Guidance

General licences and authorisations to import live animals or animal products

Licences and authorisations to import genetic material, research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items, and some live animals and animal products.

Imports of most animals and animal products are covered by UK legislation. Check the Import information notes to find out if your import is covered.

If your import has an import information note, you must follow the conditions in the note.

If your import does not have an import information note you may need a general licence or authorisation.

You can use an existing general licence or authorisation to import:

If a general licence or authorisation for what you want to import does not exist, contact the APHA imports team.

Genetic material

Licences for semen, ova and embryos from:

  • livestock
  • canines
  • felines
  • rodents
  • lagomorphs (hares, rabbits and pikas)
  • equines

These are for products entering England from:

Live animals

Licences and authorisations for:

  • domestic and non-domestic livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats)
  • poultry, birds and equidae (horses, ponies, donkeys)
  • insects

These are for animals entering England from:

  • the Channel Islands
  • Northern Ireland
  • Isle of Man
  • non-EU countries

Captive or pet birds

Cattle

Insects

Sheep and goats

Poultry

Pigs

Other non-domestic hoofed animals

Products for human consumption

Licences and authorisations for animal products entering England from EU and non-EU countries.

Products not for human consumption

Licences and authorisations for animal by-products not for human consumption entering England from EU and non-EU countries.

Research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items

Import conditions for research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items are provided for in the animal by-product legislation. They must be authorised before they are imported.

Some general licences and authorisations may need to be read together with a separate amendment notice, listed alongside it in the list below.

Research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items coming from member states do not need to be licenced or authorised, but must comply with EU rules on animal by-products.

You may wish to include a copy of the facilitation letter with any consignments from EU countries.

Research and diagnostic samples

Heat treated animal products

Other products

Published 18 March 2015
Last updated 1 March 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated the document ‘Authorisation for dairy products and raw milk for human consumption that have undergone a lower heat treatment than pasteurisation (IMP/GEN/2024/01)’ under ‘Products for human consumption’. The document now includes a link to a model health certificate.

  2. A document about authorisation for products under Trade in Animals and Related Products (TARP) has been added to products for human consumption.

  3. Removed 'Hay and straw from third countries (IMP/GEN/2020/01)', which has been revoked. Added 'Hay and straw from third countries (IMP/GEN/2023/02)'.

  4. Licence for category 3 animal by-products (IMP/GEN/2009/03): The country of origin is EU countries, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

  5. Added authorisation IMP/GEN/2023/01 for drosophila melanogaster to the live animals section.

  6. Updated amendment notice IMPGEN/2014/09 for import of cattle from the Channel Islands with a further change to condition 4.

  7. Revoked licence number L/96/2 for sheep and goats and added a new general licence IMP/GEN/2022/01 for sheep and goats in Northern Ireland.

  8. Removed the Embryos, ova and semen from third countries (IMP/GEN/2012/03) general licence as it is out of date.

  9. Removed the 'Hay and straw from EU and certain other European countries (IMP/GEN/2011/08)' and 'Hay and straw from third countries (IMP/GEN/2020/01)' licences. These are being reviewed due to the risk of African swine fever entering the UK.

  10. Updated general licence for genetic material - added IMP/GEN/2021/01 which replaces IMP/GEN/2012/06.

  11. Updated hay and straw from third countries licence to IMP/GEN/2020/01.

  12. Added bovine ova and embryos from the Channel Islands general licence

  13. Updated the samples from EU countries: facilitation letter

  14. Updated dog or cat semen from donors compliant with regulation 576/2013 or 998/2003

  15. Added IMP/GEN/2019/01 (for import of bovine semen from the Channel Island).

  16. Updated general licences for research and diagnostic samples - added IMP/GEN/18/03 and IMP/GEN/18/04 which replaces IMP/GEN/14/03 and IMP/GEN/14/04.

  17. Amendment notice about Jersey being declared officially free of EBL disease for IMP/GEN/2014/09 (cattle) added.

  18. Updated the licence for "Imports of pearls in oyster shells (containing oyster flesh) in ready to sell containers not for human consumption".

  19. Removed the 'Certain finished manufactured products general licence (TAY/GEN/94/1144)' as it is out of date.

  20. Updated to reflect that the 'Certain products not subject to veterinary checks (IMP/GEN/2007/01)' licence has been revoked.

  21. Captive or pet birds general licences - added IMP/GEN/2017/02 which replaces general licences IMP/GEN/2011/07 and IMP/GEN/2004/7

  22. Updated IMP/GEN/2016/12 to version including signature, date of issue and stamp.

  23. Added general licence for the import of meat extracts or meat concentrates (IMP/GEN/2017/01).

  24. Updated to reflect that the 'Glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan-livestock, poultry, fish (IMP/GEN/2015/05)' authorisation has been revoked.

  25. Added general authorisations for gelatine capsules for human consumption: IMP/GEN/2016/07, IMP/GEN/2016/08, IMP/GEN/2016/09, IMP/GEN/2016/10, IMP/GEN/2016/11 and IMP/GEN/2016/12.

  26. Removed the Pet health feed and supplements (TAY/GEN/2005/912) licence as it is out of date.

  27. Added general licence for import of bovine ova and embryos from Northern Ireland (IMP-GEN-2016-05).

  28. Updated the licence: Import of laboratory produced Rodent or Lagomorph Embryos/Ova/Semen to a research facility in Great Britain (IMP/GEN/RM37).

  29. Added general licence for import of laboratory produced Rodent or Lagomorph Embryos/Ova/Semen to a research facility in Great Britain (IMP/GEN/RM37).

  30. Added licence for fresh or chilled hides and skins from ungulates for further processing from The Channel Islands and Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2016/04).

  31. Replaced Cattle from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/01) with Cattle from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2016/03).

  32. Added licence for imports of pearls in oyster shells (containing oyster flesh) in ready to sell containers not for human consumption (IMP/GEN/2016/02).

  33. Added 'Dog or cat semen from donors compliant with regulation 576/2013 or 998/2003' to genetic material

  34. Replaced licence: IMP/GEN/2010/13 with IMP/GEN/2016/01 (Cattle aged 15 days and over from Northern Ireland)

  35. IMP-GEN-2015-07 licence has been revoked and replaced with IMP-GEN-2015-09

  36. Uploaded Non-domestic ungulates from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2015/08) which replaces the revoked licence IMP/GEN/2013/02.

  37. Added licence for non domestic ungulates from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/07).

  38. Added the licence "certain products for in vitro use with 10% or less animal by-product carrier/stabilizer" under 'Products not for human consumption'

  39. Updated Glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan-livestock, poultry, fish due to an amendment to EU legislation.

  40. Replaced Sheep and goats from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/02) with Sheep and goats from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/04) as there was an error in original licence (missing conditions).

  41. Added the general licences for Cattle from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/01), Sheep and goats from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/02) and Pigs for slaughter from Isle of Man (IMP/GEN/2015/03).

  42. First published.