Why is IPAFFS important?
Shipments coming from the EU or EEA must be pre-notified before the consignment is due to arrive in Great Britain.
Importers and import agents must use IPAFFS to notify authorities in Great Britain before the following goods arrive from EU and non-EU countries:
- live animals
- germinal products
- animal by-products (ABP)
- high-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)
- products of animal origin (POAO)
- composite food products
- medium and high risk plants and plant products
NOTE : Goods transiting GB (eg FR to IE via GB) still require an IPAFFS. Goods from NI directly to GB do not.
We are registered to complete IPAFFS declarations and require very little additional documentation from you to do this. Officially the IPAFFS declaration must be lodged 24hours prior to arrival but this is likely to be reduced to 4 hours (as is the case with CHED's in EU).
Completion of an IPAFFS declaration returns a UNN number (format : IMP.GB.2021.1XXXXXX). This number does not need to be shown on the accompanying health certificate except for products classed as HRFNAO (see above). The UNN number is required for the GB import declaration to show that controls have been established.