The import of live amphibians of the order Caudata (salamanders and newts)
Find out how to import live amphibians of the order Caudata (salamanders and newts)
Applies to England and Wales
Documents
Details
This guidance applies only to imports of live amphibians of the order Caudata (salamanders and newts), as required under The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009, entering Great Britain (England and Wales) from outside of the United Kingdom, as required by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/320 on certain animal health protection measures for intra-Union trade in salamanders and the introduction into the Union of such animals in relation to the fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, as amended by The Import of, and Trade in, Animals and Animal Products (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, part 3, Regulation 67.
For information on importing or exporting live salamanders and newts to and from other UK territories and Crown Dependencies, contact:
Appropriate Establishments
To import live Caudata (salamanders and newts) into England and Wales from outside of the UK, you need access to a registered appropriate establishment. An appropriate establishment is a facility under the supervision of the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), where the animals can be quarantined for up to 6 weeks after the import.
To apply to register an appropriate establishment, you need to complete a BSAL1 application and produce a quarantine and biosecurity measures plan.
Submit both to the FHI allowing a minimum of 15 working days to process the application and complete the registration, an inspection may be required.
Importing live amphibians of the order Caudata
To import live amphibians of the order Caudata (such as salamanders and newts) the animals must be accompanied by the correct health certificate and be quarantined in an FHI registered appropriate establishment.
Notification of imports to the FHI
All imports of live Caudata (salamanders and newts) must be notified to the FHI giving a minimum of 5 working days’ notice prior to arrival so that arrangements can be made for quarantine inspection/ testing. Notifications are made using form BSAL2.
Importing into England and Wales from an EU country
From 1 January 2021 there are new processes that importers must follow, which are being introduced in stages. There are two stages applicable to imports of live animals, such as newts and salamanders.
Rules from 1 January 2021
To import live Caudata (salamanders and newts) into Great Britain (England and Wales) from the EU:
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your consignment must be accompanied by an animal health certificate using the correct template for imports of salamanders from the EU. The certificate must confirm that the consignment meets the animal health requirements for entry into England and Wales.
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Contact the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) in advance of making any import arrangements to confirm that you can import from the source country, the health certification requirements and the correct template to use.
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the animal health certificate must be issued and completed by the appropriate Competent Authority at the source site, your supplier should make this arrangement with them. The original, signed certificate must accompany the consignment.
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you or your Agent must use the UK’s Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) to pre-notify the FHI of your import at least one working day before the consignment is due to arrive. You can submit your notification up to 30 days in advance. You will need to give the EU exporter or their official veterinarian/ fish health inspector the unique notification number (UNN) that is produced on IPAFFS so it can be added to the health certificate which accompanies the consignment. You also need to upload a copy of the health certificate onto IPAFFS in advance of the import. Allow time for this when making the IPAFFS pre-notification.
In addition, you need:
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an EORI number
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to comply with customs requirements contact HMRC for more information.
Importing into England and Wales from a non-EU country
To import live Caudata (salamanders and newts) into Great Britain (England and Wales) from a non-EU country:
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your consignment must be accompanied by an animal health certificate using the correct template for imports of salamanders from non-EU countries. The certificate must confirm that the consignment meets the animal health requirements for entry into England and Wales. Contact the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) in advance of making any import arrangements to confirm that you can import from the source country, the health certification requirements and the correct template to use.
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the animal health certificate must be issued and completed by the appropriate competent authority at the source site, your supplier should make this arrangement with them. The original, signed certificate must accompany the consignment.
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your goods must enter through a UK Border Control Post (BCP) that can accept the type of goods, for documentary, identity and physical checks and customs clearance. You may need to pay for this service.
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you or your agent must use the UK’s Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) to pre-notify the BCP of your import at least one working day before the consignment is due to arrive. You can submit your notification up to 30 days in advance.
Importers or their Agents must also provide a written attestation to the BCP, signed by the operator responsible for the appropriate establishment stating:
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the name and address of the appropriate establishment of destination
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that the appropriate establishment of destination complies with the minimum conditions for appropriate establishments refer to the quarantine requirements
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that the consignment will be accepted for quarantine
Costs
All quarantine costs, testing costs and, where necessary, the costs of risk mitigation measures and treatments are borne by the operator or the importer.
The FHI will charge for the supervision of the quarantine process. This charge starts at £250 per consignment monitored, and for testing where required at a charge of £40 per animal.
Endangered species
You need a permit to import or export any species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Additional information can be found at:
Contacts
Fish Health Inspectorate
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm and Friday 9am to 4:30pm
01305 206700 fhi@cefas.co.uk
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
Telephone: 03000 200 301 imports@apha.gsi.gov.uk
Find out about call charges
Last updated 22 May 2023 + show all updates
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Removed section on rules around imports from 1 July 2022.
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Added reference to The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009.
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Changed the date from March 2022 to July 2022 for implementation as per Defra request to changes in legislation.
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Added line to explain page is under review.
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Name change from Border Inspection Post to Border Control Post.
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Additional text for Scotland and Northern Ireland added.
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First published.