Guidance

Import of meat of farmed ratites and wild game birds for human consumption - Import Information Note (IIN) RM/01

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 meat for human consumption derived from:

• ratites (for example, ostrich, emu, rhea)
• wild game birds 

3. Country of origin 

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed in documents for poultry and poultry products, published by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers, for:

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

Trading partners must have RAT, WGM, or WGM-MI/MSM listed in column 4 of the above documents in order to be able to export meat of ratites and wild game birds to Great Britain (GB), where:

• RAT is for meat of farmed ratites for human consumption
• WGM is for wild gamebird meat
• WGM-MI/MSM is for wild gamebird minced meat and mechanically separated meat 

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 

Meat 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 lists of approved plants (excluding the EU)

Find lists of approved establishments in the EU

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.  

Ratite meat: model health certificates

Other meat: model health certificates

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

6. Health and identification marks

Meat 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. Establishments must comply with the specific rules on the hygiene of food of animal origin requirements of Regulation (EC) 853/2004 in the application of identification marks. 

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