Guidance
Animal by-products (products not intended for human consumption): risk categories for imports from EU to GB
Updated 26 March 2025
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
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The tables on this page provide an overview of how animal by-products (ABPs) imported from the EU are risk categorised under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).
ABPs are animal products or products derived from animals that are not intended for human consumption. They include:
- animal protein
- blood and blood products
- fats
- gelatine and collagen
- hides and skins
- horns and trophies
- milk products
- pet food and products for the manufacture of pet food
- phosphate products
- wool, hair and feathers
To import these commodities, you must identify its BTOM risk category. This will inform the:
- rules you must follow
- documents you might need to prepare
- likelihood of your goods being inspected
Find your ABP commodity in the tables below to see its corresponding risk category and inspection rate.
Inspection rates listed in the tables are for both identity (ID) checks and physical checks, unless otherwise specified. Imports are also subject to documentary checks. As standard, commodities categorised as high or medium risk are subject to 100% documentary checks. Low risk commodities are not subject to routine documentary checks.
Commodities may be moved into higher or lower BTOM risk categories to reflect changing levels of risk.
You can read more about importing ABPs from the EU to Great Britain.
In these tables, the commodities listed are all subject to the import requirements laid down in Annex XIV to Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011. This is except for the requirement for a certificate or model document, where the BTOM rules take precedence.
You can find out about import conditions, including production standards, permitted countries of origin and required import documentation, by checking the appropriate import information note (IIN). If there is no IIN for your goods, you can contact your port health authority at your nominated border control post.
Read separate risk categories guidance for imports from the EU of:
1. Animal protein
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrolysed protein for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/12A |
| Hydrolysed protein for use in animal feed | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/12A See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Processed animal protein (terrestrial, aquatic or insects) for use in animal feed | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/1 and IIN ABP/45 See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Processed animal protein (insects) for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/45 |
| Processed animal protein not for human consumption, for use other than in animal feed | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IINABP/1 See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
2. Blood and blood products
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treated blood and blood products, for use in animal feed | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/4B See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Treated blood and blood products from Equidae, for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/4A |
| Untreated blood and blood products from Equidae, for use other than in animal feed | Medium | 15% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/4A See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Treated blood and blood products excluding from Equidae, for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/4C |
| Untreated blood and blood products excluding from Equidae, for use other than in animal feed | Medium | 15% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IINABP/4C See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
3. Fats
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat derivatives for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/14A Channelling required (see note 1). |
| Fat derivatives for use in animal feed | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/14B See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Rendered animal fats, for use in animal feed | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/10A See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Rendered animal fats for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/10B Channelling required (see note 1). |
4. Gelatine and collagen
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gelatine or collagen for use in animal feed | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/11A (Gelatine) and IIN ABP/11B (Collagen) See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Gelatine or collagen for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/11A (Gelatine) and IIN ABP/11B (Collagen) Channelling required for photogelatine (gelatine for use in the photographic industry) (see note 1). |
5. Hides and skins
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treated hides and skins (excluding items not subject to any import restrictions) | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/5B and IIN ABP/5C Items not subject to import restrictions are set out in IIN ABP/5B |
| Untreated hides and skins | Medium | 15% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/5A See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
6. Horns, hooves, bones and trophies
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treated game trophies or other preparations of birds and ungulates consisting of entire parts, which are subject to import restrictions | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/6A Items not subject to import restrictions are set out in IIN ABP/6C. |
| Untreated game trophies or other preparations of birds and ungulates consisting of entire parts | Medium | 30% (inspection rate medium M3). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/6B See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Horns and horn products (excluding horn meal), and hooves and hoof products (excluding hoof meal), for production of organic fertilisers or soil improvers | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/18 Channelling required (see note 1). |
| Bones and bone products (excluding bone meal), horns and horn products (excluding horn meal) and hoof products (excluding hoof meal) intended for use other than as feed material, organic fertilisers or soil improvers | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IINABP/16 |
