Skip to main content
Guidance

Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues

Current issues relating to imports and exports of animals and animal products.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
Published:
23 March 2015
Last updated:
29 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. We have published further safeguard measures restricting the commercial import from Namibia of casings and untreated wool and hair derived from animals susceptible to foot and mouth disease (FMD), following an outbreak of FMD in Namibia confirmed on 23 September 2026.

  2. Great Britain has suspended the import of the following commodities from Namibia: fresh bovine, ovine and caprine meat; fresh meat from farmed and wild non-domestic ruminants. This is due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Namibia confirmed on 23 September 2026.  

  3. Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) has suspended the import of honeybees, apiculture products, and used beekeeping equipment from the Republic of Türkiye. This is due to an outbreak of Tropilaelaps mite reported on 31 August 2026.

  4. Great Britain has suspended the import of bovine embryos from Israel following confirmation of a lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreak on 20 August 2026. This is in addition to the suspension already in place for this commodity due to foot and mouth disease (FMD).

  5. The section relating to the restrictions imposed on Argentina following the HPAI outbreak in February 2026 has been updated to reflect that these restrictions no longer apply.

  6. New section added regarding the import of live equines to Great Britain from South Africa.

  7. Great Britain applies import restrictions to some some pig products from the EU due to African swine fever (ASF). Restrictions apply to pig semen from any EU member state affected by ASF. Restrictions also apply to live animals, fresh meat and some meat products, depending on the type of restricted zone it comes from.

  8. Lumpy Skin Disease in the European Union’ section has been updated to publish revised safeguard measures for Spain, Italy and France. This amendment allows foetal bovine serum to be exported to Great Britain, subject to specific criteria and the provision of supporting documentary evidence.

  9. The position of 'Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland)' didn't exist from May 2026 onwards. Updated to 'Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs (Scotland)' in the 'Small hive beetle in Italy (Lazio, Sicily and Calabria)' and 'Small hive beetle in Honduras' sections.

  10. The UK has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment into Great Britain from Lazio, Italy. This is due to an outbreak of small hive beetle (SHB). These measures are in addition to restrictions already in place for imports of these products from the regions of Calabria and Sicily in Italy.

  11. The UK has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment into Great Britain from Honduras. This is due to an outbreak of small hive beetle (SHB).

  12. The section on restrictions affecting Australia due to the HPAI outbreak in May 2024 has been updated, as these restrictions are no longer in effect following a recent assessment.

  13. Update to the 'Non-harmonised animal by-products' information in the Foot and mouth disease (FMD) section.

  14. Following an outbreak of Aujeszky’s disease in commercial porcine animals in the USA, we have restricted the import of porcine offal into Great Britain.

  15. The foot and mouth disease (FMD) section has been updated to publish safeguard declarations that apply for Greece.

  16. Updated the 'Foot and mouth disease - commercial import restrictions: EU' section to reflect an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Greece.

  17. The page has been revised to provide details on the import restrictions applied to Bosnia and Herzegovina due to a confirmed outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

  18. We have updated the 'Peste des petits ruminants import restrictions: European Union' section. This reflects recognition of Hungary as free of PPR.

  19. The page has been revised to provide details on the import restrictions applied to Argentina due to a confirmed outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

  20. We have updated the foot and mouth disease (FMD) section. Some restrictions have been lifted because Slovakia is now recognised as FMD-free, and there are new restrictions due to an outbreak of FMD in Cyprus.

  21. The foot and mouth disease (FMD) section has been updated to provide details on action taken due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Botswana.

  22. Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) has suspended the import of certain sheep and goat commodities from the Republic of North Macedonia following an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox (SPGP).

  23. Added the declaration of revocation of special measures in Wales under the 'Personal imports from the European Union' heading. This replaces earlier safeguard declarations.

  24. Following outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), we've published safeguard declarations that suspend the import of untreated wool, hair, skin and hides of sheep and goats from Croatia.

  25. We have consolidated sections on personal imports of certain products into Great Britain from the EU and published an updated measure combining the previous safeguards for England.

  26. Restrictions apply to imports of affected commodities from Croatia due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants (PPR). PPR restrictions are now consolidated into one section for all EU member states affected by PPR.

  27. Updated the 'Lumpy skin disease in the European Union' section to include information about the restrictions on certain germinal products of bovine origin from Spain.

  28. The section on restrictions that applied to Argentina, due to the outbreak of HPAI in August 2025, has been updated. This is because these restrictions no longer apply as Great Britain has recognised Argentina as free of HPAI.

  29. We have updated the 'Lumpy skin disease in the European Union' section. We have added information on closing dates for bovine germinal products from France and Italy.

  30. Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) has suspended the import of certain sheep and goat commodities from Serbia following an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox (SPGP). Safeguard measures have now been published for Spain following the outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD).

  31. Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) has suspended the imports of certain bovine products from Spain due to an outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD).

  32. Great Britain has published safeguarding declarations requiring that all dogs originating or dispatched from Romania require pre-import testing for Brucella canis. We have also published safeguarding declarations suspending the import of honey bees, apiculture products, and used beekeeping equipment from Ukraine.

  33. Updated the foot and mouth disease (FMD) commercial import restrictions section. This update reflects recognition of Hungary as free of FMD.

  34. Updated the sections about foot and mouth disease, African swine fever and peste des petits ruminants to reflect that safeguarding declarations for Scotland have now been replaced by The Animal Products (Control of Personal Importation) (Scotland) Order 2025.

  35. Import restrictions have been applied to Argentina as a result of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

  36. Updated safeguarding restrictions for imports of bovine animal by-products (ABPs) from Italy, France and Japan due to lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreaks. Following further assessment, restrictions on certain animal by-products of bovine origin have now been amended to exempt additional animal by-products from the restrictions and to allow alternative risk-mitigating treatment options for certain by-products.

  37. Updated the foot and mouth disease, African swine fever and peste des petits sections to reflect that safeguarding declarations for Wales have now been replaced by the Animal Health (Import Controls) (Wales) Order 2025.

  38. The section for lumpy skin disease in the European Union has been amended to publish updated safeguard declarations that remove the requirement for certain bovine milk and dairy products from France and Italy to have undergone a maturation process that commenced before 23 May 2025. The section on restrictions that applied to Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to the outbreak of HPAI in February 2025, has been updated. This is because these restrictions no longer apply as Great Britain has recognised Bosnia and Herzegovina as free of HPAI.

  39. The section for lumpy skin disease in the European Union has been updated to publish safeguard declarations on the import of certain products from France and Italy.

  40. Following an assessment Great Britain has lifted the import restrictions that applied to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil due to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

  41. The section for lumpy skin disease in Italy has been updated to reflect an additional outbreak of lumpy skin disease in France.

  42. The section titled 'Lumpy skin disease in Italy' has been updated to include links to published safeguard declarations that prohibit the import of certain bovine animal by-products from Italy due to an outbreak of lumpy skin disease. It also provides additional guidance on imports of bovine dairy products that have undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation.

  43. Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) has suspended the import of certain sheep and goat commodities from Romania following an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox (SPGP).

