International trade: Importer Information Notes - milk and milk based products (EU-MMP01)
Importer Information Note on conditions of import for milk and milk-based products from European Union (EU) Member States and Norway
1. Product
Dairy products intended for human consumption. Dairy products are defined as processed products resulting from the processing of raw milk or from the further processing of such products.
2. Country of origin
European Community (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden) and Norway.
3. Production standards
In order to be able to meet these requirements, the milk must have been produced in accordance with the conditions laid down in:
- Council Directive 2002/99/EC laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, 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 foodstuffs
- 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 on products of animal origin intended for human consumption
More detailed information on the new hygiene legislation can be found on the Food Standards Agency food hygiene legislation website.
4. Approved establishments
Dairy products must be processed in establishments in compliance with the conditions laid down in Regulations (EC) No.s 852/2004, 853/2004 and 854/2004, as appropriate (see links above).
5. Documentation
Each consignment must be accompanied by an appropriate document if required by Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 (see link above).
6. Identification mark
Dairy products referred to above must bear an identification mark in accordance with the requirements of Regulations (EC) No.s 853/2004 and 854/2004 (see links above). The mark must be applied before the product leaves the establishment.
7. Ports of entry
All ports and airports.
Caution
1. Whilst every attempt is made to keep this information note current, import conditions may change and importers are advised to check the current status of the requirements with the Imports Policy Branch.
2. It should be noted that the information given relates only to animal health and public health and hygiene conditions. It does not give guidance on other conditions that may need to be met; for example the provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 and any Regulations made under it. Neither does this note give guidance about HM Customs and Excise controls or licences that may be required for quotas available from the Rural Payments Agency. The attached information sheet gives details of other organisations you may need to consult.
3. Community legislation – consolidated texts.
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 on the European Commission website.
Contact for general information on import requirements
Animal Health Import Team,
Government Offices,
Beeches Road,
Chelmsford,
Essex
CM1 2RUTel: 01245 358383
Page last modified:
19 May, 2008
Page published: 4 October, 2005