Guidance

Certain animal by-products for feeding to wild birds, wild animals or pet fish, or for manufacture of feed supplements - Import Information Note ABP/26

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 animal by-products (ABPs), which provides information on pre-notifications, veterinary checks, risk categories and more.

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 

In accordance with Section 2, Chapter IV, Annex XIV to Regulation (EU) 142/2011, the competent authority may authorise the importation of certain materials for purposes other than feeding to farmed land animals (except for feeding to fur animals) provided there is no unacceptable risk for the transmission of diseases communicable to humans or animals. 

Materials

Materials include:

• animal by-products from aquatic animals and derived products from aquatic animals
• aquatic invertebrates and derived products from aquatic invertebrates
• terrestrial invertebrates, including any of their transformation forms, such as larvae, and derived products therefrom

The materials also include any products generated by the animals, such as fish eggs.

Intended use

The intended use includes:

• feed for wild birds, wild animals or pet fish
• materials for the manufacture of feed for wild birds, wild animals or pet fish
• materials for the manufacture of supplements for feeding to animals other than farmed land animals

Imports of these types of materials for other uses may be covered under a different IIN:

• fishing bait – refer to IIN ABP/28
• processed finished feed for pet ornamental aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians – refer to IIN ABP/43

If you wish to import any of these materials for any other uses, you may require an import authorisation. Contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Centre for International Trade (CIT) - Imports, at imports@apha.gov.uk for further information. 

3. Production standards 

The materials must be either:

• deep frozen and free from salmonella and other pathogenic organisms
• dried by a treatment sufficient to destroy pathogenic organisms, including salmonella

Once the materials are either deep frozen or dried, all precautions must be taken to prevent any recontamination after treatment.

The product must be securely packaged in new containers.

4. Country of origin 

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed as a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

5. Documentation 

Each consignment must be accompanied by a commercial document completed and signed by the exporter or manufacturer stating the:

• name and address of the establishment of production
• name and address of the consignor and consignee
• name and address of premises of destination in Great Britain (if different from the consignee)
• confirmation the material is Category 3 material, according to Article 10 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009
• description of the material, including:
  • animal species
  • quantity of the material shipped
  • country of origin
  • intended use of material

The commercial document for each consignment must also state that the material has been either:

• deep frozen and is free from Salmonella and other pathogenic organisms
• dried by a treatment sufficient to destroy pathogenic organisms, including salmonella, and is ambient stable (depending on its use)

6. Labelling requirements 

All packages, for all permitted uses, must bear a label indicating “NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION”

Ready-to-sell products

In addition, if dispatched in ready-to-sell packages, the labelling must clearly indicate the intended use of the product, which is feed for any of the following animals:

• wild or garden birds
• wild animals
• pet fish

Images of the types of animals the feed is intended for, may be used to supplement text on labels.  For example, it would be acceptable for labelling to indicate the product is bird feed and packaging may display images of garden birds, indicating the product is intended to be fed to wild or garden birds.

There must be no indication on the packaging that the product is intended for feeding to animals that are outside the scope of this import information note, including farmed land animals.

7. Movement to premises of destination 

Once cleared for entry into Great Britain, the products must be transported directly from the point of entry to: 

• a pet food plant approved in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009
• a holding or establishment keeping animals in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009
• an establishment or plant approved for handling of ABPs after their collection, by way of operations such as sorting, cutting, chilling, freezing in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009
• an establishment or plant approved for storage in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009
• an establishment approved or registered in accordance with Regulation (EC) 183/2005 and registered in accordance with Article 23 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009
• an establishment directly for retail sale where the product is dispatched in ready-to-sell packages

8. Contact for further information  

For more information about import requirements, contact the 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