Collection

Guidance on importing live animals or animal products

Collection of guidance for importing live animals and animal products.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
• Published: 23 November 2022
• Last updated: 13 November 2023 — See all updates

Pet dogs, cats and ferrets

Read guidance if you’re:

• taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad
• bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain

Exporting

Read guidance on exporting live animals or animal products.

Topical issues

Current issues relating to imports and exports of animals and animal products.

• Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues
  • 9 November 2023
  • Guidance

Welfare of animals in transport

• Animal welfare
  • 16 August 2023
  • Guidance

Import under Balai rules

Balai rules apply to a group of animals not covered by other legislation.

• Import live animals and germinal products to Great Britain under Balai rules
  • 2 November 2023
  • Guidance
• Balai Directive: approved premises
  • 24 November 2023
  • Guidance

Food, drink and composite products

• Import composite products from the EU to Great Britain
  • 23 November 2022
  • Guidance
• Import food and drink from the EU to Great Britain
  • 17 November 2023
  • Guidance
• Import eggs to Great Britain
  • 2 June 2023
  • Guidance

Live animals, animal by-products, high-risk food and feed

• Import live animals and germinal products from the EU to Great Britain
  • 2 November 2023
  • Guidance
• Import animal by-products from the EU to Great Britain
  • 16 November 2023
  • Guidance
• Import high-risk food and feed not of animal origin from the EU to Great Britain
  • 15 December 2021
  • Guidance
• Importing live animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin from non-EU countries to Great Britain
  • 1 July 2023
  • Guidance

Endangered species

• Import or export endangered species: check if you need a CITES permit
  • 20 May 2022
  • Guidance
• Apply for CITES permits and certificates to move or trade endangered species
  • 1 July 2022
  • Guidance

Licences

Use these licences to import live animals or animal products.

• Importing non-native animals
  • 31 December 2020
  • Guidance
• General licences and authorisations to import live animals or animal products
  • 1 December 2023
  • Guidance
• Import animal pathogens or carriers to Great Britain
  • 26 March 2021
  • Guidance

Identifying imported livestock

• Tag, record and report imported sheep and goats
  • 1 June 2014
  • Guidance
• Register cattle imported or moved into England or Wales
  • 28 June 2023
  • Guidance
• Tag, tattoo or slap mark pigs
  • 10 October 2023
  • Guidance

Published 23 November 2022
Last updated 13 November 2023 + show all updates

1. 13 November 2023

   Added links to animal by-products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin to the 'live animals, high-risk food and feed' section. Retitled the section 'live animals, animal by-products, high-risk food and feed'.

2. 16 February 2023

   Added 'Import eggs to Great Britain' guide.

3. 23 November 2022

   First published.