Beginning January 1, 2021, there will be new guidelines to follow for the transfer of Product of Animal Origin (POAO), Animal By Products (ABP) and other controlled products (RG) out of Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI).
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been identified within Northern Ireland. This could have implications in the transport of animals as well as SPS products to Northern Ireland.
Defra has provided clarity for traders regarding the rules of the EU regarding the export of poultry products due to the current avian flu (AI) epidemic that is currently affecting Great Britain.
The products are:
Meat products, meat and meat preparations,
Shellfish, fish, and other seafood
Dairy and milk products
Egg products, table eggs, and eggs
Composite products that contain milk, meat, eggs, dairy products, or fish
Honey
Blood products and Blood products
Animal casings
The Rendered Fat and the Lard
Bones, Bone products , and Gelatine
Pet Food
Chicken manure and farmyard manure
Gene material (semen, embryos, ova)
Animal products used for research educational, diagnostic or display for exhibition or research
Feathers, feathers treated and down
Hay and Straw
Animal Feeding
Be aware that different arrangements are in place for the movement of retail merchandise by licensed traders. This guide should be used to transport goods beyond those arrangements.
Before moving the regulated POAO, ABP and other RG from GB to NI the responsible person/business for the consignment has to:
Make sure they’re registered on TRACES.NT (the internet-based EU system that allows for pre-notification of SPS products that are arriving on EU the territory of EU).
If needed, request copies of the export medical certificates (EHCs) after they have been approved by official officials in Great Britain as well as any supporting documents, when required.
Make sure that the movement 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 products are inspected by a certificate (COI).
Notify DAERA at minimum 24 hours prior to the date of the arrival of your shipment in Northern Ireland by preparing the Common Health Entry Document (CHED P) for Products (CHED P) on TRACES NT , and uploading color copies of scanned EHCs along with any supporting documents like organic COIs, catch certificates and certifications of conformity from marketing standards. If documents are too big to be sent as a single file , it is possible to send it in two pieces.
If necessary, ensure that the shipment conforms to all Food Standards Agency labelling requirements.
Check that the product is able to enter at an airport or seaport Check that the product is accessed through a Point of Entry (PoE) where it is a EU certification for the product.
Check that all consignments are identified by an official seal that is tamperproof to the vehicle and this seal’s number is recorded upon both the EHCs along with CHEDs.
Make sure that any wood packaging material being transported from GB to the NI region is ISPM15 conforming (heat processed and then stamped).
Follow the groupage guidelines when moving consignments in the scheme of groupage.
When you arrive 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 tests conducted at Points of Entry and compliance is contained within the Compliance Protocol document.
When goods require physical inspection the driver is required to follow directions to the appropriate inspection facilities located at the port.
If all checks have been completed successfully the consignment will be cleared. The decision will be recorded in the second part of the CHED and will be sent directly to the recipient, you as the consignor in electronic format. Your consignment will now be free to transfer to the your destination.
Vehicles that are not identified to undergo physical inspections are believed to have passed the required health checks and are able to be driven to their destination with no delay.
The goods that arrive in Northern Ireland but cannot be cleared because of non-compliance with import regulations are subject to enforcement procedures. The cargo are not allowed to into Northern Ireland.
Transferring POAO, ABPs and other RG to NI from the EU through the GB landbridge
Consignments from POAO, ABP and other RG that originate from the EU and only traveling 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.
The process of moving POAO, ABPs and other RG into NI , originating from Rest of the World (RoW) countries
There are various requirements to move POAO, ABPs and RG into Northern Ireland from the RoW according to the type of commodity. Each consignment must be entered into 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 the NI to GB movement of POAO might require a Support Health Attestation (SHA) or in certain cases, the support Attestation (SA). A SHA can provide the required phytosanitary and sanitary (SPS) assurances necessary to permit the completion of the ultimate EHC within GB. This is not required for entry into GB and, therefore, should only be utilized when there is a compelling need for assurance that is outlined by a certifying officer GB.
Additional information and guidelines regarding changes to rules POAO, ABP and other RG
composite products – updated guidelines provided by the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
Additional information is provided 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
Assistance with moving 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