  44. Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) has suspended the imports of certain bovine products from Italy due to an outbreak of lumpy disease.

  45. The foot and mouth restrictions section has been updated. This update reflects recognition of Austria as free of foot and mouth disease and the removal of associated restrictions on commercial imports of affected animals and commodities.

  46. The foot and mouth disease (FMD) section has been updated to provide details on action taken due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Eswatini.

  47. Great Britain has suspended the import of certain sheep and goat commodities from Albania, following an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants.

  48. Information added on the UK recognising Bulgaria’s disease-free status for classical swine fever and the lifting of restrictions in place due to classical swine fever.

  49. The United Kingdom has approved France’s highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccination programme for commercial ducks. France can export to Great Britan meat and meat products obtained from ducks vaccinated against avian influenza and kept in establishments complying with the specific testing requirements.

  50. Due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Brazil, we have suspended the import of certain avian commodities from Rio Grande do Sul into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

  51. Measures applied to African swine fever (ASF) and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) continue to apply, alongside broader personal import measures implemented in response to foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Europe.

  52. The foot and mouth restrictions section has been updated. This update reflects recognition of Germany as free of foot and mouth disease.

  53. We've updated the list of bovine products that Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of from Japan to include offal, except diaphragm and masseter muscles. We also added a link for you to find out more information on restrictions for offal.

  54. Foot and mouth disease: we have published new personal import measures applying to the import of certain meat and dairy products for personal consumption from the EU, EFTA States, Faroe Islands and Greenland to Scotland.

  55. We have published new personal import measures applying to import of certain meat and dairy products for personal consumption from the EU, EFTA States, Faroe Islands and Greenland.

  56. Due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Hungary near the border with Austria, we have applied new restrictions on the import of certain animals and animal products to Great Britain from Austria. This includes commercial and personal imports.

  57. The foot and mouth restrictions section has been updated. This update reflects regionalisation of the containment zone around the outbreak in Germany. The section has also been redrafted to improve clarity around the restrictions.

  58. Due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Hungary near the border of Slovakia, we have applied new restrictions on the import of certain animals and animal products to Great Britain from Hungary and Slovakia. This includes commercial and personal imports.

  59. Due to an outbreak of HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) in a commercial poultry flock in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we have applied new restrictions on consignments of poultry meat and meat products from Bosnia and Herzegovina produced on or after 10 February 2025.

  60. Page amended to publish the safeguard declarations prohibiting the import of certain animal by-products and hay and straw from Germany due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease.

  61. Following outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), we've published declarations that suspend the import of untreated wool, hair, skin and hides of sheep and goats from Hungary. Individuals cannot currently bring any sheep or goat milk and milk products from Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, or Romania into Great Britain for personal consumption. We've added amended declarations to cover the addition of Hungary to this restriction in the 'Peste des petits ruminants import restrictions: European Union' section.

  62. Great Britain has suspended the import of certain sheep and goat commodities from Hungary, following an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants.

  63. Updated 'Declaration of special measures: importation of untreated wool and hair of susceptible animals for certain third countries and territories' content. Amended documentation to accompany permitted imports, to include 'importer declaration'.

  64. Added information about the import requirements relating to untreated wool and hides, and animal casings from species susceptible to foot and mouth disease from certain third countries and territories.

  65. Added information about the import restrictions relating to hoofed animals (ungulates) from the EU, EFTA states, the Faroe Islands and Greenland into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for personal consumption.

  66. Great Britain has suspended the import of certain animals and animal products to Great Britain from Germany, following an outbreak of FMD.

  67. Following outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), we've published declarations which suspend the following imports to Great Britain: - untreated wool, hair, skin and hinds of sheep and goat from Bulgaria - untreated wool, hair, skin and hinds of sheep and goat from Greece Individuals cannot currently bring any sheep or goat milk and milk products from Bulgaria, Greece or Romania into Great Britain for personal consumption. We've added amended declarations to cover the addition of Bulgaria to this restriction in the 'Peste des petits ruminants import restrictions: European Union' section.

  68. Great Britain has suspended the import of raw milk and raw milk products from Bulgaria. This is due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants.

  69. Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) has suspended the imports of bovine products from Japan due to an outbreak of lumpy disease.

  70. Information about lumpy skin disease in Europe has been removed because there are no restrictions in force.

  71. Added a new section about small hive beetle in the region of Sicily, Italy. The UK has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from the region of Sicily in Italy.

  72. Updated 'Bluetongue virus (BTV) in the EU and EFTA states' and 'Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe' sections to add information about movement restrictions and testing for susceptible animals imported from affected countries and countries within 150km of an affected country.

  73. Updated 'African swine fever (ASF) in the European Union and EFTA states' section, as new special measures apply from 27 September 2024.

  74. Added declarations suspending the import of ovine and caprine fresh or chilled skins and hides from Bulgaria to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

  75. Added a new section about sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the imports of the following ovine and caprine commodities from Bulgaria: live animals and germplasm.

  76. Added 'Peste des petits ruminants in European Union: declaration of special measures (Scotland)'

  77. From 22 August 2024, the peste des petits ruminants personal import restrictions will also apply to bringing certain sheep and goat products into Wales.

  78. From 21 August 2024, individuals can only bring certain sheep and goat products from the EU, EFTA states, the Faroe Islands and Greenland into England for personal consumption. This is due to the spread of peste des petits ruminants in Europe.

  79. Added declarations restricting the import of following sheep and goat commodities from Romania: untreated wool and hair, and fresh or chilled (untreated) skins and hides.

  80. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the import of the following sheep and goat commodities from Romania: raw milk and milk products, live animals and germplasm. This is due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants.

  81. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the import from Greece of raw milk and raw dairy products derived from sheep and goats. This is due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants in Greece.

  82. Added a new section on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Australia. The import of certain ratite products is suspended from Australia to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for consignments produced on or after 22 May 2024.

  83. The declarations revoking special measures for sheep pox and goat pox in Spain and Bulgaria for England, Scotland and Wales are in effect from 17 April 2024.

  84. Added declarations revoking special measures for sheep pox and goat pox in Spain and Bulgaria for England, Scotland and Wales. Removed previous declarations.

  85. The restrictions on the import of ovine and caprine live animals and germplasm from Spain and Bulgaria have been lifted.

  86. The restrictions on the import of poultry, ratite and wild game bird meat into Great Britain from Argentina have been lifted.  

  87. Added guidance about import restrictions for domestic and wild pig meat products from Montenegro into Great Britain due to African Swine Fever.

  88. The temporary suspension of imports of ovine and caprine commodities from Greece includes fresh or chilled skins and hides. We have published the declaration of special measures for sheep pox and goat pox in Greece.

  89. Information has been added about sheep pox and goat pox in Greece.

  90. Updated import requirements for exporting live ruminants from bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) affected countries to Great Britain. Also removed Switzerland from the list of confirmed outbreaks epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe.

  91. Updated guidance for imports of live ruminants from countries with bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3). Added outbreak of epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHC) in Switzerland on 10 October.

