Collection

Guidance on importing and exporting live animals or animal products

Collection of guidance and forms for importing and exporting live animals or animal products.

Published 12 September 2014
Last updated 23 March 2020 — see all updates

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency

Guidance

This collection of guidance specifically covers importing and exporting live animals or animal products.

There’s also specific guidance on pet travel: entering/returning to the UK.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): send application by email

If possible, you should send any applications by email as staff may not be able to collect post during the coronavirus outbreak.

Please apply in advance to avoid delay - APHA is dealing with a high volume of applications.

Topical issues

• Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues
  • 15 June 2020
  • Guidance

Imports to the UK from non-EU countries

• Importing live animals or animal products from non-EU countries
  • 21 August 2019
  • Guidance
• Importing live animals or animal products from non-EU countries: general licences and authorisations
  • 4 June 2020
  • Guidance
• Animal pathogens and products: import licence application
  • 14 September 2020
  • Form
• Live animals (not pet dogs, cats, ferrets): import licence application
  • 25 June 2018
  • Form

Exporting from the UK to all countries

• Export live animals
  • 21 October 2019
  • Guidance
• Export livestock and poultry
  • 3 September 2019
  • Guidance
• Export animal bones, protein and other by-products
  • 7 August 2019
  • Guidance
• Export animal semen, ova and embryos
  • 23 August 2019
  • Guidance
• Export food for animals
  • 21 July 2020
  • Guidance
• Export food, drink and agricultural products
  • 24 March 2020
  • Guidance

Moving goods or animals between EU countries

• Moving live animals or animal products as part of EU trade
  • 29 June 2020
  • Guidance
• Assembly centre for EU trade of livestock: application
  • 8 January 2019
  • Form
• Dealer’s premises for EU trade in sheep and goats: application
  • 8 January 2019
  • Form

Balai Directive: animals, semen and embryos for research, display and conservation

• Balai Directive: moving live animals, semen and embryos
  • 17 February 2020
  • Guidance
• Balai Directive and EU trade in animals: approved premises
  • 10 September 2020
  • Guidance
• Balai Directive: application to import and export live animals
  • 8 May 2019
  • Form

Circus and animal acts

• Register a travelling circus or animal act to travel in the EU
  • 1 October 2014
  • Guidance
• Circus or animal act: registration
  • 8 January 2019
  • Form

Endangered species

• Import or export endangered species: check if you need a CITES permit
  • 10 June 2020
  • Guidance
• Endangered species: apply for an import and export permit
  • 23 March 2020
  • Form

Non-native animals

• Importing non-native animals
  • 17 August 2016
  • Guidance

Poultry Health Scheme

• Poultry Health Scheme: how to register
  • 17 April 2019
  • Guidance
• Poultry Health Scheme: list of members
  • 14 September 2020
  • Guidance

Animal pathogens

• Bringing non-specified animal pathogens or carriers into the UK
  • 2 February 2015
  • Guidance

Artificial breeding controls

• Bovine and boar semen collection and breeding: licence application
  • 26 March 2019
  • Form

Welfare of animals in transport

• Live transport: welfare regulations
  • 29 August 2012
  • Guidance
• Type 2 animal transporters: contingency plan template
  • 21 February 2019
  • Form
• Journey logs: animal exports
  • 29 June 2017
  • Form
• UK animal transporter: application for type 1 authorisation
  • 16 January 2020
  • Form
• UK animal transporter: application for type 2 authorisation
  • 8 January 2019
  • Form
• Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 2006: inspection application
  • 8 January 2019
  • Form
• UK animal transport certificate and contingency plan for specific journey
  • 30 May 2018
  • Form
• Animal transport: contingency plan template for specific journey
  • 19 June 2020
  • Form

Importing and exporting from 1 January 2021

• Exporting animals and animal products to the EU from 1 January 2021
  • 4 November 2019
  • Guidance

Published 12 September 2014
Last updated 23 March 2020 + show all updates

1. 23 March 2020

   Added coronavirus statement on sending applications by email.

2. 21 February 2019

   Added guidance on importing and exporting after the UK leaves the EU

3. 16 December 2015

   Removed message on flooding at Carlisle

4. 1 October 2015

   Added link to new guidance on importing non-native animals

5. 24 March 2015

   Added links to new guides on general imports licences and authorisations, and topical issues.

6. 12 September 2014

   First published.