Animal Plant Health Agency
New Border Target Operating Model import controls begin on 31 January 2024.
You should prepare to meet the requirements now to avoid disruption to your business and supply chain.
Importers and import agents must use IPAFFS to notify authorities in Great Britain before the following goods arrive from EU and non-EU countries:
- live animals
- germinal products
- animal by-products (ABP)
- high-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)
- products of animal origin (POAO)
- composite food products
- plants and plant products
You do not need to notify authorities about imports from the Republic of Ireland of:
- ABP and HRFNAO
- POAO
- composite products
- plants and plant products
Before you start
Before you can use IPAFFS you must have a Government Gateway account.
If you do not have a Government Gateway account, you can set one up when you select start now.
Once youve set up your account youll be able to register for the Defra service you want to use, including the IPAFFS service.
If you already use other Defra services, you can register for IPAFFS by selecting register for more services.
If youre an import agent acting on behalf of an importer you must register for IPAFFS using your own business details. You should not select intermediaries on the Manage account screen in the IPAFFS service as this does not apply to IPAFFS users.
When you raise a notification in IPAFFS, you are responsible for the consignment from when it enters Great Britain until the authorities complete their checks.
Check import rules
Find out when you need to notify authorities about your goods and other rules you must follow to import:
- live animals and germinal products from the EU
- animal by-products from the EU
- high-risk food and feed not of animal origin from the EU
- products of animal origin from the EU
- live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin from non-EU countries
- composite products from the EU
- plants and plant products from the EU
- plants and plant products from non-EU countries to Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Get help
If you need technical help with import notifications:
- call the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) helpline on 0330 041 6999
- email APHAServiceDesk@apha.gov.uk
If you need help to complete import notifications for:
- live animals or POAO, email imports@apha.gov.uk
- HRFNAO, email imported.food@food.gov.uk
- plants and plant products, you can read the IPAFFS for plants guidance or email phsi-importers@apha.gov.uk
If you need help with your customs declaration
Contact HMRCfor help.
Last updated 5 January 2024 +show all updates
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A prompt has been added to prepare for new import controls which begin on 31 January 2024.
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Added a link to guidance on importing plants and plant products from non-EU third countries to Northern Ireland under 'Check import rules'. Added a link to IPAFFS for plants guidance in the 'Get help' section.
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Added information for import agents acting on behalf of an importer.
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Updated the section 'If you need help with your customs declaration'.
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Added a 'If you need help with your customs declaration' section.
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Updated to include plants and show change in rules from 1 January 2022 for imports from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain.
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Updated with new dates for the introduction of controls on imports of products of animal origin, animal by-products and high ris