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Exporting food from the UK

Food that is or contains a product of animal origin usually needs an export health certificate, applied for through APHA's EHC Online and signed by an official vet or inspector. Processed food may also need a certificate of free sale from the Rural Payments Agency. An export declaration on CDS clears the goods to leave.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Animal products
Export health certificate (EHC) from APHA, signed by an official vet or inspector
Certificate of free sale
Rural Payments Agency, free, about 10 working days
Fruit and vegetables
Phytosanitary certificate where the destination asks for one
Fish to the EU
Catch certificate as well as an EHC
Customs
Export declaration on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS)
Northern Ireland
DAERA certifies; no EHC needed to export to the EU

Before the goods leave

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Does the food contain products of animal origin, and is there an EHC for the destination? Read more
  2. 2Going to the EU: is the business listed, and which border control post will check it? Read more
  3. 3Does the importer's authority want a certificate of free sale, phytosanitary, organic or catch certificate? Read more
  4. 4Who makes the export declaration on CDS, and when must it be lodged? Read more
  5. 5Does the food originate in the UK under the trade agreement with the destination? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Export health certificates

The official document that confirms an export of animal products meets the destination country's health requirements.

  • An EHC is needed to export or move animal products from Great Britain to, or through, the EU, non-EU countries and Northern Ireland, with one EHC for each type of animal product in a consignment.
  • Products of animal origin include meat, fish, eggs, dairy, honey and gelatine; most processed food or drink containing them, such as lasagne or pork pies, needs an EHC too.
  • Processed food or drink without products of animal origin does not usually need an EHC.
  • Exporters in England, Scotland and Wales apply through EHC Online, naming an official vet or local authority inspector who inspects the consignment and signs the EHC.
  • The certifier receives the EHC 7 working days before the export date, or within one working day of APHA receiving the application for exports in the next 7 working days.
  • The EHC travels with the consignment, which must not be split up in transit. APHA's finder lists the certificates by destination and commodity.
  • If no EHC exists, the exporter asks the destination's competent authority for its import conditions and sends them to APHA; if the export cannot meet a condition, the destination can grant a waiver.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each EHC with the shipment and lot it covers, dated, and shows before the next shipment which certificate the route needs and what is missing. Ask about this

Food going to the EU or Northern Ireland

What applies when food with products of animal origin goes from Great Britain to the EU, or to Northern Ireland through the red lane.

  • Exporters of food or drink containing products of animal origin to the EU need to be listed as an approved business.
  • The goods are checked at an EU border control post (BCP) or Northern Ireland point of entry that accepts that type of product, and the import agent notifies it in advance through TRACES.
  • Food must meet EU maximum residue levels for veterinary medicines, contaminants and pesticides; the EU rejects consignments that do not.
  • Chilled minced red meat, chilled meat preparations such as raw sausages, minced poultry meat, raw milk from TB herds and ungraded eggs cannot be exported to the EU.
  • Composite products that contain processed meat or need chilling use composite EHC 8350; shelf-stable ones without processed meat use a private attestation completed by the importer.
  • Goods that fail on animal or public health grounds are destroyed; others are destroyed or returned to Great Britain, with APHA authorising the return.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the EHC, listing details and residue test reports with each consignment, so the documents the border post asks for are ready. Ask about this

Certificates of free sale and other certificates

Other documents a destination may ask for, depending on what the food is.

  • A certificate of free sale may be needed to export processed food or drink to non-EU countries; the food authority in the destination country says whether it does.
  • The Rural Payments Agency issues certificates of free sale for products for human and animal consumption through its online service. Applying is free, it takes about 10 working days, and certificates do not expire unless the destination sets a time limit.
  • Fruit, vegetables and other plants used as food may need a phytosanitary certificate, issued after inspection by the UK plant health authority.
  • Fish exported from Great Britain to the EU needs an EHC and a validated catch certificate, and may need a storage document or processing statement.
  • Organic food is certified by an approved UK control body; exports to the EU and EEA need a certificate of inspection (COI) for each consignment through TRACES NT.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps free sale, phytosanitary, catch and organic certificates with the lot, dated, and shows which a destination has asked for that the shipment lacks. Ask about this

The export declaration

The customs declaration that clears goods to leave the UK.