  92. Updated information about bluetongue virus (BTV) in Europe.

  93. Updated dates of the epizootic haemorrhagic disease outbreaks in Europe.

  94. Updated information on epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe.

  95. Added a new section for sheep and goat pox in Bulgaria. From 29 September, live sheep and goats and certain sheep and goat products from Bulgaria have been temporarily restricted from entering Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

  96. Updated guidance on bluetongue virus (BTV) in Europe.

  97. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has recognised Belgium’s bluetongue virus disease-free status. Added guidance on imports of live ungulates from Belgium to Great Britain.

  98. Added information for the lifting of reinforced controls for beef, poultry meat and meat products from Brazil.

  99. From 23 June 2023, Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) have suspended the import of live cervids and high risk cervid products, including urine hunting lures, from countries where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been reported.

  100. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has resumed imports from HPAI-free areas of Chile.

  101. From 26 May 2023: 1. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment from Réunion, an overseas territory of France. 2. Great Britain has resumed the export of fresh meat and by-products of ungulates from FMD-free areas of Botswana to England, Scotland and Wales. 3. Scotland has amended their declaration of special measures for small hive beetle in Calabria, Italy.

  102. Updated the 'Changes to the minimum surveillance period for imports of poultry and poultry products (including ratites) from bird flu affected countries' section to include ratites and add the revised model health certificates.

  103. Added new sections for 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Chile' and 'Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe'.

  104. Imports of poultry, ratite and wild game bird meat into Great Britain from Argentina that were slaughtered on or after 28 February 2023 are suspended. Meat products of poultry and farmed feathered game must be heat treated to 70°C throughout the meat (heat treatment ‘D’). The requirement for heat treatment ‘D’ already applies to wild game birds.

  105. Updated the 'Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK' section. The surveillance period for imports of live animals and fresh poultry meat from highly pathogenic avian influenza control zones has reduced from 90 days to 30 days.

  106. Updated the Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk status of trading partners section.

  107. The UK has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment into Great Britain from the region of Calabria in Italy.

  108. The import of raw milk and milk products is no longer restricted from Spain. This follows a risk assessment by Defra finding that these commodities do not pose an unacceptable level of risk to Great Britain.

  109. Added fresh or chilled skins and hides to the list of sheep and goat products that are temporarily restricted from entering Great Britain from Spain.

  110. Added an amendment to the declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania (Scotland). Documents that show proof of registration or approval of a premises must be issued within 6 months.

  111. Added an amendment to the declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania (Wales). Documents that show proof of registration or approval of a premises must be issued within 6 months.

  112. Added an amendment to the declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania from 29 October (England). Documents that show proof of registration or approval of a premises must be issued within 6 months.

  113. From 28 October 2022, the import of fresh poultry meat from Japan into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is suspended.

  114. Approved Importer status for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania applies to Wales from 1 November 2022.

  115. Added how to apply for Approved Importer status from 29 October 2022 if you commercially import dogs, cats and ferrets into England that originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine.

  116. Removed ‘fresh or chilled skins and hides’ from the list of sheep and goat products from Spain that are restricted from entering Great Britain.

  117. Added a new section for the lifting of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) import restrictions from Japan.

  118. Added a new section for sheep and goat pox in Spain. From 30 September, live sheep and goats and certain sheep and goat products from Spain are temporarily restricted from entering Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

  119. Added new section on foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana. Great Britain has temporarily suspended exports of fresh meat and by-products of ungulates from the whole of Botswana if they were processed after 28 July 2022.

  120. Great Britain’s temporary suspension of the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, has been extended until 29 October 2022.

  121. Added African Swine Fever (ASF) special measures. From 1 September, pork and pork products over 2kg are prohibited from entering Great Britain unless they have been produced to EU commercial standards.

  122. Edited the guidance under the 'Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) status for Canada and Ireland' heading.

  123. The World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OiE) has updated the risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) from 'controlled' to 'negligible' for Canada and Ireland.

  124. Added 4 new documents to revoke safeguard measures for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America.

  125. Great Britain’s temporary suspension of the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, has been extended until 3 September 2022.

  126. 6 updated documents have been uploaded for 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America'; 1. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in the USA: declaration of special measures (England)' | 2. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in the USA: declaration of special measures (Scotland)' | 3. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in USA: declaration of special measures (Wales)' | 4. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada: declaration of special measures (England)' | 5. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada: declaration of special measures (Scotland)' | 6. 'Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada: declaration of special measures (Wales)'.

  127. Updated the declarations under the 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America' heading.

  128. Great Britain’s temporary suspension of the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, has been extended until 9 July 2022.

  129. Declarations of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania will be replaced with new declarations from 14 May 2022.

  130. Updated the declarations under the 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America' heading.

  131. Added the Declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania to Wales.

  132. Updated the USA declarations under the 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America' heading to reflect new outbreaks in the United States.

  133. Declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus. Poland and Romania to Scotland.

  134. England has temporarily suspended the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been dispatched from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland or Romania, until 14 May 2022.

  135. Updated the USA declarations under the 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canada and the United States of America' heading to reflect new outbreaks in the United States.

  136. Updated the section ‘Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK’. Replaced the USA avian influenza declarations for England, Wales and Scotland with new versions.

  137. Updated the section ‘Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK’. There are multiple outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the US and Canada. Imports to Great Britain of relevant poultry and poultry products (including hatching eggs and day old chicks) from affected regions of Canada and the United States are no longer authorised.

  138. Updated the sections about bluetongue virus, African swine fever, chronic wasting disease and lumpy skin disease.

  139. Added safeguarding measures on feeder rodents imported from Lithuania.

  140. Updated the section 'Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK'. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) import restrictions for Ukraine and Australia have been lifted.

  141. Added information regarding Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Botswana and the suspension of imports of certain animals and products from Botswana.

  142. Updated the information under the 'Avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK' heading to reflect the UK is now free from avian influenza.

  143. Updated following the confirmation of low pathogenic avian influenza at a commercial chicken farm in Mid Suffolk.

  144. New advice on African swine fever added. Advice updated on avian influenza (bird flu), bluetongue virus and lumpy skin disease. Crabs from Anglesey still cannot be exported to Hong Kong. Continued restrictions on trade of agricultural commodities to the Russian Federation until December 2019.

  145. Avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK section updated: trade unaffected following findings of bird flu in wild birds in England. Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK section updated: new strain of HPAI detected in wild birds in Northern Europe.

  146. Bluetongue virus in Europe section added and updated the chronic wasting disease and lumpy skin disease sections.

  147. Avian influenza in the UK section updated: the UK has declared itself free from highly pathogenic avian influenza today.

  148. Updated the guidance on avian influenza in Europe and the UK, lumpy skin disease in Europe, and restrictions on trade of agricultural commodities to the Russian Federation.

  149. Updated in the light of the case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) confirmed in turkeys on a poultry farm near Louth in Lincolnshire on 16 December 2016.

  150. Updated information about avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK, lumpy skin disease in Europe and chronic wasting disease in Norway.

