International trade: Importer Information Notes - BAL IIN 2B
Importer Information Note on conditions of imports from outside the European Union (EU) of honey and royal jelly intended for human consumption
- Permitted imports
- Production standards
- Country of origin
- Establishment of origin
- Animal and public health certificate
- Veterinary checks
- Caution
- General information and declaration
- Community legislation - consolidated texts
- Contact for information
Permitted imports
1. Honey and royal jelly intended for human consumption.
Honey and royal jelly may be imported provided that it:
- comes from an approved third country (see section 3)
- comes from an EU approved plant (see section 4)
- is accompanied by appropriate documentation, i.e. commercial, animal and public health certification (see section 5)
- is veterinary checked at a border inspection post on entry.
Production standards
2. In order to meet these requirements the honey must have been produced in accordance with the conditions laid down in:
- Council Directive 2002/99/EC laying down animal health rules governing the production, processing and distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption;
- Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety;
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of food stuffs;
- Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 laying down specific rules for food of animal origin;
- Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls of products of animal origin intended for human consumption;
- Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules.
More detailed information on the new hygiene legislation can be found on Food Standards Agency (FSA) website
Country of origin
3. Imports of honey and royal jelly intended for human consumption are only permitted from countries or parts of third countries listed in the annex to Commission Decision 2004/432/EC as amended on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC.
Establishment of origin
4. Article 6 (1) (b) (i) of Regulation 853/2004. There is a derogation to this requirement where no lists of approved establishments have been drawn up. The derogation is in Article 7 (1) of Regulation (EC) 2076/2005 which states that import conditions of the Member State concerned apply instead.*
Animal and public health certificate
5. Each consignment of honey and other apiculture products must be accompanied by a health certificate signed and stamped by an authorised veterinary officer of the exporting country. The model health certificate can be found in Appendix VI to Annex VI of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1664/2004 which amends Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 as regards implementing measures for certain products of animal origin intended for human consumption and repealing certain implementing measures.
Veterinary checks
6. Except in the case where a consignment has been fully checked on entry to the Community in another Member State, consignments may only be imported through approved Border Inspection Posts (BIPs).
Consignments must be pre-notified to the relevant BIP before arrival in the country, by completion of Part I of the Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED) or by electronic means as agreed with the Border Inspection Post competent authority.
Caution
* Supplementary guidance: As there is no list of approved third country establishments for honey, the UK permits imports of honey from establishments considered acceptable by third country competent authorities in terms of hygiene.
7. Consignments presented for the original health certificate(s) (see Section 4) must accompany import at a UK Border Inspection Post (BIP); faxed or photocopied certificates are not acceptable. The Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS) will carry out veterinary checks (for which a charge will be levied) in accordance with EU legislation. On completion of these checks he will issue a Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED). The CVED should accompany the consignment to the first point of destination. The OVS will retain the original certification.
Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 applies from 1 January 2006. These allow for additional checks to be made at the Border Inspection Post. Please contact the Port Health Authority/BIP of entry for further information.
- Whilst every attempt is made to keep this information note current, import conditions may change and importers are responsible for checking the current status of the requirements. Safeguard measures, which prohibit imports from countries affected by animal diseases or other public or animal health hazards can prohibit or restrict import at very short notice. Requirements can be checked on the Defra website.
General information and declaration
8. Alternatively you can keep up to date with amendments to legislation by checking the Commission website.
Community legislation - consolidated texts
9. Consolidated texts are available which integrate the basic instruments of Community legislation with their amendments and corrections in a single, non-official document. Each consolidated text contains a list of all legal documents taken into account for its construction. Therefore a comparison with the data in the 'Directory of Community legislation in force' will allow you to easily check how up to date the consolidated text is.
Texts provided in this section are intended for information only. Please note that these texts have no legal value. For legal purposes please refer to the texts published in the 'Official Journal of the European Communities'.
Consolidated texts are available here.
Importers should note that the information given relates only to animal health conditions of import. It does not give guidance on other controls which may need to be met. An information page, giving details of other organisations which importers may need to consult, is available.
Contact for information
Animal Health Import Team
Animal Health Divisional Office
Beeches Road
Chelmsford
Essex CM1 2RU
Fax: 01245 351162
Email: AHITChelmsford@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk
Page last modified:
26 March, 2008
Page published: 29
June, 2004