import authorisations are for animal by products coming from EU from 30 April 2024 until 31 January 2025.
Animal by-products without official controls at a border control post (BCP)
Licences for whichanimal by-products not for human consumption that do not need to enter England through a validdesignated licenceBCP.
These existslicences underare certainfor Pathogensproducts andcoming Medicinesfrom legislationEU listedand innon-EU conditioncountries.
-
- Country of origin:
Allall countries -
- Hides and skins of
origin:ungulatesAllthatthirdhavecountries.undergone the complete process of tanning, wet blue hides and skins of ungulates, pickled pelts and limed hides - - Products and Substances for which a valid licence exists under certain Pathogens and Medicines legislation listed in condition 1 of the licence. Country of origin: All countries
-
-
countries.countries
Last updated
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Updated information about products not for human consumption, including licences and authorisations.
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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.
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A document about authorisation for products under Trade in Animals and Related Products (TARP) has been added to products for human consumption.
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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)'.
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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.