Guidance

Import of minced meat for human consumption - Import Information Note (IIN) MPMM/10

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 minced meat derived from domestic bovines, porcines, ovines and caprines, for human consumption.

Minced meat is defined in Annex I point 1.13 of Regulation (EC) 853/2004 as boned meat which has been minced into fragments and contains less than 1% salt.  

Minced meat originating from the EU must have been chilled to an internal temperature of not more than +4°C or frozen at an internal temperature of not more than -18°C at the production plant(s) of origin.  

Minced meat originating from other trading partners must be deep-frozen to at least -18°C at the production plant(s) of origin.  

3. Country of origin

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed 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 for:

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

Trading partners must have BOV, OVI or POR listed in column 4 of the above documents in order to be able to export minced meat 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)
• 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 

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. 

Bovine meat: Bovine meat: model health certificates

Sheep or goat meat: Ovine meat: model health certificates

Porcine meat: Porcine meat: model health certificates

Transit: 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 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