  151. Added information on the UK becoming officially free of notifiable avian influenza.

  152. Published an update on lumpy skin disease in Bulgaria and updated content under other headings.

  153. Avian influenza (bird flu) section updated: the UK has today declared itself free from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

  154. Updated the section on Avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK.

  155. Updated the section on: Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK

  156. Avian Influenza section updated as final cleansing has now been done.

  157. Added new section on Lumpy skin disease in Greece. Removed the section on changes to the import requirements of intermediate products.

  158. We've made a further about to the information about exports of crabs to Hong Kong.

  159. Updated the section dealing with export of live crabs to China and Hong Kong.

  160. Updated to reflect lifting of avian influenza (bird flu) restrictions in Lancashire on 16 August 2015.

  161. Updated Restrictions on trade of agricultural commodities to the Russian Federation as ban has been extended to 2016.

  162. Avian influenza: United Kingdom (UK) notification of regionalisation added.

  163. Added line on outbreak of avian influenza in the commune of Herzlake, Lower Saxony, Germany.

  164. Section on bird flu in the UK updated to reflect a confirmed case at a farm in Lancashire. Page reordered - it now leads with the most recently updated item.

  165. Section on bird flu in the UK updated to reflect a suspect case at a farm in Lancashire.

  166. Amended the following sections: Avian Influenza (AI) outbreaks in the UK: availability of Export Health Certificates; Low Pathogenic Outbreak of Avian Influenza in the UK.

  167. Updated the Live crabs to China: residue testing section.

  168. Added information around horse imports from third countries.

  169. Added information about a new methodology for determining cadmium levels in foods.

  170. Added information about live crab exports to China.

  171. First published.

This page provides details on particular issues or changes that importers and exporters may need to be aware of.

You can view all of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra’s) guidance and forms for:

Defra’s animal disease monitoring collection covers major, notifiable or new and emerging animal disease outbreaks internationally and in the UK.

Tropilaelaps mite: Republic of Türkiye  

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of honeybees, apiculture products, and used beekeeping equipment from the Republic of Türkiye due to an outbreak of Tropilaelaps mite reported on 31 August 2026. 

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs (Scotland). 

Read the: 

These special measures apply from 4 September 2026 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Lumpy skin disease in Israel

Great Britain has suspended the import of bovine embryos from Israel following confirmation of a lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreak on 20 August 2026. This is in addition to the suspension already in place for this commodity due to foot and mouth disease (FMD).

Read the restrictions in the ‘bovine embryos’ list of the non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Argentina  

Following an assessment, Great Britain has lifted the import restrictions that were implemented in February 2026 due to an outbreak of HPAI in Argentina. This means that:

• imports of poultry, ratite and wild game bird meat may resume
• the treatment category for meat products of poultry and farmed feathered game (including ratites) has been amended from ‘D’ to ‘A’, meaning no specific heat treatment is required

Read the restrictions in the ‘Poultry and poultry products’ and ‘Meat products’ lists of non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Import of live equines from South Africa

Following an assessment of African horse sickness (AHS) control measures in South Africa’s controlled AHS zone, Great Britain now permits the import of registered horses from the approved vector-protected quarantine station in Cape Town, South Africa. Imports are only permitted where all relevant UK import conditions are met, including the requirements set out in the export certificate.

Read the ‘Equidae and Semen, Ova and Embryos of Equidae’ list of non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

African swine fever (ASF) import restrictions: EU member states

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) applies import restrictions on some wild and domestic porcine (pig) commodities from EU member states with ASF.

You cannot import porcine semen to Great Britain from any area of an EU member state affected by ASF.

Import restrictions for other products depend on where they come from and the local restrictions. Great Britain recognises the following ASF restricted zones applied by EU member states.

Restricted zone I (RZI)

An RZI is an area neighbouring an RZII or RZIII.

From an RZI, you cannot import:

  • live non-domestic porcine animals
  • meat of wild porcine animals, unless subject to treatment (treatment ‘C’ or above)

Restricted zone II (RZII)

An RZII is an area with confirmed ASF outbreaks in wild porcine animals (pigs).

From an RZII, you cannot import:

  • live domestic and non-domestic porcine animals
  • meat of domestic porcine animals, unless subject to treatment (treatment ‘D’ or above)
  • meat of wild porcine animals, unless subject to treatment (treatment ‘C’ or above)

Restricted zone III (RZIII)

An RZIII is an area with confirmed ASF outbreaks in kept (domestic) porcine animals (pigs).

From an RZIII, you cannot import:

  • live domestic and non-domestic porcine animals
  • meat of domestic and wild porcine animals, unless subject to treatment (treatment ‘C’ or above)

Import restrictions for specific commodities

Further details on import restrictions for specific commodities can be found at ‘EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain’ in the lists ‘Live ungulates’, ‘Fresh meat of ungulates’, ‘Meat products’ and ‘Porcine semen’.

List of ASF restricted zones

ASF restricted zones are published at ‘Animal health status of countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain’, which is regularly updated to reflect the ASF restricted zones defined in EU legislation.

Small hive beetle in Italy (Lazio, Sicily and Calabria)

The UK has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from the regions of Lazio, Sicily and Calabria in Italy. This is due to an ongoing outbreak of small hive beetle. These measures are necessary to protect domestic bee health in the UK.

The following safeguard measures give effect to these decisions and are published on behalf of the relevant ministers for England, Wales and Scotland at the time of publishing.

Lazio

Read the:

These special measures apply to Lazio, Italy from 13 June 2026 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Sicily

Read the:

These special measures apply to Sicily, Italy from 1 November 2024 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Calabria

Read the:

These special measures apply to Calabria, Italy from 17 January 2023 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Small hive beetle in Honduras

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment from Honduras. This is due to an outbreak of small hive beetle. These measures are necessary to protect bee health in Great Britain.

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs (Scotland).

Read the:

These special measures apply from 10 June 2026 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Australia   

Following an assessment, Great Britain has lifted the import restrictions that were implemented due to an outbreak of HPAI in Australia in May 2024. This means that imports of the following live ratites and ratite products can resume:

  • fresh ratite meat  
  • breeding and productive ratites
  • day-old ratites 
  • hatching eggs of ratites 

Read the ‘Poultry and poultry products’ list of non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Aujeszky’s import restrictions: United States of America

Imports of porcine offal from the United States of America into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) are suspended from 1 May 2026. This measure has been introduced following confirmation on 30 April 2026 of an outbreak of Aujeszky’s disease in a commercial pig holding.

In addition, footnote ‘l’ has been added for the USA’s entry in the ‘meat products’ list. This footnote specifies that domestic porcine offal used in meat products must undergo treatment ‘C’ or above.

Imports of fresh porcine meat and meat products (excluding offal) continue to be permitted. For porcine meat products that do not contain domestic porcine offal, Treatment ‘A’ (non-specific treatment) or higher remains sufficient.

