Port health (imported foods)

Imported food and other goods

The main types of food that are imported through East Midlands Airport are fruit, vegetables, nuts, meat and fish.

This information is intended for importers who want to import products of animal origin (POAO) and certain food of non-animal origin (FNAO) which originate or are dispatched from a non-EU country, into the UK or other EU state via East Midlands Airport. There are also restrictions governing the import of POAO and FNAO which are not used as food, but for other purposes.

These pages are intended as a guide only and are not an authoritative statement of law or policy. There is a substantial amount of EU legislation governing imports of these products.

Why we have controls

Controls on these products are put in place to help prevent the introduction of animal diseases that could affect livestock and other animals. The controls are also to protect public health. Systems are in place to ensure that products intended for human and animal consumption are produced in conditions which meet good standards of hygiene.

Commercial imports

The inspection facility is designated as both a border control post (BCP) and designated point of entry / introduction (DPE/DPI).

The East Midlands Border Control Post is approved for Third Countries (non EU members) imports of:

• Packaged products for human consumption – ambient only
• Packaged products not for human consumption – ambient only

Chilled, frozen goods and live animals cannot be handled at the East Midlands Airport Border Control Post.

The East Midlands DPE/DPI is approved for Third Countries (non EU members) imports of:

• All ambient stable food products listed in Annex I of Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009
• All ambient stable food products listed in Commission Regulation (EU) No 322/2014
• All ambient stable food products listed in Commission Regulation (EU) No 91/2013
• All ambient stable food products listed in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1152/2009

The consignments will be subject to documentary, identification and physical checks to ensure compliance with import conditions. All cleared consignments will be issued with a CVED (Common Veterinary Entry Document) or CED (Common Entry Document).

Documentary requirements

Health certificate

Health certificates are obtained from the competent authority of the country of origin. They must contain specific information as detailed in EU Decisions and Directives. The general requirements for all health certificates are that it must:

• Be the original copy (no photocopies will be accepted)
• Have a unique reference number
• Be fully completed
• Not have unauthorised alterations or be defaced in any way, i.e. no Tippex or crossings out
• Be drawn up in English
• Be made out to a single recipient
• Be signed by the OVS or equivalent representative of the competent authority of the country of origin and have an official health stamp of the country of origin in a different colour to that of the printed ink
• Be dated in relation to the date of loading of the products
• Details of the address and approval numbers of the processing plant of origin

Where health certificates fail to comply with any of these requirements, the consignment will be refused entry.

Invoices/ packing list

Invoices must relate to the consignment, be dated in relation to the date of despatch. We advise that the following information is included: Air Waybill number, consignee and consignor, details of species/types of product, net weight.

Consignments that fail veterinary checks

Where a consignment fails the veterinary checks because it does not meet import requirements, the consignment will be rejected. Rejected consignments will be destroyed or re-dispatch to the country of origin by a specified date.

The requirements are regularly updated so to find the latest information regarding importing foods of animal origin, please refer to The Food Standards Agency.

Visit the Association of Port Health Authorities for more information.

Please find below the fees and charges for the Port Health services

2023 Environmental Health Fees & Charges (Excel Spreadsheet, 0.1 Mb)