Importing Food Products of Animal Origin

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP), Northern Ireland stays in the same Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) zone as the EU. This means any animal products coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain (GB) are treated as entering the EU from a Third Country. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) follows both UK and EU laws. This is to check and control imports of these products.

Regulation (EU) 2019/2007 lists the products that need veterinary checks, such as:

• Animal by-products (like pet food, dog chews, dried mealworms, feathers, and wool)
• Dairy products
• Fish and shellfish
• Hay and straw
• Honey
• Red meat, farmed game, and poultry

Anyone importing animal products into Northern Ireland must:

• Pre-notify DAERA before the consignment arrives.
• Bring the goods through an approved Border Control Post (BCP), where veterinary checks take place before entry is allowed.

For more information, visit:

• www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/importing-animals-animal-products-and-products
• www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/northern-ireland-retail-movement-scheme