Read the restrictions in the ‘Fresh meat of ungulates’ and ‘meat products’ list of the Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD)

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) import restrictions: Namibia 

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of the following commodities from Namibia from 25 September 2026: 

  • fresh bovine meat 
  • fresh ovine and caprine meat 
  • fresh meat from farmed and wild non-domestic ruminants 

This is due to an outbreak of FMD confirmed on 23 September 2026.  

Read the ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ list of Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information. 

Amendments have been made to the casings and wool and hair measures accordingly.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) import restrictions: Botswana

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of the following commodities from Botswana produced from 30 December 2025:

  • fresh bovine meat
  • fresh ovine and caprine meat
  • fresh meat from farmed and wild non-domestic ruminants  

This is due to an outbreak of FMD confirmed on 29 January 2026.

Read the ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ list of Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information.

Commercial import restrictions: Eswatini

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of the following commodities from Eswatini:

  • fresh bovine meat
  • fresh meat from farmed and wild game ungulates

This is due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) confirmed on 19 May 2025.

Read the ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ list of Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information.

Amendments have been made to the hay and straw and certain ABPs, casings and wool and hair measures accordingly.

Commercial import restrictions: EU

Outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) have been reported in:

  • Greece on 16 March 2026
  • Cyprus on 20 February 2026
  • Slovakia on 21 March 2025
  • Hungary on 7 March 2025 (with an additional outbreak reported near the Austrian border on 26 March 2025)
  • Germany on 10 January 2025

There are restrictions in place on the import of the following commodities from Cyprus and Greece:

  • live (including non-domestic) ruminant and porcine animals, including wild game, and their germplasm
  • fresh meat from ruminant and porcine animals (including chilled and frozen), including wild game
  • meat products from ruminant and porcine animals that have not been subject to specific treatment D1, D, C or B (including wild game)
  • milk, colostrum and their products, unless subjected to treatment as defined in Article 4 of Regulation 2010/605
  • certain animal by-products
  • hay and straw
  • casings

These restrictions are set out in the relevant lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain and in the following safeguard declarations. 

The United Kingdom now recognises Germany, Hungary and Slovakia as FMD-free without vaccination. Restrictions on Austria that were initially implemented due to outbreaks on the Hungary-Austria border have also been lifted. This means the export of affected commodities from Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia can take place, provided that all other import conditions are met and attestations in the relevant export health certificate can be certified.

Amendments have been made to the relevant lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain and the hay and straw and certain ABPs, casings and wool and hair safeguard measures, accordingly.

Declaration of special measures: hay and straw and certain animal by-products

Restrictions on the import of hay and straw and certain animal by-products from Cyprus are given effect in the following safeguard measures. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

The special measures for Slovakia which applied from 18 September 2025 are revoked from 24 February 2026.

The special measures for Germany that applied from 25 March 2025 were revoked with effect from 15 May 2025.

The special measures for Hungary that applied from 25 June 2025 were revoked with effect from 18 September 2025.

The special measures for Cyprus apply from 24 February 2026. The special measures for Greece apply from 19 March 2026.

Declaration of special measures: importation of untreated wool and hair of susceptible animals for certain third countries and territories

Imports of untreated wool and hair of species susceptible to FMD (except porcines) are only permitted from countries or zones that are recognised as free of FMD by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Imports must also be accompanied by:

  • a commercial document, or importer declaration (if applicable)
  • the health certificate provided in the safeguard declaration (only applicable to countries with FMD that are exporting from FMD-free zones)

Safeguard declarations give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland) and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales).

For England and Wales, these special measures apply from 17 January 2025. They continue to apply as amended from 30 September 2026 until they are revoked.

For Scotland, this measure applies from 30 September 2026 until it is revoked or amended. This measure replaces the measure published on 18 March 2026.

Declaration of special measures: importation of animal casings of susceptible animals for certain third countries and territories

Imports of animal casings of species susceptible to FMD, classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine fever (ASF) without specific risk mitigating treatment are only permitted from EU and EFTA countries and non-EU countries or zones that are both:

For countries or zones that are not recognised as free of FMD and/or not approved to export fresh meat of the relevant species, the casings must:

  • come from holdings that are not under restrictions due to notifiable diseases in Annex 4 of the following special measure
  • have been subjected to a risk mitigating treatment as set out in the relevant model export health certificate

These declarations of special measures are necessary to prevent the incursion of FMD, CSF and ASF into the United Kingdom. Susceptible species mean bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine animals. Safeguard declarations give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland) and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales).

For England and Wales, these special measures apply from 17 January 2025. They continue to apply as amended from 30 September 2026 until they are revoked.

For Scotland, this measure applies from 30 September 2026 until it is revoked or amended. This measure replaces the measure published on 18 March 2026.

Non-harmonised animal by-products

Importers of non-harmonised animal by-products or display items originating from Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, or Slovakia, which were obtained from  FMD susceptible animals, must apply to the Centre for International Trade, Carlisle, using the IV58 application form. Approval to import will be subject to a satisfactory assessment of the application. These products must not be imported without an accompanying specific import authorisation.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Bosnia and Herzegovina

The following restrictions apply to imports into Great Britain from Bosnia and Herzegovina from 25 February 2026:

  • imports of poultry meat are suspended
  • poultry meat products must be heat treated to 70°C throughout the meat (heat treatment ‘D’)

This is due to the confirmation of an HPAI outbreak on 25 February 2026 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Read the restrictions in the ‘Poultry and poultry products’ and ‘Meat Products’ lists of the Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Peste des petits ruminants import restrictions: European Union

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of the following sheep and goat commodities from Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia:

  • live animals
  • germplasm
  • raw milk and raw milk products
  • untreated wool and hair
  • fresh or chilled (untreated) skins and hides

This is due to outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) that were confirmed on:

  • 11 July 2024 for Greece
  • 19 July 2024 for Romania
  • 25 November 2024 for Bulgaria
  • 13 December 2025 for Croatia

For more information, read the lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for:

  • live ungulates
  • ovine and caprine ova and embryos
  • ovine and caprine semen
  • milk and milk products

For restrictions on untreated wool and hair and on fresh or chilled (untreated) skins and hides, the following safeguard declarations give effect to this decision. They are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Greece:

These safeguard declarations apply from 18 December 2024 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Romania:

These special measures apply from 26 July 2024 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Bulgaria:

These special measures apply from 18 December 2024 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Croatia:

These safeguard declarations apply from 19 December 2025 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Following recognition of Hungary’s PPR freedom, the special measures for Hungary that applied from 1 February 2025 have been revoked with effect from 27 February 2026 through the following revocations:

Sheep pox and goat pox: Republic of North Macedonia

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of fresh or chilled (untreated) hides and skins of sheep and goats from the Republic of North Macedonia.

This is due to an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox (SPGP) in the Republic of North Macedonia that was confirmed on 27 January 2026.

In addition, imports of untreated wool and hair of sheep and goats are now only permitted if they are: 

  • dry and securely enclosed in packaging; and
  • sent directly to a plant producing derived products for uses outside the feed chain or a plant carrying out intermediate operations under conditions which prevent the spread of pathogenic agents

The following safeguard declarations give effect to this decision for untreated hides and skins. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

These special measures apply from 3 February 2026 until they are revoked or amended.

