Guidance

Import of animal casings for human consumption - Import Information Note (IIN) BAL/7

Updated 20 January 2025

1. General information 

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

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 animal casings for human consumption which are defined by the World Organisation for Animal Health as ‘intestines and bladders that, after cleaning, have been processed by tissue scraping, defatting and washing, and have been treated with salt’.

Please note that treated intestines that do not meet the requirements set out in this document must be imported in accordance with the requirements laid down in Decision (EC) 2007/777. This sets out the animal and public health conditions and model certificates for imports of certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines for human consumption.

3. Country of origin

Animal casings can come from third countries listed in the Annexes to and subject to the conditions set out in the safeguard measures:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales

4. Approved establishments 

Animal casings must come from an approved plant that are in the category ‘Treated stomach, bladders and intestines: Casings only’. 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 food 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 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. 

5. Health certification or documentation 

Imports to Great Britain must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate based on the GB model health certificate GBHC370. Traders should also check the safeguard declaration to ensure that their consignment complies with all the relevant requirements, particularly if they are importing casings derived from cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.

This requirement applies to animal products in the high and medium risk categories. Find import risk categories for animals and animal products imported from:

• the EU to GB
• non-EU countries to GB

The TSE attestations set out in Regulation (EC) 999/2001 will be required in addition to the model health certificate (or can be included on the model health certificate).

6. Health and identification marks 

The products referred to above must bear an identification mark in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) 853/2004. The mark must be applied before the product leaves the establishment.  

7. 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