Guidance

Import of fresh red meat and bones for human consumption - Import Information Note (IIN) MPFG/4

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 fresh, refrigerated or frozen meat and bones, excluding minced meat for human consumption, derived from:

• domestic bovine animals (including Bison and Bubalus species and their crossbreeds)
  
• domestic ovine animals (Ovis aries) and domestic caprine animals (Capra hircus)
  
• domestic porcine animals (Sus scrofa)
  
• domestic solipeds (Equus caballus, Equus asinus and their cross- breeds)

‘Meat’ is defined in Regulation (EC) 853/2004 as edible parts of the above species including blood.

3. Country of origin 

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed for fresh meat of that species in a document published by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers. See the documents for fresh meat of ungulates at the links below. 

• non-EU countries
• EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries

Please note that bones can only be imported from countries that can export bone-in meat. 

Trading partners must have BOV, EQU, OVI or POR listed in column 4 of the above documents to be able to export fresh red meat and bones to Great Britain (GB), where:

• BOV is for fresh meat, including minced meat, of domestic bovine animals (including Bison and Bubalus species and their crossbreeds)
  
• EQU is for fresh meat, excluding minced meat, of domestic solipeds (Equus caballus, Equus asinus and their crossbreeds)
  
• OVI is for fresh meat, including minced meat, of domestic ovine animals (Ovis aries) and domestic caprine animals (Capra hircus)
  
• POR is for fresh meat, including minced meat, of domestic porcine animals (Sus scrofa)

Certain countries may be required to provide supplementary guarantees, depending on the animal health situation in the territories of origin. Please also check the 5th and 6th columns of the above documents, where these supplementary guarantees are listed. 

In addition, the country of origin must be listed for the appropriate species in a document published by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers, in accordance with Decision (EU) 2011/163 on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries. The relevant documents are accessible using the links above. 

4. Approved establishments 

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

Find consolidated lists of approved establishments or plants for:

• non-EU countries
• EU countries

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  

Imports to GB must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate based on the GB model health certificate. 

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

BOV

Model of veterinary certificate for fresh meat, including minced meat, of domestic bovine animals (including Bison and Bubalus species and their crossbreeds).

Model health certificates for bovine meat

OVI

Model of veterinary certificate for fresh meat, including minced meat, of domestic ovine animals (Ovis aries) and domestic caprine animals (Capra hircus)

Model health certificates for ovine meat

POR

Model of veterinary certificate for fresh meat, including minced meat, of domestic porcine animals (Sus scrofa).

Model health certificates for porcine meat

EQU

Model of veterinary certificate for fresh meat, excluding minced meat, of domestic solipeds (Equus caballus, Equus asinus and their cross-breeds)

Model health certificates for other meat

6. Health and identification marks 

Meat and bones referred to above must bear a health or identification mark as appropriate in accordance with the requirements of Article 48 of Regulation (EU) 2019/627. 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