IPAFFS
IPAFFS are used to generate UK CHED declarations.
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.
What is required?
The requirement differ slightly depending on the product type. However, generally, the below applied:
- Low Risk - Commercial Documents only and all relevant statements supporting production of the goods to prove eligible for low risk
- Medium Risk - Export Health Certificate and Commercial Documents plus any additional supporting documents proving the production of the goods
- High Risk - Export Health Certificate and Commercial Documents. Please do all relevant checks on high-risk goods before shipping them to make sure you have specific documents
Plants and Plant Products deviate slightly in that Low Risk Plants and Plant Products do not require pre-notification. Medium Risk Plants and Plant Products can be split further into two categories, Medium-Risk A and Medium-Risk B.
- Medium Risk A - Commercial Documents only
- Medium Risk B - Phytosanitary Certificate and Commercial Documents required
- High Risk - Phytosanitary Certificate and Commercial Documents required
For High Risk Food and Feed Not Of Animal Origin, it is important to check which annex the goods fall into as per Regulation 2019/1793 this will dictate whether you need to provide lab analysis checks, sampling results, and a official Export Health Certificate as part of the pre-notification.
EORI (UK) are registered to complete IPAFFS declarations on your behalf. Please ensure you leave enough time for us to notify the goods. This should generally be done at least 24 hours in advance of arrival into the UK, especially where the goods are high risk.
Once completed, the IPAFFS system will return a 'CHED' reference which should then be lodged on the accompanying GB import declaration. This will then link up and reference with the port entry model (GVMS or Inventory) to inform the haulier if they should report for inspection or not. Inspection information will be available on the GMR and the IPAFFS declaration. As the submitter of the IPAFFS declaration, EORI (UK) are able to input additional contacts so that you can keep up to date with any additional notifications for that specific CHED.
Useful information
- For a list of BCP's (Border Control Posts) in GB, click HERE.
- Model health certificates for exports to GB, click HERE.
- Importing composite goods (some are exempt), click HERE.
- More information about importing POAO products, click HERE.
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.