Guidance

Import of certain highly refined products for human consumption - Import Information Note (IIN) GCC/1

Updated 25 April 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 highly refined chondroitin sulphate, hyaluronic acid, other hydrolysed cartilage products, chitosan, glucosamine, rennet, isinglass and amino acids derived from bovine and equine animals, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and fishery products for human consumption.  

3. Country of origin 

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed in the relevant documents for:

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

Raw materials derived from ungulates must come from countries listed the document for ‘fresh meat of ungulates’. Imports are also permitted from South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Taiwan.

Raw materials derived from fishery products must come from countries listed in the document for ‘other fishery products’.

Raw materials derived from poultry must come from countries listed in the document for ‘poultry and poultry products’. 

4. Approved establishments 

The raw animal material from which the product is derived must come from an establishment which is approved to export to Great Britain (GB), fresh meat of the relevant species or the fishery products for human consumption.  

Find consolidated lists of approved plants (excluding the EU)

Find approved EU food establishments

The raw material or finished product cannot be produced or handled in an establishment approved only for animal by-products not intended for human consumption. 

5. Health certification or documentation 

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

Find model health certificates for other animal products

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. Special note on products originating in China 

If the product or raw material is sourced from China, it will be subject to the requirements of Decision (EC) 2002/994. The raw animal material must be listed in the Annex to the Decision (EC) 2002/994. Each consignment of products derived from animal material listed in Part II of that Annex must be accompanied by an attestation from the Chinese Competent Authorities confirming the products have been subjected, prior to despatch, to a chemical test to detect in particular the presence of chloramphenicol and nitrofuran and its metabolites. In addition, for aquaculture fishery products referred to in Part II of the Annex there must also have been a chemical test for the presence of malachite green and crystal violet and their metabolites. The attestation must confirm and include the results of all these tests. 

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