Personal imports from the European Union

Individuals cannot bring certain products of ruminant and porcine origin from the European Union (EU), EEA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for personal consumption. This is due to animal disease outbreaks across the EU.

This applies to the fresh meat, meat products, milk, dairy products, colostrum, colostrum products and certain composite products and animal by-products of ruminant and porcine origin.  

Exemptions from these rules include:

  • infant milk
  • medical foods
  • certain low-risk composite products (including chocolate, confectionery, bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta and food supplements containing less than 20% animal products)  

The following safeguard measure gives effect to this decision for England:

This safeguard measure applies from 18 December 2025 until it is revoked or amended and replaces earlier safeguard declarations. 

The Animal Health (Import Controls) (Wales) Order 2025  gives effect to this decision for Wales, with effect from 8 August 2025. It replaces earlier safeguard declarations which are revoked by the following declaration:

The Animal Products (Control of Personal Importation) (Scotland) Order 2025 gives effect to this decision for Scotland, with effect from 23 August 2025. It replaces earlier safeguard declarations which are revoked by the following declaration:

Lumpy skin disease in the European Union

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of the following bovine commodities from Italy, France and Spain: 

  • live animals  
  • germplasm (unless collected prior to 21 December 2024 for Italy, 29 December 2024 for France and 3 April 2025 for Spain)
  • offal (except diaphragm and masseter muscles) 
  • raw milk and raw dairy products, including raw colostrum
  • certain animal by-products (including hides and skins) unless processed to mitigate the risk of lumpy skin disease (read the safeguard declaration)

This is due to outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) confirmed in Italy on 21 June 2025, in France on 29 June 2025 and in Spain on 3 October 2025.  

For restrictions on live bovine animals, their germplasm, bovine offal (except diaphragm and masseter muscles) and raw bovine milk and dairy products, read the ‘live ungulates’, ‘bovine embryos’, ‘bovine semen’, ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ and ‘milk and milk products’ lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

For restrictions on the commercial import of affected animal by-products of bovine origin, the safeguard declarations that follow give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs (Scotland) and the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability (Wales).

Italy:

France:

Spain:

The measures replace those previously published and apply from 26 June 2026 until they are revoked or amended.

Import of cheeses

Bovine dairy products that have undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation can be imported.

This means that the import of cheeses that have been subject to a form of heat treatment during the production process is permitted, provided that all other import conditions are met, supporting information on treatments applied is provided, and attestations in the relevant export health certificate (GBHC416) can be certified.

Import of Foetal Bovine Serum

Exports of untreated foetal bovine serum to Great Britain from France, Italy and Spain are now permitted if: 

  • the foetal bovine serum is subjected to a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for LSD using the Bowden et al assay at an accredited laboratory and a negative result is returned, or 
  • the foetal bovine serum was collected before the closing date (21 December 2024 for Italy, 29 December 2024 for France, 3 April 2025 for Spain) 

Relevant supporting documentary evidence must be provided as set out in the updated safeguard measures.

Sheep pox and goat pox: Serbia 

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of the following commodities from Serbia:  

  • fresh or chilled (untreated) hides and skins of sheep and goats 
  • hay and straw 

This is due to an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox (SPGP) in Serbia that was confirmed on 18 September 2025. 

In addition, imports of untreated wool and hair of sheep and goats are now only permitted if they are:  

  • dry and securely enclosed in packaging; and  
  • sent directly to a plant producing derived products for uses outside the feed chain or a plant carrying out intermediate operations under conditions which prevent the spread of pathogenic agents

The following safeguard declarations give effect to this decision for untreated hides and skins and hay and straw. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland) and the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales). 

These special measures apply from 9 October 2025 until they are revoked or amended.  

Serbia has additionally been removed from the general authorisation for the import of hay and straw: IMP/GEN/2025/10.

Commercial movement of dogs from Romania: Brucella canis testing 

Due to an increase in cases of Brucella canis in Great Britain, all dogs originating in or dispatched from Romania require pre-import testing for Brucella canis. Only dogs returning a negative result may be permitted for import. In addition:  

  • the negative test alongside other supporting documents must be added to the Import of Products, Animals, Food, and Feed System (IPAFFS) 2 working days prior to travel
  • the dog must enter Great Britain no later than 30 calendar days following the date on which its blood sample was collected

Guidance is available at: Brucella canis - testing dogs before import. 

The safeguard declarations that follow give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland) and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales). 

Read the: 

These safeguard measures apply from 7 October 2025 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Import of honey bees from Ukraine

Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) has suspended the import of honey bees, apiculture products, and used beekeeping equipment from Ukraine due to limited surveillance for the Tropilaelaps mite. 

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland). 

Read the: 

These special measures apply from 7 October 2025 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Lumpy skin disease in Japan

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of the following bovine commodities from Japan:

  • offal, except diaphragm and masseter muscles
  • raw milk and raw dairy products, including raw colostrum
  • certain animal by-products (including hides and skins) unless processed to mitigate the risk of lumpy skin disease (read the safeguard declaration)

This is due to an outbreak of lumpy skin disease in Japan that was confirmed on 6 November 2024.

For restrictions on offal, read the ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ list of non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

For restrictions on raw milk and raw dairy products, read the ‘milk and milk products’ list of non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

For restrictions on affected animal by-products of bovine origin, the safeguard declarations below give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland) and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales).

These measures replace those previously published and apply from 12 August 2025 until they are revoked or amended.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Brazil 

Following an assessment of Brazil’s disease status, Great Britain has lifted the import restrictions that were placed on the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil due to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed on 15 May 2025 for: 

  • fresh poultry, ratite and wild game bird meat  
  • meat products of poultry, ratites and wild game birds that have not been subject to specific treatment ‘D’ (heat treatment to a minimum internal temperature of 70°C) or higher  
  • breeding and productive poultry and ratites  
  • day-old chicks, including day-old chicks of ratites  
  • hatching eggs of poultry and ratites  

Read the ‘poultry and poultry products’ and ‘meat products’ lists of non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information.

Sheep pox and goat pox: Romania 

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of the following sheep and goat commodities from Romania following an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox (SPGP) that was confirmed on 17 June 2025: 

  • live animals 
  • germplasm 
  • fresh or chilled skins and hides 

Imports of these commodities are already suspended due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) that was confirmed on 19 July 2024. These commodities are now also restricted due to the SPGP outbreak.  

For restrictions on live animals and germplasm, read the ‘live ungulates’, ‘ovine and caprine ova and embryos’ and ‘ovine and caprine semen’ lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain. 

For restrictions on fresh or chilled skins and hides, the safeguard declarations that follow give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

These special measures apply from 27 June 2025 until they are revoked or amended.

Peste des petits ruminants import restrictions: Albania

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of untreated wool and hair from ovine and caprine animals from Albania. This is due to an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) that was confirmed on 4 June 2025.

