15 December 2025: Updates to IPAFFS risk rules for porcine animal by-products from ASF-restricted EU zones
Updated 18 December 2025
© Crown copyright 2025
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-veterinary-surgeon-ovs-notes/15-december-2025-updates-to-ipaffs-risk-rules-for-porcine-animal-by-products-from-asf-restricted-eu-zones
OVS note number: 2025/78
Date: 15 December 2025
Purpose
To inform OVSs of the introduction of changes to the IPAFFS risk rules for certain animal by-products (ABP) of porcine origin originating from EU member states with African swine fever (ASF) restricted zones. The IPAFFS risk engine will be updated to require 100% documentary checks for certain ABPs of porcine origin.
Background
Under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK recognises the EU regional disease controls for ASF. Several EU member states have implemented ASF restricted zones. Regions of EU member states restricted due to African Swine Fever outbreaks are reflected in the ASF listing.
This means that trade of affected porcine ABPs from outside the restricted zones is considered safe and can be imported into Great Britain and that trade of affected porcine ABPs from RZIIs and RZIIIs zones are prohibited unless treated to mitigate ASF.
For the untreated or raw porcine ABPs listed below, additional documentary checks will be required to verify that these products are exported only from zones that are not subject to ASF restrictions:
- porcine untreated blood
- untreated pig bristles
- porcine raw ABPs for manufacturing pet food
- raw petfood of porcine origin
- untreated hides and skins of porcine
- untreated game trophies of porcine
Treated porcine ABPs are considered to have undergone mitigation processes and are not considered to pose a risk of carrying the ASF virus and are therefore not restricted.
Actions for OVSs
OVSs must review the necessary documentation when a consignment is selected for documentary checks to verify that the untreated ABP originates from an unrestricted ASF zone in the EU. Untreated ABPs originating from restricted regions should be refused entry into Great Britain.
For certain GB health certificates, such as GBHC502 (untreated porcine blood) and GBHC540 (untreated hides and skins), there is no facility to record a country code or regionalisation status. In these cases, Official Veterinarians must verify compliance by cross-checking the origin declared in Part I of the certificate against the ASF zoning listing. Where Part I does not provide sufficient assurance that the product originates from an ASF-free zone, additional supporting documentation may be required, such as a signed commercial statement on company letterhead confirming that the product does not contain animal by-products from ASF-restricted areas.
The same approach applies to GBHC571 (pig bristles from ASF-free zones). This certificate must only be used for bristles originating from ASF-free zones and must not be used for products from restricted areas. Where pig bristles originate from an ASF-restricted zone, GBHC570 must be used and the bristles must undergo the prescribed treatment. As GBHC571 does not include a field to indicate regionalisation, Official Veterinarians must verify the ASF-free status of the origin by checking the ASF zoning listing.
These measures are consistent with those applied to other porcine commodities, including live pigs and porcine meat and meat products, from EU member states affected by ASF.
Contact point for enquiries
Email: imports@apha.gov.uk
Imports and EU Trade Team