Brexit-related issues for the agriculture, agrifood, fisheries and forestry sectors

What do the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls on imports involve ?

SPS import controls applied to consignments from third countries are carried out at the border at the first point of entry into the EU. The checks must be conducted in specific inspection facilities notified by Member States to the European Commission – border control posts – the construction of which is the responsibility of the organisations managing the entry points (port concession holders, for example). These inspections are determined by EU regulations and are carried out ahead of customs clearance procedures. They involve a documentary check on the (phyto)sanitary certificate, to which may be added identity verifications and physical inspections requiring physical presentation of the consignment at the border control post (on a random basis or systematically in the case of certain trade flows, e.g. live animals).

To find out more, you can download a presentation of the French general directorate for food (DGAL) on SPS controls on goods imported from United Kingdom :

• More information on SPS import controls;
• More information on the (phyto)sanitary requirements applicable to imports from third countries to the EU can be found on the Impadon website;
• The model sanitary certificates for entry of livestock and animal products into the European Union from the United Kingdom are those currently in force for all third countries. They are available on TRACES-NT (Certificates / EU Import / Blank Certificates).

For more information, you can download a leaflet on SPS controls on goods imported from United Kingdom.

What rules apply to operators importing equine animals from Great Britain?

From 1 January 2021 on, you must ensure that you:

1 – Check the designated status of the Border Control Post (BCP) at the destination:
https://agriculture.gouv.fr/ou-sont-effectues-les-controles-sps-aux-frontieres,

2 – Check the opening times of the animal inspection facility,

3 – Arrange for issuance of a Sanitary Certificate (SC) by the UK authorities,

4 – For horses subject to controls at Calais Port or Calais Tunnel: make an appointment on the website

of the DRAAF (Direction régionale de l'agriculture, de l'alimentation et de la forêt / Regional directorate for agriculture, food and forestry): https://www.pas-decalais.gouv.fr/booking/create/51518

5 – Enter a prenotification in the TRACES-NT system, covered by a Common Health Entry Document (CHED/DSCE-A):

• this must state without fail the registration number of the lorry AND the trailer (if a trailer is used),

• and it must also include without fail the numbers of any security seals, if applicable;

• you are strongly advised to scan and attach to the CHED/DSCE-A a copy of the SC as signed by the UK authorities if this is already in the possession of the haulier. In addition to the above, for high health status horses:

• state the type of high sanitary status classification of the horse by indicating the acronym of the document issued in this connection: FEI/RCN/BCN/GNM* in box I.3 of Part I of the CHED/DSCE-A,

• attach without fail to the CHED/DSCE-A the document enabling verification of this status and including identification details for the animal concerned.

6 – If the animals are travelling with straw or hay, ensure that you have the invoice proving its GB or EU

Member State provenance.

7- State the reference number of the CHED/DSCE-A for the customs formalities and take note of the

detailed information available on line concerning SPS controls on imports of animals into the EU from

Great Britain :

https://agriculture.gouv.fr/le-brexit-et-les-controles-sanitaires-et-phytosanitaires

* FEI passport, Racing Clearance Notification, Breeding Clearance Notification, General Notification of Movement

What rules apply to travelling with domestic carnivores (dogs, cats, ferrets)?

For individuals travelling from France to Great Britain accompanied by domestic carnivores:

The UK has not changed its requirements for movements of domestic carnivore, from the European Union to Great Britain, since its exit of the European Union.

Any change in the UK’s requirements with regard to travelling with pets will be communicated on the following website: https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-uk

At this stage, your pet (dog, cat, ferret) must meet the following requirements in the case of non-commercial movements:

1. It must be identified (with an electronic microchip).
2. It must have a pet passport or have an official veterinary certificate from a third country.
3. It must be validly vaccinated against rabies (animals at least 12 weeks old for vaccination at the first time of vaccination against rabies; vaccine protection and validity are established on elapse of a period of at least 21 days).

N.B.: A blood test (rabies antibody titre) will also be necessary if the animal is arriving in the United Kingdom from an “unlisted country”.

N.B.: The pet may be placed in quarantine for a maximum of four months at the owner’s cost if the above requirements are not met.

The number of authorised animals is limited to a maximum of five (unless exempted for domestic carnivores participating in competitions, exhibitions or sports events. In these cases, the owner or the authorised person must present written proof that the animals are in fact registered as participants in an event of one of the above types. Such animals must in this case be over six months old).

Additional important points:

In addition, if your dog is going to Great Britain or Northern Ireland (or to the Republic of Ireland), it must:

• be at least three months old;
• have been treated for parasitic worms (Echinococcus) between 24 and 120 hours prior to arrival, such treatment being recorded in the passport by the administering veterinarian.

Additionally, entry of dogs into the country on private vessels is prohibited in the United Kingdom.

For persons travelling from Great Britain to France or the European Union accompanied by domestic carnivores:

NB : This section does not apply to people travelling to Northern Ireland. The EU rules regarding travelling with domestic carnivores within the EU continue to apply to Northen Ireland.

1/ Since1^st January 2021, the "EU pet passport" issued in Great Britain is no longer a valid document for travelling with pets to the EU.

2/ If you are living in Great Britain and travelling with a dog, a cat or a ferret from Great Britain to France, you should comply with the requirements imposed by Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 :

• Make sure your pet is identified by the implantation of an electronic transponder or by a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011.
• Make sure your pet has a valid anti-rabies vaccination (the animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered; the period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol ; the date of administration of the vaccine does not precede the date of identification).
• Make sure your pet is accompanied by a health certificate issued by an official veterinarian in the UK, together with a proof of vaccination against rabies and a document proving your pet is identified. The health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issuance and has to be presented for import checks within these 10 days of validity. The health is valid for a total of four months within the EU and Northern Ireland.

If your pet (e.g. a dog, cat, ferret) has a European Pet Passport (this has not been issued by the UK authorities), you will not need a sanitary certificate signed by the UK veterinary services unless a rabies vaccination (or the booster dose) has been administered in the United Kingdom after 31 December 2020.

Attention : Dangerous dogs are classified in France under 2 categories. The entry of 1st category dogs into French territory is prohibited. Import of category 2 dogs is strictly regulated and subject to administrative obligations. Details for each category are available here

3/ If you are living in the EU (or in Northern Ireland) and returning from Great Britain to the EU with a dog, a cat or a ferret from the Great Britain to France after a temporary movement to Great Britain, you will have to be accompanied by a duly filled-in EU pet passport (not issued in Great Britain). This passport must attest a valid anti-rabies vaccination and has to be presented for import checks.

For more information, you can download