The following safeguard declarations give effect to this decision. They are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales) and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

These safeguard declarations apply from 11 June 2025 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Classical swine fever (CSF) disease freedom: Bulgaria

Following an assessment, the United Kingdom has recognised Bulgaria’s disease-free status for CSF. Restrictions on the import to Great Britain from Bulgaria due to CSF are lifted from 30 May 2025 for:

  • fresh porcine meat
  • porcine meat products

Read the ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ and ‘meat products’ lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information.

Import restrictions relating to Bulgaria’s African swine fever status remain in place.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccination programme approval in commercial duck farms: France 

The United Kingdom approved France’s highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccination programme in commercial duck farms on 22 May 2025.   

This means that, from 22 May 2025, France is able to export meat and meat products obtained from ducks vaccinated against avian influenza and kept in establishments complying with additional testing requirements agreed between Great Britain and France.  

Products from vaccinated ducks produced before 22 May 2025 may be exported to Great Britain provided they can comply with the requirements of the export health certificate, which includes the additional testing requirements. 

Read the ‘poultry and poultry products’ list of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information.

Sheep pox and goat pox outbreak in Bulgaria

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has temporarily suspended the imports of the following ovine and caprine commodities from Bulgaria:

  • live animals
  • germplasm
  • fresh or chilled skins and hides

This follows an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox that was confirmed on 4 September 2024. Bulgaria has now lost its status as free from sheep pox and goat pox as a result of this outbreak.

Read the ‘live ungulates’, ‘ovine and caprine ova and embryos’ and ‘ovine and caprine semen’ lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

For restrictions on fresh or chilled skins and hides, the safeguard declarations below give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland) and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Wales).

These special measures apply from 12 September 2024 until they are revoked or amended.

African swine fever (ASF) import restrictions: Montenegro

From 23 January 2024, the heat treatment applied to the import of domestic and wild pig meat products from Montenegro into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has changed.

The heat treatment category for domestic porcine, farmed cloven-hoofed game (swine) and wild swine has changed from ‘D’ (minimum temperature of 70ºC) to ‘C’ (minimum temperature 80ºC).

An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) was confirmed in wild boar in Montenegro on 14 January 2024. These measures will remain in place until Montenegro is recognised by the UK as disease free for ASF.

Read the ‘meat products’ list of non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain for more information about affected commodities.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) in the EU and EFTA states

The bluetongue guidance covers the latest situation and advice on measures to protect against the disease.

There are mandatory requirements for imports from all EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries to Great Britain of: 

  • BTV susceptible animals – that is, ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats and cervids (deer), and camelids such as alpacas and llamas
  • germinal products (semen, ova and embryos) of susceptible animals

Importing animals

When importing susceptible animals from countries with BTV to Great Britain:

  • the country you import from must be listed for the relevant species on the ‘live ungulates’ list of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain
  • you must comply with the vaccination requirements outlined in supplementary guarantee ‘A’ of the relevant health certificates
  • you must not move susceptible animals from countries with the BTV-3 serotype of bluetongue to Great Britain – this is because there is no fully approved vaccine for BTV-3 with a guaranteed period of immunity, so it’s not possible to comply with the health certificate requirements

In addition:

  • you should only source animals that have a reliable health status
  • you should test animals to ensure they are clear of infection before they travel to Great Britain
  • you should speak to your private veterinarian about putting in place controls to help prevent the introduction of BTV

Movement restrictions and testing after import 

If you import susceptible animals from an affected country or a country within 150km of an affected country, APHA will contact you after import to arrange for the animals to be tested to confirm they are free of BTV. APHA will also place the animals under movement restrictions until it has confirmed they are disease free. You must not move the animals from the destination premises until you receive this confirmation. The process can take up to 2 weeks. 

Imported animals that test positive for BTV may be culled or returned to the country of origin. Any animals that travelled in the same vehicle that are at risk of becoming infected may also be culled or returned. No compensation will be paid for the culled or returned animals.  

If the animals you’ve imported test positive for BTV, you’ll be restricted from moving any susceptible animals on or off the destination premises until APHA has confirmed that the disease has not spread.

Importing germinal products

When importing the germinal products of susceptible animals from countries with BTV to Great Britain:

More information

For more information on import requirements:

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) outside the UK

From 23 June 2023, Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) have suspended the import of live cervids and high risk cervid products, including urine hunting lures, from countries where CWD has been reported.

In addition, fresh cervid meat cannot be imported into Great Britain from countries affected with CWD unless it complies with the supplementary guarantee in the relevant health certificate.

CWD has been reported in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Canada, USA and the Republic of Korea.

The following safeguard measures give effect to these decisions. They are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

These special measures apply from 23 June 2023 until they are revoked or amended.

For more information about the risk of CWD being introduced into Great Britain, read the qualitative risk assessments.

Find out the countries, territories and regions approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Europe

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) was recently reported for the first time in Europe and is now spreading. Outbreaks of EHD have been confirmed in: 

  • Italy on 8 November 2022 
  • Spain on 18 November 2022 
  • Portugal on 19 July 2023 
  • France on 19 September 2023

Importing animals and germinal products

These outbreaks affect animal health certification for imports into Great Britain of: 

  • live cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other ruminants 
  • germinal products (semen, ova and embryos) of cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other ruminants 

Imports of these animals or products from EHD-affected countries must meet the requirements of the relevant health certificate. 

Read how to prevent, spot and report epizootic haemorrhagic disease for information on the latest situation, outbreak assessments, and advice on measures to protect against the disease.

Movement restrictions and testing after import 

If you import susceptible animals from an affected country or a country within 150km of an affected country, APHA will contact you after import to arrange for the animals to be tested to confirm they are free of EHD. APHA will also place the animals under movement restrictions until it has confirmed they are disease free. You must not move the animals from the destination premises until you receive this confirmation. The process can take up to 2 weeks. 

Imported animals that test positive for EHD may be culled or returned to the country of origin. Any animals that travelled in the same vehicle that are at risk of becoming infected may also be culled or returned. No compensation will be paid for the culled or returned animals.  

If the animals you’ve imported test positive for EHD, you’ll be restricted from moving any susceptible animals on or off the destination premises until APHA has confirmed that the disease has not spread.

Small hive beetle in Réunion, an overseas territory of France

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has suspended the import of bees, apiculture products and used beekeeping equipment from Réunion, an overseas territory of France. This is due to an outbreak of small hive beetle. These measures are necessary to protect bee health in the UK.

These special measures apply from 26 May 2023 until they are revoked or amended.

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland).

Read the:

Sheep pox and goat pox in Greece

Imports of the following ovine and caprine commodities from Greece have been temporarily suspended following an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox that was confirmed on 24 October 2023: 

  • live animals
  • germplasm
  • fresh or chilled skins and hides

Read the ‘live ungulates’, ‘ovine and caprine ova and embryos’, and ‘ovine and caprine semen’ lists of EU and EFTA countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain.

For restrictions on fresh or chilled skins and hides, the safeguard declarations below give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Scotland). 

Read the:

These special measures apply from 10 November 2023 and will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended.

Commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine 

If you commercially import dogs, cats and ferrets into Great Britain that originate from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, you must have Approved Importer status.

