Importing Food from outside the EU

Every consignment of Product of Animal Origin (POAO) which originates or dispatched from countries outside the EU must enter the UK through designated Border Inspection Posts.

Are you importing food from outside EU?

Every consignment of Product of Animal Origin (POAO) which originates or dispatched from countries outside the EU must enter the UK through designated Border Inspection Posts. eg Southampton.

There is much EU legislation governing imports of these products and from time to time requirements and additional conditions may change. It is therefore beneficial to contact us, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to clarify any specific import conditions particular to your consignment prior to it being exported.

The following countries are EU Member states:

• Austria

• Belguim

• Cyprus

• The Czech Republic

• Denmark

• Estonia

• Finland

• France

• Germany

• Hungary

• Ireland

• Italy

• Latvia

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Malta

• The Netherlands

• Poland

• Portugal

• The Slovak republic

• Slovenia

• Spain

• Sweden

• United Kingdom

In all cases it is the owner and importer's responsibility to ensure they are aware of and comply with any legal requirements.

Contact Details:

Email:port.health@southampton.gov.uk
Tel: 023 8022 6631

Documentary requirements

The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations as amended (which implemented Council Directive 97/78/EC) require pre-notification of the arrival of a consignment containing Products of Animal Origin at any European Seaport Border Inspection Post (BIP), including Southampton. In practice this means presenting the relevant paperwork of a CVED and Health Certificate to this office in advance of the consignment arrival.