Summary changes to imports of horses to the UK from November 2023
Thursday, 02 November 2023
Defra has issued some updates recently ahead of changes around the import notificaiton (IMP) to a new Common Health Entry Document (CHED) to help with the movement of live animals from EU/EFTA countries into GB.
Get ready for CHED
- When you log into IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System) you will now be asked to complete a CHED (Common Health Entry Document - Part 1) in place of the old Import (IMP) notification. This is for people moving horses from EU/EFTA/EEA countries to Great Britain.
- If you are not already using IPAFFS, register here.
- Import notifications must be submitted on IPAFFS one working day before the horses arrive in Great Britain.
- This is the same as is currently needed for import notifications for non-EU countries, bringing the two processes together.
- Some sections of the CHED import notification are identical to the IMP import notification you currently make. Other sections are formatted differently or require further information that you will already have within your horse’s Entry Health Certificate (EHC), and the transport information from the exporter.
- Any IMP import notifications you made before 2 November for horses arriving into Great Britain from EU/EEA/EFTA after 2 November will still be accepted – you do not need to take any additional action.
- APHA has posted a 30 minute step by step walkthrough video on the process on thier You Tube channel - you can watch here. You can sign-up for future training sessions on Eventbrite.
*Note* EU/EFTA/EEA origin horses will continue to be checked at destination until at least October 2024. From this point checks will move to Border Control Posts and more advice will follow on these changes.
Further updates
- The final version of the Border Target Operating Model was published in August 2023. It sets out the new model that's been developed by Defra through engagement with stakeholders. It will protect the UK's animal and plant health and public health, striking a balance between minimising burdens on business, while safeguarding biosecurity and reducing risks to public health.
- Streamlined Export Health Certificates (EHCs) have been published on GOV.UK. The new model certificates do not change the requirements for importing live animal and animal products into GB. Trading partners are free to adopt the new model EHCs as soon as is practical, and they will be mandatory from 30 April 2024.
- Defra is also introducing a new 'Clone a certificate' function on IPAFFS. Which will enable live animal importers to automatically attach a digitally signed PDF export health certificate and any other available documents to the CHED import notification. This will be available to traders importing from EU Member States using TRACES from late-2023.
- EU/EFTA origin live animals will continue to be checked at destination as now until at least October 2024. From this point checks will move to Border Control Posts (BCPs), as infrastructure readiness allows. More information on physical checks of live animals at BCPs will be shared as soon as possible. You can use the Border Control Post map on GOV.UK to see which BCPs are currently designated for live animal imports. This map will be updated if additional BCPs are designated.
- Relevant guidance pages on GOV.UK have recently been updated to reflect the Border Target Operating Model and we will soon publish several explanatory leaflets.
Further information on travelling horses to and from Europe is available in our transport pages.