7. Milk products
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk and milk-based products for use in animal feed | Medium | 10% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/2A (milk, milk-based and milk-derived products) and IIN ABP/2B (colostrum and colostrum products from bovine animals) See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Milk and milk-based products for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/2A (milk, milk-based and milk-derived products) and IIN ABP/2B (colostrum and colostrum products from bovine animals) |
8. Pet food and products for the manufacture of pet food
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABP for the manufacture of canned pet food | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/3F See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| ABP for the manufacture of pet food (other than canned) | Medium | 30% (inspection rate medium M3). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/3F See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| ABP for the manufacture of dog chews | Medium | 15% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/3F See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Dog chews | Medium | 15% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/3C See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Flavouring innards for manufacture of pet food | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/3E See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Pet food – canned | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/3A |
| Pet food – processed (other than canned) | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/3B |
| Pet food – raw (including if frozen) | Medium | 30% (inspection rate medium M3). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/3D See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
9. Phosphate products
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic dicalcium phosphate and tricalcium phosphate for use in animal feed | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/12B (Dicalcium phosphate) and IIN ABP/12C (Tricalcium phosphate) See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Organic dicalcium phosphate and tricalcium phosphate for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/12B (Dicalcium phosphate) and IIN ABP/12C (Tricalcium phosphate) |
10. Wool, hair and feathers
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treated feathers | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/22B |
| Untreated wool or hair | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/23A |
| Wool grease or fatty substances derived therefrom (including lanolin and lanolin alcohol), for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/37 |
11. Other animal by-products (ABPs)
| Commodity | BTOM risk category | Inspection rate | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABP for use outside the feed chain | Medium | 10% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/8A (ABP for use outside the feed chain) See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Trade samples | Medium | 10% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/8B (trade samples) See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| ABPs and derived products for laboratory reagent or pharmaceutical use, including the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and laboratory reagents | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Certain highly processed products are low risk. Products included in this category, guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/46. See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Apiculture products for use in apiculture | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/13 See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Apiculture products not for use in apiculture | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | None |
| Egg products for use in animal feed | Medium | 15% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/15 See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Egg products for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/15 |
| Feeder rodents or lagomorphs and feeder chicks | Medium | 30% (inspection rate medium M3). | Guidance and import conditions for Rodentia and Lagomorpha to be used for feeding to reptiles, non-wild birds of prey and zoo animals are set out in IIN ABP/27 See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Fish oil for use in animal feed | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/9 See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Fish oil for use other than in animal feed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/9 |
| Intermediate products | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | Certain highly processed products are low risk. Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/20 See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| Manure – processed | Low | No routine inspections, only intelligence-led inspections. | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/17 |
| Pig bristle | Medium | 10% (inspection rate medium M2). | Guidance and import conditions are set out in IIN ABP/7A (untreated pig bristles from an African Swine Fever free country) and IIN ABP/7B (treated pig bristles) See note 2 for an explanation of medium risk inspection rates. |
| All other ABP commodities | Medium | 1% (inspection rate medium M1). | ABPs not listed in the tables on this page are medium risk with an inspection rate of 1%. |
Note 1
Channelling is where an ABP consignment must be moved directly from the point of entry to the approved point of destination. You must send confirmation of arrival to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Note 2
Medium risk commodities are subject to inspection rates between 1% and 30%.
The inspection rate depends on the commodity being imported and country it’s being imported from. There are 3 levels within medium risk that determine the inspection rate – M1, M2 and M3:
- M1: consequence of non-compliance with import conditions is likely to be manageable or acceptable (baseline inspection rate 1%)
- M2: consequences of non-compliance with import conditions could pose a significant risk to public or animal health (baseline inspection rate between 10% and 15%)
- M3: consequence of non-compliance with import conditions is likely to pose a significant risk to biosecurity or public health (baseline inspection rate 30%)
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