Guidance

Import of bones and bone products, horns and horn products and hooves and hoof products intended for use other than as feed material - Import Information Note (IIN) ABP/16

Updated 5 March 2025

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1. General information 

This Import Information Note (IIN) must be read in conjunction with the IIN for general information for imports of animal by-products (ABPs), which provides information on pre-notifications, veterinary checks, risk categories and more. 

References to European Union (EU) legislation within this document are references to direct EU legislation which has been assimilated in Great Britain (assimilated direct legislation), as defined in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and can be viewed on the UK legislation website. 

2. Scope 

Import conditions for bones and bone products (excluding bone meal), horns and horn products (excluding horn meal) and hooves and hoof products (excluding hoof meal) intended for use other than as feed material, organic fertilisers or soil improvers. 

3. Production standards 

The products must be derived from Category 3 materials referred to in Article 10(a), (b)(i), (b)(iii), (e) and (h) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009. 

The products must have been produced and stored in accordance with the requirements of Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 7 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011. 

The products must be: 

  • dried before export and not chilled or frozen
  • conveyed from their third country of origin direct to a border control post (BCP) of entry into Great Britain (GB) and are not transhipped at any port or place outside of GB 

The products must comply with the conditions in Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 7 point 2(d). 

On dispatch to the United Kingdom (UK) the material must be enclosed in sealed containers or vehicles or carried in bulk in a ship. 

4. Country of origin 

Imports are permitted from any country. 

5. Approved establishments 

Products must be produced in an establishment approved to export to Great Britain (GB). Importers should check prior to importation that the premises are listed on the correct list.  

Find consolidated lists of approved plants (excluding the EU)

Find approved EU ABP establishments 

If the establishment or plant is not listed, importers are urged to contact the company concerned, who should contact their competent authority immediately. If the plant or establishment of origin is not included on the appropriate list when veterinary checks are carried out the consignment is likely to be held and could be rejected and re-exported or destroyed. 

6. Documentation 

The products must be accompanied by

Imports from EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries do not currently need to be accompanied by an importer declaration. However, the consignment must be accompanied by a commercial document.

7. Labelling requirements 

If transported in containers, the containers must bear the name and the address of the registered establishment or plant of origin. 

8. Monitoring of the products to an approved premises 

Following the veterinary checks provided for in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715, and in accordance with the conditions laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1666, the animal by-products must be transported directly from the BCP under customs procedures to either an approved or registered establishment or plant. 

9. Contact for further information  

For more information about import requirements, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team:

Centre for International Trade - Carlisle
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk 

Telephone: 03000 200 301

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