  • The exporter or its representative submits an export declaration on CDS and gets clearance before the goods leave the UK; CDS replaced CHIEF for exports from 4 June 2024.
  • The declaration needs the commodity code, customs procedure code and a Declaration Unique Consignment Reference, with the certificates and licences that apply.
  • Deadlines depend on the last mode of transport, for example at least 30 minutes before departure by air and at least one hour before departure by road.
  • Exporting from Great Britain needs an EORI number starting GB, and the invoice and any certificates must travel with the goods.
  • Exported goods can be zero-rated for VAT when they are exported and evidence of export is held within the time limits, generally 3 months.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the declaration reference, invoice and certificates together for each shipment, so the evidence of export is on record when it is asked for. Ask about this

Origin and preferential duty

Proof that food originates in the UK, so the buyer can claim a lower rate of duty under a trade agreement.

  • Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, a product of chapter 10 such as barley is originating if the cereals used are wholly obtained, and meat if the animals were born, raised and slaughtered in the UK.
  • With full bilateral cumulation, EU-grown tomatoes chopped, cooked and canned in the UK can be exported back to the EU as originating.
  • The Agreement allows a tolerance of 15% by weight of the final product for agri-food goods.
  • Proof of origin can be a statement on origin made out by the exporter on an invoice or other commercial document, and supporting records are kept for at least 4 years.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps suppliers' declarations and the origin working for each product, dated, and answers the buyer's origin questions from the record. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ExporterApplying for the EHC, naming a certifier, the export declaration and the proof of origin.Each shipment's certificates and declarations kept together and dated.
Official vet or inspectorInspecting the consignment and signing the EHC.Supporting documents ready before the inspection.
Customs agent or freight forwarderLodging the export declaration on CDS, if appointed, and moving the goods.The references and documents the agent needs, in one record.
APHA, RPA and other certifying bodiesIssuing EHCs, certificates of free sale and phytosanitary certificates.Issued certificates kept with the lot and shown when they near a destination's time limit.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Most export guidance here is written for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Exporters in Northern Ireland apply to DAERA for export health certificates, do not need one to export to the EU, and follow EU dual-use rules under the Windsor Framework.

An EORI number starting GB is needed to export from Great Britain; moving goods to or from Northern Ireland may need one starting XI.

Where are the goods going?

Most of what food have to meet is set where they are sold. Each guide sets out the rules on arrival, with the official source for each.

Questions businesses ask

Do I need an export health certificate to export food from the UK?
If the food is, or contains, a product of animal origin such as meat, fish, dairy, eggs or honey, usually yes. Processed food without animal products does not usually need one. Check APHA's EHC finder for the destination.
How do I apply for an export health certificate?
Exporters in England, Scotland and Wales register for EHC Online and apply there, naming an official vet or local authority inspector who will inspect the goods and sign the certificate. In Northern Ireland, applications go to DAERA.
How long does an export health certificate take?
The certifier receives it 7 working days before the export date, or within one working day of APHA receiving the application if the export is within the next 7 working days.
Do I need a certificate of free sale to export food?
Only if the destination asks. The food authority in the destination country says whether processed food or drink needs one. The Rural Payments Agency issues them online, free, in about 10 working days.
Can I export cheese or other dairy products from the UK?
Dairy is a product of animal origin, so it usually needs an EHC; APHA lists dairy certificates by destination. Exports to the EU also go through a border control post, and the business must be listed.
What do I need to export fish or seafood to the EU?
An export health certificate and a validated catch certificate, and possibly a storage document or processing statement. The importer pre-notifies through TRACES NT, and the fish enters through an EU border control post.
Do I need a phytosanitary certificate to export fruit or vegetables?
You may. Check with the destination's plant health authority. Certificates are issued after inspection through the Apply for plant export certificates and inspections service, and some fruit and vegetables also need a certificate of conformity.
Which food cannot be exported from Great Britain to the EU?
Chilled minced red meat, chilled meat preparations such as raw sausages, minced poultry meat, mechanically separated poultry meat, raw milk from TB herds and ungraded eggs.
What are composite food products, and what do they need?
Food mixing processed animal products with plant products as a main ingredient, such as lasagne or pepperoni pizza. To the EU, those with processed meat or needing chilling use EHC 8350; shelf-stable ones without processed meat use the importer's private attestation.
Can I export organic food to the EU?
Yes, if an approved UK control body certifies the food and business. Each consignment needs an EU certificate of inspection through TRACES NT, approved by the control body. Imported organic food must be processed in Great Britain, not just relabelled.
How does Compliant Always help with exporting from the UK?
Our team reads the rules for the routes you ship. Compliant Always shows which export documents apply to your product, keeps them with the shipment beside what the destination asks for, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

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