Commercial imports are the sale of or the transfer of ownership of a pet animal. This includes rescue animals and if you are travelling with more than 5 dogs, cats or ferrets if these animals are not attending training for a competition, show or sporting event.

This special measure does not apply to non-commercial pet animals from these countries.

Find out how to apply for Approved Importer status.

This special measure replaces the temporary suspension of commercial imports of dogs, cats and ferrets from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine. It will apply until it is revoked or amended.

These countries present a high risk of rabies transmission.

Read the:

Rodents imported from Lithuania

An ongoing outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis among the UK public has been linked to mice imported from Lithuania for use as animal feed, particularly for reptiles. The risk posed to public health has led to a decision to prohibit imports of feeder rodents (mice and rats for use as animal feed) from Lithuania into the UK, coming into force from 17 February 2022.

The following safeguard measures give effect to this decision. These are published on behalf of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd (Wales), the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) and Food Standards Scotland:

The special measures shall continue to apply until revoked or amended. The measures will be reviewed over the coming months to take into account any actions taken by the Lithuanian authorities to control the risk from imports of feeder rodents in the long term.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) import restrictions: Japan

From 28 October 2022, the import of fresh poultry meat is suspended from Japan into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Additionally, the heat treatment category for poultry meat products has changed from ‘A’ (no specific treatment) to ‘D’ (minimum temperature of 70̊ C).

On 28 October 2022, 2 outbreaks of HPAI were confirmed in commercial poultry establishments in Japan. Restrictions will remain in place until Japan is recognised by the UK as disease free for HPAI.

Read ‘Poultry and poultry products’ and ‘Meat Products’ on the Non-EU countries approved to export animals and animal products to Great Britain page for more information about affected commodities.

Avian influenza (bird flu) outside the UK

This section was updated on 2 March 2023.

Our research reports provide preliminary and updated outbreak assessments for avian influenza (bird flu) in Europe, Russia and in the UK.

You cannot import poultry and poultry products into the UK from disease restricted zones around confirmed cases of avian flu in other countries.

You must continue to comply with specific requirements in Commission Regulation (EC) 798/2008 when importing poultry and poultry products.

Changes to the minimum surveillance period for imports of poultry and poultry products (including ratites) from bird flu affected countries

The surveillance period for imports of live poultry (including ratites) and certain poultry and ratite products from highly pathogenic avian influenza control zones has reduced from 90 days to 30 days. This follows an assessment of risk by Defra, Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Import requirements for Great Britain are now in line with the Terrestrial Animal Health code set by the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH).

This is only available for countries approved to export to Great Britain and can demonstrate:

  • adequate cleansing and disinfection has been carried out
  • the required surveillance activity has been completed
  • the zone has been lifted (minimum of 30 days after effective cleansing and disinfection)

The requirements are set out in the model health certificates for:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Botswana

On 6 September 2021, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) was notified of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of subtype H5N1 by authorities in Botswana. The outbreak was confirmed on a poultry farm outside of Gaborone.

In order to prevent the introduction of HPAI into Great Britain, Botswana is no longer authorised to certify and export poultry of live breeding or productive ratites, day old chicks of ratites, hatching eggs of ratites and meat of farmed ratites to Great Britain for human consumption. Full details on the commodities affected and new restrictions are available in the declarations below.

These safeguarding measures prohibiting imports of susceptible commodities from Botswana are published on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (England), Scottish ministers and the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales and the Trefnydd, (one of the Welsh ministers).

These restrictions will be put in place until all the necessary criteria of assurances to resume certification of trade to Great Britain are met.

Avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK

This section was updated on 13 April 2022.

A collection of guidance and forms for importing and exporting live animals or animal products is available.

World Animal Health Organisation (WOAH) disease freedom

The UK is no longer free from avian influenza under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) rules. There are some restrictions on exports of affected commodities to third countries. Trade in poultry and poultry related products with third countries that do not require whole UK avian influenza country freedom may continue on the basis of the conditions included in the export health certificates, unless otherwise notified by the importing country.

Agreed export health certificates between the UK and importing countries are considered and issued on a case-by-case basis and can be certified by an Official Veterinarian only if the consignment meets the requirements set out in the export health certificates in full.

Exports to the EU

Exports from Great Britain to the EU of live poultry or poultry products are not permitted from disease control zones.

There are no restrictions on exports to the EU from outside the disease control zones.

The European Commission is currently considering amending the regionalisation of the UK in Regulation (EU) 2021/404 in relation to these new HPAI outbreaks.

To avoid disruption to trade, the European Commission has requested that EU countries consider continuing to accept certified poultry and poultry products from the UK, if they originate outside the restricted areas.

Imports from the EU

You cannot import poultry and poultry products into the UK from within avian influenza disease control zones in EU countries.

EU trade relies on strict certification for movement of live poultry, day old chicks and hatching eggs. Products such as poultry meat, table eggs and poultry products are not subject to certification within the EU.

Our avian influenza (bird flu) page covers the latest situation.

Go to bird flu cases and disease zones in England for information about cases and the measures that apply in disease zones.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk status of trading partners

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE) has established a procedure for categorising the BSE risk status of countries or parts of countries as either ‘undetermined’, ‘controlled’, or ‘negligible’. 

When WOAH changes the BSE risk status of a trading partner, Defra carries out an assessment. Based on that assessment Defra, with Scottish Government and Welsh Government, may agree to recognise and adopt the change in BSE risk status.

Importers and official veterinarians must be aware of the BSE risk status of trading partners when importing certain commodities to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).  

Find out the: 

Crabs to Hong Kong: residue testing

This section was updated on 27 March 2019.

The import restrictions on live brown crab exported from Anglesey, Wales introduced by the Hong Kong authorities remain in place. Brown crabs from Anglesey, should not be exported to Hong Kong until the situation is resolved.

Restrictions on trade of agricultural commodities to the Russian Federation

This section was updated on 27 March 2019.

The Russian Federation has banned the import of a number of agricultural commodities from the whole of the EU including the UK and also the USA, Canada, Australia and Norway until December 2019. The ban was imposed on 7 August 2014.

Banned products

The ban covers many agricultural products, raw materials, plants and foodstuffs including most meat, dairy and fish.

If you need to check whether a particular product is affected, please contact APHA or Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Withdrawal of Export Health Certificates for the Russian Federation

In the light of this, APHA and DAERA have withdrawn all Export Health Certificates for the animals and animal products affected, for the duration of this ban. This also applies to consignments of these commodities transiting through the Russian Federation to another destination. But there may be exceptions so you should check.

Any exporter planning to send any consignment (including live animals) to the Russian Federation should get assurances from importers in the Russian Federation that the consignment will be accepted. If consignments of live animals are blocked at the border of the Russian Federation, re-entry into the UK or any other member state is not permitted under EU law. Exceptions may be considered in specific cases.

Read further guidance on exporting to Russia.

Contacts

Contact APHA for advice about imports and exports to and from Great Britain.

Exporters in Northern Ireland should contact:

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents

Related content